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Refrigerator gone

August 31, 2017, 07:48:21 pm

Yesterday after we left Camp Wolterbus, Karen and I smelled an unusual smell that we could not figure out what it was.  I stopped twice, went all around the coach, opened the compartments, etc, nothing.  Karen found nothing inside also.  When we stopped for lunch found out the refrigerator was not working, nor could I restart it inside.  Checked all breakers- ok.  I went outside and reset the ARP unit and it started again, for a little while.  I also noticed the dreaded yellow/orange stuff indicating a cooling unit rupture.  My buddy Hans Wolterbus shared with me his good experience with his replacement Amish cooling unit.  I called and tonight I am in the parking lot of JC Refrigeration in Shipshewana, IN to get a new cooling unit installed in the morning ( 7 AM, early).  They were very nice to accommodate us so quickly, I guess it was when I told him since we live in the coach full time Karen had to go out and buy more coolers and ice.  Anyway, we are happy to be here .

Cya down the road....................

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Re: Refrigerator gone

Reply #1 – August 31, 2017, 08:02:11 pm

Ted,
That's where I got mine replaced.  They do a great job.  They will also reinstall your ARP for you.  I've sent quite a few people there.  Say hi to Karen for us.  Too bad you couldn't be there when the Flea Market was open.
John & Carmen Morales

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Re: Refrigerator gone

Reply #2 – August 31, 2017, 09:31:44 pm

I'll be there in a week

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Re: Refrigerator gone

Reply #3 – September 01, 2017, 03:57:56 pm

Ted,
How did the install go?
John M

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Re: Refrigerator gone

Reply #4 – September 06, 2017, 05:58:44 pm

update- New Amish cooling unit is in and working fine.  JR is a super guy and found out why the unit went off the first day- it was the ARP.  Apparently most people do not have an ARP on a failed unit so when they switched mine over to the new one, never thought about having to reset it.  So when the new unit heated up, the ARP thought it was the old unit which had stabilized and cut off the power. 

The solution was to by pass the ARP for the first few days until the new unit has been running and temps stabilized without spikes of initial start up.  Then I will connect the ARP back into the system.  According to both JR & Paul (ARP inventor), this should work.

Anyway, temps in the fridge and freezer are fine, we are back on the road heading west.

Cya down the road           

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Re: Refrigerator gone

Reply #5 – September 06, 2017, 09:44:03 pm

Good info on the ARP in regards to the new cooling unit. Thanks for posting.

see ya
ken

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Re: Refrigerator gone

Reply #6 – September 07, 2017, 07:32:36 am

OK, I did a search on  "ARP" on this site and it only came up with this thread. Did a google search and it came up with address resolution protocol which I do not think it has anything to do with a refrigerator.  What is an ARP?

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Re: Refrigerator gone

Reply #7 – September 07, 2017, 07:36:24 am

ARP Control unit
The ARP refrigerator control is a patented automatic control that solves the long felt need of RV owners, providing protection from off-level damage to their refrigerators, thereby improving reliability, highway safety, and reducing environmental impact.
The ARP control was developed by Paul Unmack, a control systems engineer and avid RVer. His family had been using a vintage  Dometic refrigerator for 35 years, when he decided to replace it with a more modern unit. After the new unit ruptured after only 5 years, he decided to study the problem. After researching the type of cooling unit used in RV Gas Electric refrigerators built by Dometic and Norcold, and studying the operation characteristics, he devised a unique solution- the Absorption Refrigeration Protection system- an advanced electronic sensor feeding an intelligent control using his smart software, which reacts quickly to off level and unsafe operating conditions, and intelligently resets itself, allowing safe operation when it would otherwise be impractical, and greatly increasing the lifespan of the refrigerator.


http://rvcoolingunit.com/ARP-31-Refrigerator-Failure-prevention-with-Fan-Control-P5104292.aspx

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Re: Refrigerator gone

Reply #8 – September 07, 2017, 10:39:03 am

In simple terms even I can understand...

The ARP control unit monitors the boiler temperature. If it exceeds a set amount it shuts off the 12v to the controller which shuts down the heater. (propane or  electric).  When the boiler temperature drops to the safe zone it turns everything back on.

Paul says the major reason for a boiler/coil failure is over temperature. This makes sense as the over temperature causes water to separate from the ammonia which then rusts the coils from the inside. The over temperature also causes over pressure in the coil which is very effective at finding any weak point in the coil. Boom!

see ya
ken

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Reply #9 – September 07, 2017, 10:46:14 am

Yup, an excellent product.  Would have it on any absorption refrigerator.  This type of controller should be OE on them, but suspect the bean counters nixed them.

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Reply #10 – September 07, 2017, 06:26:53 pm

We smelled the ammonia leak while I was driving but was not able to figure out what it was until the ARP had shut our refrigerator down.  We were operating on gas at the time so I suspect that the ARP might have/could have prevented a fire by shutting down the unit when it got too hot.  We will never know for sure but that is exactly the reason why I bought the ARP in the first place.  The ARP unit makes sense to me- it is a technological insurance policy in case my refrigerator boiler over heats.

Cya down the road......................
 

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