I agree 100% with Malcom. The cleaning of the combustion chamber makes a big
difference in the lighting of the fridge.

BTW Malcom, very good pictures.

Germain

----- Original Message -----
From: "Malcolm Stebbins" <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2003 9:31 AM
Subject: Re: Fixed Propane Fridge

> I will respond to SEVERAL posts (Frank, Kim,  Shawn),
> in this ONE email.  And I will refer to my photos at:
> http://photos.yahoo.com/mwstebbins    Just m2cw.
>
> --- Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM> wrote:
>
> >  Shawn, you need to use air from an air compressor
> to blow air
> >  into the drain at the bottom of the fridge.  100 ~
> 120 lbs.  This will clear out
> >  the combustion chamber and tubes...
>
> Frank:  I'm not as optimistic about this as you are.
> If one looks at my photos one can see all of the CRUD
> in the combustion chamber.  If one just blows air in
> there, one may disturb the crud.  Now that disturbance
> MAY cure the problem temporarily, but it MAY make
> things worse as the crud may land in/on the burner
> grill or the air hole or piezo lighter stem.  IMHO one
> should clean out the chamber and the jet and clean off
> the piezo lighter probe and the heat sensor.  This is
> a DIY project.  If I can do it, anyone can do it.
>
> ===============================
>
> --- Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> wrote:
> > I push in the propane button, (light starts
> > flickering). I turn on the
> > thermostat. I turn on the propane supply, I push in
> > the little button.
> > Voila blue flame in the sight glass.
> >
> > I release the little button. Blue flame goes out.
> > Yah, that sure seems
> > to be a pressure regulator issue. Drat
>
> Kim: Just be to sure, do you hold the "little button"
> in for 10 seconds after the flame lights???  The heat
> sensor (in the combustion chamber) needs a few seconds
> to heat up to send the signal to the control unit
> (Auto shut-off valve) to let it know that the flame in
> on.  Also, if the flame lights  with the (by-pass)
> button pushed in, why do you suspect the pressure
> regulator?  Why not suspect the by-pass switch??
>
> ================================
>
> --- Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA> wrote:
>
> > can hear the gas flowing when
> > bypass button is pressed (with
> > > hose to ear), so I know gas is there. I'm starting
> > suspect the piezo is not
> > > firing every time, or the spark is very weak, so
> > it is flooded with gas, then a
> > > large pop ignites a whole lot of gas an blows the
> > flame out (or runs out of O2).
> > > Any quick tips to getting it going tonight w/o
> > pulling the fridge? Otherwise I
> > > guess I'll be buying ice :-(
>
> Shawn:  On my fridge, I can hear a definite CLICK,
> CLICK, CLICK for the piezo lighter.  Also, just
> "hearing" gas does not mean that the combustion grill,
> or air holes, are not partially blocked  When I took
> my combustion chamber apart, the heat sensor had some
> crud on the end that MAY have interfered with the
> sensing.  I would not jump to conclusions till after
> the assembly is taken apart and cleaned.
>
> ===========================================
>
> > I've had the flame start (and LED light) sometimes a
> > few seconds after spark, but
> > never this long after (maybe 10-20 seconds). I'm
> > leaving it on overnight and hoping it
> > will last the weekend... :-)
>
> I'm not sure about this, but...  If, on your model,
> the LED is tied into the heat sensor, that would
> explain why it takes a few seconds to come on after
> the propane lights.  Also FWIW if I turn the propane
> switch AND the DC switch "on" at the same time, the
> fuse melts.
>
>
> m2cw & I'm not an expert.   Malcolm
>
>
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