| Author | Message | ||
| Debbie and Joe Cannarozzi (Joe_camper)
Registered Member Username: Joe_camper Post Number: 121 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.239.202.82 Rating: N/A |
I have a friend of mine who dropped off his 91 Prevo Country Coach for some suspension repairs and other misc. issues and I have found an issue with the propane fridge. If it is operating on ac or dc power it works fantastic. When it is on propane it does not get cold enough. I have looked around the heat shield in the back and there is a pilot lit but I have not looked closely at it. Could it possibly be the orifice is dirty or the pilot needs to be turned up. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 569 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.46.157 Rating: N/A |
The gas pressure could be low, the flume needs cleaning or could be a problem with the board if it is a eye level control or the thermo coupling does it lite? | ||
| Debbie and Joe Cannarozzi (Joe_camper)
Registered Member Username: Joe_camper Post Number: 123 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.239.202.82 Rating: N/A |
I do have a pilot. I do not think it would work as well as it does on ac & dc the way it does if the flume is dirty but that is a guess. If the orifice is not dirty and the pilot small is there a way to turn up the pilot? | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 316 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.193.233 Rating: N/A |
On this type of refr make sure the switch is making for lp and take and turn the thermostat up and down and listen for a click. If you don't hear a click the t-stat maybe bad. The pilot is small until the t-stat opens the valve to allow more gas in. check for bugs in the gas venturi, spiders and mud dobbers will build a nest and block the orfice also. gomer | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 758 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.56 Rating: N/A |
Joe, They don't work well at all on DC, better on AC and best of all on LP. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 668 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 70.157.211.199  Rating: N/A |
Dirty orifice, dirt in the chimney, or poor regulation of the gas, are the common problems. If it works well on AC/DC, the thermostat's probably fine. Propane usually works the fastest/best as far as cooling it down. It does need a good solid flame, though. If all it looks like, is a small pilot-type flame, it's probably either a dirty jet, or low regulated pressure. Try turning all stove burners on (lit of course), and make sure the gas is flowing well enough. Doing that, will usually purge any air out that may have accumulated from sitting. (that's an old RVrs trick) (uhh, and a RV shop's trick) A good source of info: http://www.rvmobile.com/ (Message edited by john_mc9 on November 01, 2008) (Message edited by john_mc9 on November 01, 2008) (Message edited by john_mc9 on November 01, 2008) | ||
| Doyle Gaither (Texasborderdude)
Registered Member Username: Texasborderdude Post Number: 150 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 75.209.215.237 Rating: N/A |
I chased a similar problem about a year ago. Gotta check the pressure at the fridge. Can't rely on the range, water heater pressure, etc. A new regulator fixed my problem; but still works better on ac (which it shouldn't) Good luck! dg | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 857 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 173.116.71.199  Rating: N/A |
I had a friend with this problem on his refrigerator (I don't remember the brand), but we found a large accululation of rust around the LP orifice. We vacumed the rust, tapped on the "chimmney" a few times to dislodge more rust, vacumed again and fixed the problem | ||
| Debbie and Joe Cannarozzi (Joe_camper)
Registered Member Username: Joe_camper Post Number: 126 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.239.202.82 Rating: N/A |
Well after further investigation I am going to replace the regulator. Everything else checks out OK. The pilot looks large enough but I am guessing. Took it apart, clean as a whistle. I'll keep you posted. | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Registered Member Username: Niles500 Post Number: 877 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 71.180.124.221 Rating: N/A |
That's a smart first move - I know Doyle would rather have changed his out first before paying the long dollar at RV Medic - Doyle - Glad to hear that it at least did the job! | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 605 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 207.231.75.253 Rating: N/A |
Joe, A thought on this, and to echo Gus's comment. "They don't work well on DC, better on AC, and best on propane." The reason they do that is a direct result of the amount heat applied to the heated portion of the refrigeration system. (In an absorption type of refrigeration system, the more heat, the more cooling.) Everyone else has pretty much figured it out already, you don't have enough heat on propane, and I agree. My only additional suggestion is to check the flame size before replacing the regulator. A lot of these refrigerators don't actually have a pilot, they just vary the flame between high and low according to the thermostat. That's why they freeze stuff in cool weather, the fridge is capable of freezing at low fire with low ambient temperature. So, look at somebody else's fridge, and see if the fire switches from high to low with the stat before changing the reg? Or if you have a manometer, the pressure must read at least 11 inches of water column on the outlet side of the reg with the fridge and at least one stove burner lit. It may [have to read] 13" with absolutely nothing on, to get 11" under load, which you have to have to get proper output and performance. I assume this fridge needs DC for control, and you have it? If your flame doesn't change size, I feel you have a control problem, not a propane supply problem? Good luck, and happy hunting! George | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 759 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.69 Rating: N/A |
Joe, Please let us know what you find out. The only problem I ever had was a failed ingiter board. Simple to replace but expensive to buy. George, Mine won't work at all on any type of power if there is no DC. | ||
| Debbie and Joe Cannarozzi (Joe_camper)
Registered Member Username: Joe_camper Post Number: 128 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.239.202.82 Rating: N/A |
It was that regulator. I went out and got a new 2-stage and it was 17 bucks. I wish all the fixes were that cheep and easy. Thanks for the suggestions. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 765 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.15 Rating: N/A |
Joe, Thanks, those are the kind of repairs I like! |