Refrigerator problem

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Refrigerator problem

June 15, 2020, 03:01:02 pm

My turn in the refrigerator barrel.. Dometic was on gas and the flame was burning but not cooling.. Display was lit up.. Turned to ac power and no cool but display was on.. unplugged ac power and checked receptical and have power there. Plugged it back up and now no display lights.. Fuse not at the foot of the bed. Suppose it will be either in bay on drivers side or behind kick panel below dash. Don't even know if fuse or breaker is the culprit but am due to leave on a trip Wednesday.. anyone had this before I could use a pointer.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #1 – June 15, 2020, 03:37:25 pm

Dub, there is a resettable breaker in the 12v panel in your middle compartment. It is the first one on the left bank.
jor

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #2 – June 15, 2020, 04:05:25 pm

Appreciate it Jor but after getting my head up in the backside of this unit I smell amonia so it's going to a different level now

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #3 – June 15, 2020, 04:58:08 pm

Can't get a replacement in Texarkana so I have Jerry Maddox looking in Gulf Port Ms that's where I'm headed. If I can find one Jerry and myself will install.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #4 – June 15, 2020, 05:12:43 pm

I suggest you install a residential fridge instead of replacing the absorption cooling unit. The residential may be cheaper and cool a whole lot better. I went with the absorption cooling unit from JC Refrigeration. Though it works ok on a cooler day, they just don't keep up on a hot day. You will also have more storage capacity in the freezer and fridge. My two cents.
John M.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #5 – June 15, 2020, 05:27:39 pm

Deciding between absorption vs residential really depends on how much you dry camp and/or how much you want to spend on solar.

No "one answer fits all".

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #6 – June 15, 2020, 05:57:27 pm

Propane option better suits me currently. I think Jerry found one in Biloxi.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #7 – June 15, 2020, 06:18:44 pm

We dry camp and seldom have 110V. Our propane fridges have provided excellent service in all of our RVs. Using the Backerboard not only makes the compartment fire resistive but reduces some of the heat from the sun from the side or the coach.

So, if we full timed with a 40 footer in RV parks, it would be a residential. For dry camping with our 36, propane keeps everything cold and is perfect. I remember our Servel back in the 1950's. It replaced an ice box and also never gave any problems.

To use a residential fridge, we would have to replace our panels on the roof and add at least one more. Would need to add battery capacity too. Just not room up top to comfortably do that. Our new inverter is a LOT more efficient so it might do the trick for the residential but why change horses?

The old fridge failed at about 16 years and we drove home after we bought the U300 in N.C. with the old one working like an ice box with new ice every couple of days. I had a new Norcold in the garage that fit perfectly so I installed it where it's been since around 2008.

Pierce

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #8 – June 15, 2020, 06:26:28 pm

We boondock a bunch, we replaced our cooling unit with a JC Refrigeration unit 3 years ago all is good. Also bought the extended warranty, do that gives something like 6 or 7 years

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #9 – June 15, 2020, 08:15:10 pm

P.. If I can find the product near Biloxi I would like to install the firewall when Putting in the new one. Will be pulling up your how to post in hopes I can find it.what will I need specifically?Better yet point me to your install post if you will

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #10 – June 15, 2020, 09:04:53 pm

Quote from: Dub – June 15, 2020, 08:15:10 pm

P.. If I can find the product near Biloxi I would like to install the firewall when Putting in the new one. Will be pulling up your how to post in hopes I can find it.what will I need specifically?Better yet point me to your install post if you will

Sure. I used 1/4" Hardie Backerboard. I used a box knife to score it perhaps 10X and then bent it over a table edge. No need to use a saw as it makes lots of dust. Use a rasp to clean edges. Cement dust many not be healthy for you. I had to redo the floor as the Norcold had a flat bottom. I used a couple of rub rails to center it. The wood around the outside access was rotten so I replaced it. The factory wiring was terrible so I spent a couple of hours making it neat. The outlet is by the outside access and can get a lot of corrosion. It would be best to replace the plastic boxes with metal as it cuts the fire risk even more. Pilot holes were drilled and countersunk so the screw heads don't stick up. All joints were sealed so not even smoke can get through. Cement board is used up to the roof including the roof vent and around the outside vent.

