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Post by Teachndad on Nov 25, 2023 6:50:36 GMT -8
Hi Friends, A while back, I had posted about the Dometic Fridge on my 1985 Starcraft pop up trailer. It wasn't cooling in the propane use mode. I tried to find that thread, but I can't find it with a search. My question relates to that thread. For anyone who remembers, LOL, in that thread it looked like the fridge might be just dead. I am planning a trip to southern Utah in April 2024 that will involve some boondocking and the only trailer I have that has a propane powered fridge is the Starcraft. So, yesterday, I tried one more time to get the beast resurrected. I used my compressor and an air nozzle to clear out any dust in and around the fridge compartment, blew out the heat chamber, oiled the valve that increases or decreases the amount of propane to the fridge. The propane tank was full and I fired up the fridge. Low and behold in 3 hours I had the fridge down to 34 degrees. Now, the outside air temp was 70 degrees yesterday vs. 92 degrees when I last tested the fridge. So, in poking around the compartment I moved this grey "cap". It's circled in red. I can slide it about a 1/2" before it stops. Does this do anything? Before After moved the "cap" Thanks Rod
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Post by Teachndad on Nov 26, 2023 5:35:54 GMT -8
Okay, I think I can answer my own question. I will leave this response for the curious out there. After more research in the early morning hours, I found that the grey cylinder is called the absorber vessel. I know you all want to know this. I found this out by looking at vintage Dometic service manuals. My life is exciting. Below is text from a manual different from the model fridge I have, but the guts are for the most part the same. " Do not attempt to open the valve on the absorber vessel. The valve is covered with a plastic cap and should never be removed." You know it's an older fridge when the manual is printed in a Times New Roman font - like on a typewriter. For those ultra curious, you can go here and then scroll to page 20. rvrefrigeratorrepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Dometic-Service-EarlyRM.pdf and low and behold, the manual really actually does say to turn it upside down to see if you can get it up and running again. That's one of the things that's been recommended in the depths of our forum to resurrect an old amonia fridge. Okay, Rod, just leave the cap as is. Cheers and thanks for reading. Rod
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Nov 26, 2023 15:58:15 GMT -8
I always wanted a propane fridge. I don’t know much about them but I imagine 1985 is an antique. I’d be curious what the normal lifespan of one of these refrigerators is with light use.
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