Baffling Fridge Problem Baffled! |
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fwunder
Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Online Status: Offline Posts: 1676 |
Topic: Baffling Fridge Problem Baffled! Posted: 14 Sep 2020 at 5:58pm |
I swear the Dometic 3-Way fridge is more art than science! Currently, mine is working great in all three modes after 7 years, but it hasn't always been that way. I crossed country with no modifications and it worked great. Then it started acting up. I'm an expert at cleaning, replacing orifice, looking and listening for perfect flame, solar panel boost for 12 volt towing operation and spending wayyy too much money on a Yeti cooler cuz I don't trust it!!
The last year or so, I started getting flame-out while running fridge on propane while towing. Pissed me off cuz it always works perfect when standing still and it is the cleanest propane delivery system on the planet. Something changed with solenoid or draft or karma or wind direction. Don't know what. I was able to run on 12 volt while towing and added a solar panel to my TV to help out so I didn't let it bother me too much. But...being the OCD camper that I am I still wanted to run fridge reliably on propane while towing. Just cuz!! I can't remember or find where I found this baffle design (I would offer credit), but, hot damn! it works great!! I made mine out of some leftover round ducting I had sitting around. It's really cheap, works great, I swear the fridge works better and it is a work of art!! And please don't call me Art. The cut size in 8"x10". The cutout is 1 1/2" from bottom, then another 2 1/2" and 2 1/2" deep. Snaps right in. I cut a little tab to secure it a little better. I doesn't get too hot to worry about and works for me. I did re-locate the 12 volt line so no chance of chafe. Just another Dometic fridge art project!! |
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2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 14 Sep 2020 at 6:13pm |
I like it.
To slightly modify a rule attributed to Arthur Clarke, the inventor of the communications satellite: "Any sufficiently complex technology is indistinguishable from magic". From the point of view of the multitude of variables that can effect the performance of an RV fridge, it really is a pretty complex technology.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4517 |
Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 6:02am |
Genius
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
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Colt
Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 383 |
Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 9:55am |
Not to put the Baby Ruth in the pool, but my manual says to run the fridge on battery when towing. Why not just do that?
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John
'16 R-Pod 180 |
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fwunder
Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Online Status: Offline Posts: 1676 |
Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 11:01am |
Doodie!! Everybody out of the pool!! Couple of reasons why I prefer fridge on propane... 1) Mine appears to work better on propane. 2) My TV charging system cannot really keep up the 10 amp drain the fridge takes. I would rather use those amps to go back in batteries between boondocking sites. 3) It just pissed me off cuz it was never an issue until it was. |
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2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
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JR
Senior Member Joined: 31 Aug 2018 Location: Manistee, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 364 |
Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 3:14pm |
If you are running your fridge on propane when filling up your TV with gas be really careful. Just a thought.
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Jay
179/2019 |
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ArenaBlanca
Senior Member Joined: 07 Sep 2016 Location: Alamogordo, NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 158 |
Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 3:45pm |
And, for those of us who "upgraded" to the 195 because of the bed orientation, the fridge only runs on propane or shore power. A bit of an oversight for a travel trailer IMHO.
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Enjoy Life!!
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 4:09pm |
Its not really practical to try to run the larger fridge on 12V, it would put too much current demand on the TV alternator. As it is the 10A requirement for the smaller 3 way fridge provides only marginal cooling and is still too much for many alternators while also running everything else.
I'm staying out of the debate about the pros and cons of running the fridge on propane while driving, just saying that with the bigger fridge you don't really have the option of running on 12V.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 4:31pm |
Until recently, running on 12V was not an option. The Frontier (and the Escape before that) simply could not provide enough power through the connector to both charge the dual 6V batteries I had previously, and was unsuitable for the LiFePO4 battery I have now. I added a battery isolator and ran a separate 121V circuit to power a DC to DC charger for the LiFePO4 battery. That circuit, coupled with the stronger DC to DC charger now means that I can both charge the battery and run the refrigerator on 12V simultaneously. However, when stopped, the refrigerator still needs to be on either AC power or on LP. Before making the changes, I towed for thousands of miles while running on LP gas with no problems. I added screens to the refrigerator vents. These were to keep the wasps and other insects out. An added advantage is that screens act as a flame arrestor. I learned about that in science class many years ago. Place a screen above a Bunsen burner and the flame halts at the screen. I have felt safe while towing and even when stopping to fill the gas tank.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 5:04pm |
Colt,
I have done that for years. Honestly my TV handles the load and I'm not one of the cross country campers. Most of my trips are less than 200 miles and primarily to fish. I have owned my 178 for 5 years, and all my systems function. On occasion I have run fridge on propane but not often. I don't boondock, my fridge is cold enough, for my purposes and I pre cool before the trip begins on shore power. When I chose a TV I made sure it could handle a 12V load. Lot of TVs have issues with that and I chose not to do that. It is an owner choice based upon your capabilities. |
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Mike Carter
2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
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