Camper refridgerators

[jimbos43]

Does anyone know how a camper refridgerator gets cold when burning propane?

My fridge quit working on propane, but will work on electric.

I have a nice blue pilotlight. I have ignition to fire up the flame. I don't believe the flame gets any bigger then a pilotlight when cooling, not like a water heater or something like that.
Okay, so the flame sits under a tube, with the heat of course flowing upwards, then venting out the top. What heats up at the top back of the fridge that creates cooling?
I thought I smelled unburnt gas, or a burning smell.
Please tell me it's something I can access through the back panel, and not have to yank the fridge.

[kroppe]

Jimbos,

Try this. It might be more info than you want, but it gives the theory behind it. If your propane system is working, meaning the gas supply and flame control is correct, I would suspect something in the ammonia side. Not sure the reason the electric works, unless the refrigerator is has dual coolants, meaning ammonia for the propane side and freon (or equivalent) for the electric side, like a home refrigerator or automotive air conditioning.

http://www.nh3tech.org/absorption.html

[jimbos43]

Thanks Kroppe, that is what's baffling me also. I figured just one coolant, so why one way but not the other. It doesn't seem like an electirical problem. My fear is what it at the top of that pipe carrying the heat that is not letting the heat fire up the coolant. I'll have more time later to check out the link. Thanks Much

[fishinlk]

Have you made sure that the pilots burning properly? I'm not real swift on these gas fridges yet but I had a problem with mine the first rip this summer when a spider got in my gas line and caused me a lot of grief. Luckily I had someone camping in our group with a buch of tools and we took the lines apart and cleaned them. I was told they really love the all propane lines.

[jimbos43]

Boy, it sure did look fine. It burner has a half a dozen or so holes for the flames, and out of each hole was a nice small blue flame forming a nice peak, and combining to form a pilot flame about an inch high. No yellow, to be seen. Your right though, there sure was a lot of crap and debris in the area accessed through the service door on the outside of the camper.

I've have to get a hold of Thetford/Noucold, and see if they have any answers.

[FREEPOP]

http://www.howstuffworks.com

jimbos, check the link above (they had refrigerators on ther las week) and turn some kids on to it. It is my favorite!!!!!!!!!!

[jimbos43]

It's an amazing process, with a doubt.

[Oct.1]

Had the same problem once and it turned out to be the vent from the back of the fridge to the roof was plugged. Caused heat to stay low around the fridge. The heat was just enough to not allow the evaporation process to take place. Thus not cooling the element in the freezer. No problem with electric because no flame for heat.

[jimbos43]

Could be that's where i'm getting the smell from. I'll take a ladder up with me on the next trip, and look from the top down.