Neil,

from your pics it looks like you have assembled it right. I took some
pics of the vent assembly on my fridge, out of van, but step by step
as it is put together.

http://shufti.wordpress.com/2010/08/11/dometic-fridge-flue-assembly/

You've done this so much that you don't need the reference :) but
maybe others will find it, and your pics, helpful.

I guess you might be on your way to the electric side...maybe you can
keep vent on van to help cool the back of the electric fridge? There
must be heat produced and it has to go somewhere. I have not read any
discussion of that though.

cheers

alistair

On 11-Aug-10, at 10:44 AM, neil n wrote:

Hi Alistair.

Galaxy Quest? Ha!  :)

Not that you were saying this, but yah, I might have caulked
needlessly on the flue fittings. But they're sealed and any excess
would have gotten pushed out of the way. (but not in way of exhaust &
intake openings I think)

Re flue assembly. I aligned manifold to the body. pic:
http://tinyurl.com/2g537pw Gasket held up, holes lined up almost
exactly. SS plate behind flue cover installed with straight edges on
horizontal, hole over exhaust. The only *possibly* error; the aluminum
piece. But I compared the exhaust print and print of manifold, via
gasket, on 2 sets of flue assembly parts.

Offset "O" on AL piece over exhaust outlet as per this pic:
http://tinyurl.com/34rcuex Is that correct?

Never give up yes. But... the thermocouple in combustion box may be
worn too short. I saw a similar or same part on GW for ~ $70. At least
double that of other thermocouples I've seen. And, if interior vent
fan added, that = 4 fans for the Dometic. In hot weather, during
daytime, this might mean a constant 1 Amp draw. IIRC, a DC fridge
draws ~ 2.5 - 3 Amps. But not all the time. And.... it actually keeps
things cool even in really hot weather.

Then again, parts for a DC fridge could be pricey.

I love the idea of a fridge that can be off grid. One that doesn't
cost a bunch of money.  But if I'm going to be adding fans to keep the
Dometic *possibly* working in uber hot weather, then I might as well
draw down my battery with an actual fridge.

I do understand though that it's a big outlay of cash for a DC fridge.

Harumph.   ;)

Neil.