It's likely that the gas supply pressure is a factor in fridge
performance, but I'd hesitate to assume that means that a higher gas
pressure is necessarily better.  What's important is getting a
proper air/gas ratio.  Too much fuel and combustion will be
sub-optimal.

Indeed, there was a post here not long ago about Dometic service
recommending reduced pressures for use at higher altitudes.  Most likely
there is a range of operating pressures appropriate to the unit - perhaps
2.0 "wg (+/- 1.0"wg);  within such a range you will have optimal
combustion - and performance;  outside the range and performance will
deteriorate.

-Wes

> Date:          Sat, 22 May 1999 18:34:52 -0700
> From:          Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
> Subject:       Re: Let's fix our Dometic refigerators

> I suggest that you wait on taking your fridge in for repair. I think that
> the difference in performance may be due to the pressure of the propane.
> The tank has a 2-stage regulator that sets the pressure level. The
> fridges that I know of that cool really well have both had this regulator
> changed to the new model, as the old model is no longer made. Is yours
> still the original square shaped Marshall #260? The new type is rounded
> and is a Marshall #290. In both cases these regulators are adjustable. It
> is possible that the fridges that cool best have the highest amount of
> propane supplied to the fridge burner. The regulators may be wearing
> somehow and lowering their output pressure. We need to find the answer to
> this question as taking the fridge in for repair will gain us nothing if
> the problem is actually tank related. Does anyone know how I can measure
> the pressure of my regulators? I have a Westy with the original regulator
> that does not cool nearly as well as my Camper with the new type of
> regulator. I would like to compare the pressures to see if this is the
> reason.
>
> Mark Drillock
>
> Rubatoguy wrote:
> >
> > My fridge lit right up on propane, and after 24 hours of operation had
> > chilled down to 50 degrees.
> > Seems that my fridge will cool to just below 20 degrees of the ambient
> > air temp or 48 degrees, whichever is warmer.
> >
> > My thought is that this is not as good as it can be. Since I checked
> > everything else, and had previously upgraded to a more powerful fan in
> > the back of the fridge, I'm assuming that my only option now is to take
> > it to a service center?
> >
> > Todd
> >
> > '88 Westy
> >
> > Is there a way to test to make sure that the door is sealing correctly?
>

Wes Neuenschwander
Seattle, WA
wesn@eskimo.com