Give me a call with any questions. Jerry is really a good guy. Talked to him lots of times on the phone. We were going to stop in to see him when our hydraulic hose failed on our coast to coast trip (right by Elvis Presley's childgood home) He looked up a lot of stuff on the phone, etc. and was a big help. Say hi for us!

Pierce

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #11 – June 15, 2020, 09:09:11 pm

Will do.. we try to get down and see Jerry every year at least once. Thanks.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #12 – June 15, 2020, 09:22:11 pm

Thought we had a replacement fridge found but turns out a no.. This is a 10 cu ft and may not be easy to match.. Has anyone replaced just the cooling unit on one of these? That may be easier to locate vs the entire fridge.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #13 – June 15, 2020, 09:23:38 pm

Rare thread from old rv'ers

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #14 – June 15, 2020, 09:53:54 pm

What do you mean Bob? I have never replaced a cooling unit on one of these. Had hoped you had.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #15 – June 15, 2020, 10:15:22 pm

Dub give JR. a call and JC Refrigeration 260-768-4067. I'm sure if you give him the make and model he can fix you up. He likely knows a guy in your area to do the install,

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #16 – June 15, 2020, 10:19:03 pm

Thanks for the number Bruce.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #17 – June 16, 2020, 01:03:00 am

Just a note for others that have an old, maybe original, refrigerator.

Do not wait until you have problem (or fire). Decide before fridge breaks what you want for a replacement.

Be proactive, change it when you have time to do the best job and not have to make a hasty decision.

The inside solution is corrosive & flammable and they WILL stop working.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #18 – June 16, 2020, 03:36:14 am

Mine failed in 2014 while in Alaska. Had a replacement cooling unit shipped from the lower 48. A one day install including an ARP controller and external cooling fans. You pull the fridge out into the living area put it face down and do the install there.

Rich

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #19 – June 16, 2020, 07:45:26 am

I would think if on a trip and can't find the fridge you want whether it's a new propane/electric or a residential fridge you could always remove the dead fridge and buy a cheap dorm size to fit in the opening. That would at least let you finish your trip and get to a place where you can install what you want. You could even add a temporary shelf to put in 2 dorm size fridges or a separate small freezer.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #20 – June 16, 2020, 08:15:01 am

This is hardly a spoiler. The unit is 10 years old so while not new not original..While I have done no refrigerator repairs In the past this is no big deal for me. Ive been doing this long enough that Wife and I used Igloo coolers.About to leave on a trip to the Gulf Coast and about to have a hell of a good time .. What constitutes an emergency for some is less so to others ie me. Before I smelled the amonia I did hope it would be an easy fix and something someone here had seen. Had I known the system was drained it's not likely I would have ever asked the first question here..About to buy a fridge but not likely to buy 2 so I will have one for the next time.. Problem solved .

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #21 – June 16, 2020, 09:37:46 am

Quote from: Dub – June 16, 2020, 08:15:01 am

This is hardly a spoiler. The unit is 10 years old so while not new not original..While I have done no refrigerator repairs In the past this is no big deal for me.

When I changed my cooling unit last year, my JC unit came with the metal refrigeration tape a can of spray foam and a cartridge of heat transfer mastic. The fussiest thing I had to do was transfer a pair of screw holes in the refrigerator compartment to the new unit and drill a couple of pilot holes.

On my Dometic I also had to deal with the ice maker. The circuit board, electric heaters and propane stuff all bolted onto the new cooling unit. I took six days, but then again, my heart's crap.

Re: Refrigerator problem

Reply #22 – June 16, 2020, 09:49:49 am

Quote from: Dub – June 16, 2020, 08:15:01 am

Ive been doing this long enough that Wife and I used Igloo coolers.About to leave on a trip to the Gulf Coast and about to have a hell of a good time .. What constitutes an emergency for some is less so to others ie me. Before I smelled the amonia I did hope it would be an easy fix and something someone here had seen. Had I known the system was drained it's not likely I would have ever asked the first question here.

Yep, we've done the coast to coast just feeding ice to the dead fridge and before that, fed a Igloo ice in an old van. Didn't hurt the fun we had on the trip and just downshifted a gear. Good for you.

Pierce

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