Small Dometic Fridge Problem

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Small Dometic Fridge Problem

September 06, 2018, 01:22:32 pm

I have a small Dometic three way fridge in my Roadtrek but this may be a universal problem. Here in Europe I use the fridge only on propane. This time when I arrived the fridge would not cool. The burner lights and burns properly. The chimney is clean and the little twisted diverter thing in the chimney is clean. There is no rust or corrosion on the back side of the fridge. I can find no evidence that the ammonia refrigerant has leaked out, that is, there is no yellow staining or other indications of vapor leaking.

My question: Is it possible for a technician to check for the proper pressure and quantity of the refrigerant in this type of fridge? Also, is there some other obvious thing I could check or do?

Thanks,

Richard

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #1 – September 06, 2018, 01:34:10 pm

Quote from: Jan & Richard – September 06, 2018, 01:22:32 pm

I have a small Dometic three way fridge in my Roadtrek but this may be a universal problem. Here in Europe I use the fridge only on propane. This time when I arrived the fridge would not cool. The burner lights and burns properly. The chimney is clean and the little twisted diverter thing in the chimney is clean. There is no rust or corrosion on the back side of the fridge. I can find no evidence that the ammonia refrigerant has leaked out, that is, there is no yellow staining or other indications of vapor leaking.
My question: Is it possible for a technician to check for the proper pressure and quantity of the refrigerant in this type of fridge? Also, is there some other obvious thing I could check or do?
Thanks,
Richard

Assuming you are using the same camper you have in the past and it has been stored.

Yes a technician can check it out. It could have had a slow leak. There could be an obstruction in the vent. Sometimes a fridge is removed and "burped" by inverting it for a few minutes. I've also seen a vibrator used on the coils. Operating out of level can cause crystals to form usually at the top of the main pipe. Some models have an extra tube to minimize the problem. If you can get your hand on the back, it may be possible to feel where the blockage might be by where the heat stops. Fridge may be too small for that and may need to be pulled.

Pierce

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #2 – September 06, 2018, 02:04:25 pm

Not aware of any Dometic refrigerator where the coolant could be checked (no access ports).

Be sure gas pressure is proper-- low gas pressure (bad propane regulator) will produce too small a flame to properly cool.

How how is the boiler getting? Possible cooling unit blockage???

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #3 – September 06, 2018, 02:41:09 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – September 06, 2018, 02:04:25 pm

Not aware of any Dometic refrigerator where the coolant could be checked (no access ports).

Be sure gas pressure is proper-- low gas pressure (bad propane regulator) will produce too small a flame to properly cool.

How how is the boiler getting? Possible cooling unit blockage???

After troubleshooting, they have to unsolder to recharge but if the coils are blocked, they may need replacing. Right, no ports like a car AC.

The electronics may be at fault. Here is a video on how to do it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aArA8MBhQ3w

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #4 – September 06, 2018, 05:20:21 pm

Thanks for the quick responses. I now have a few things to check out. I think the flame is good but will recheck it. Had not thought of feeling to see if there was any heating or cooling on the coils.

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #5 – September 06, 2018, 10:37:15 pm

First thing I would check is if it cools on AC. If it does that narrows it down to a propane problem. If it doesn't cool it's an ammonia problem.

see ya
ken

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #6 – September 06, 2018, 10:44:02 pm

Here is one of the better videos on how an ammonia refrigerator works. They are a little dry but have lots of good info.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wiv7lMaBGI

They have several more here on their channel.

"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdBxVF3Yr4pXypKmw5lHIAA/videos"

see ya
ken

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #7 – September 07, 2018, 03:39:49 pm

Thanks Ken for the video references. I am generally familiar with ammonia refrigeration systems but I always appreciate refresher courses. This Roadtrek is American (Canadian actually) so electrical is 120 volt/60 hertz so I do not use shore power over here. Generators are unheard of over here so I do not use mine. Therefore I use propane only for the fridge. I have checked and the propane pressure is about right. The flame of the burner varies as I change the fridge temperature setting so I am pretty sure that is not the problem. I suspect it is, as they say, hard broke.

At the moment we are in the Orkney Islands about to take a ferry to the Shetland Islands so I guess I will have to do without refrigeration until we get back to mainland Scotland where there are RV service places. At least it is not hot over here.

Thanks again for the help.

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #8 – September 07, 2018, 07:45:03 pm

Yeah it occurred to me after I posted my reply that oh yeah he's in Europe. No 120v.

So if you have propane flame that means the controller is working. Since you have flame you have heat and that's really all you need for the fridge to work. Do you feel any heat in the tubes coming back to the boiler? If not it may indeed be knockered.

They drink warm beer over there anyway don't they?

see ya
ken

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #9 – September 08, 2018, 03:38:57 am

Thanks again Ken. I suspect "knockered" it is. I lived a number of years on sailboats without refrigeration so it is no big deal. I just hate to have things onboard that are inoperative.

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Small Dometic Fridge Problem

September 06, 2018, 01:22:32 pm

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #1 – September 06, 2018, 01:34:10 pm

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #2 – September 06, 2018, 02:04:25 pm

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #3 – September 06, 2018, 02:41:09 pm

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #4 – September 06, 2018, 05:20:21 pm

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #5 – September 06, 2018, 10:37:15 pm

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #6 – September 06, 2018, 10:44:02 pm

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #7 – September 07, 2018, 03:39:49 pm

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #8 – September 07, 2018, 07:45:03 pm

Re: Small Dometic Fridge Problem

Reply #9 – September 08, 2018, 03:38:57 am

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