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Dometic Refrigerator Operation
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Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/12
Formally known as "Humbojb"
Picture of Jim and Tere
posted
Here's a simple question. I have a Dometic 3-way frig in my 85 Barth, made in the same year the Barth was. Below the frig door, a simple 'Off/On' switch and a dial with numbers(essentially a thermostat). Default mode is AC. On panel above entry door, there is also a switch "Refrig DC Off/On. Question is how can I run the frig on propane while hooked up to shore power (AC) There is no manual over ride. Think this is an easy one, don't you? Well, Dometic couldn't answer the question, nor could their local service provider that they referred me to. I've got a feeling that my fellow Barthers are smarter than any of them


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3693 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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The simple answer........unplug it

Steve
 
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Glassnose Aficionado
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 2/09
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Not to be a smart alek, but why on earth would you want the fridge to be running on LP when you're plugged in?


79 Barth Classic
 
Posts: 3495 | Location: Venice Fl. | Member Since: 07-12-2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/12
Formally known as "Humbojb"
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Danny, no problem. These 'frigerators run better on gas than electric. Plus, if you're plugged into 30 Amps with the roof air running, you might get close to to much load with the frig, too. But the real reason is they run better and cheaper on gas. When I'm not camping, I always have it plugged in to 30 amps in the garage but when I first start the frig up, I want to use gas. Also, there has to be some electricity to power up the board I think. Getting close to the limit on my knowledge now.
Jim


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3693 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Glassnose Aficionado
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 2/09
Picture of Danny Z
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OK, I might go along with the running better, although I haven't noticed any difference, but cheaper? I admit I don't know, but it seems like a stretch. Perhaps it's the age, mine is a 2003 2-way, but it cools down just fine on 110. It will default to 110 when plugged in but the newer controls allow an override so I could concievably go back to gas even when plugged in. I don't know the draw, [suppose I could look], but I've never had a problem with 30a supply.
This is one of those topics that I enjoy because we'll learn some things from those who know more than us before this is over.


79 Barth Classic
 
Posts: 3495 | Location: Venice Fl. | Member Since: 07-12-2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 4/08
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Have you tried just turning it off? We had a Dometic 25 years ago with a manual gas start. If you started the gas it would cool down. In fact if running with gas it just turned the flame down. WOW. Hard sometimes to get the brain cells working.


'92 Barth Breakaway - 30'
5.9 Cummins (6B) 300+ HP
2000 Allison
Front entrance
 
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Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/12
Formally known as "Humbojb"
Picture of Jim and Tere
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So far, the only way I've been able to get it to run on gas is to disconnect the shore power(turn to neutral) and turn the gas on and then turn the frig on. Just don't have any 110 that way.


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3693 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 2/16
Captain Doom
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The reefer has about a 300-600W element, so would draw no more than 5A on shore power. The A/C should draw no more than 15A, and the microwave no more than 10A.


Rusty


MilSpec AMG 6.5L TD 230HP; built-to-order by Peninsular Engines:  Hi-pop injectors, gear-driven camshaft, non-waste-gated, high-output turbo, 18:1 pistons.  Fuel economy increased by 15-20%, power, WOW!"StaRV II"

'94 28' Breakaway: MilSpec AMG 6.5L TD 230HP

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Posts: 7734 | Location: Brooker, FL, USA | Member Since: 09-08-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/12
Formally known as "Humbojb"
Picture of Jim and Tere
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The 'first generation' Dometic 3-way refrigerators, made up until around 1990, had what they called an 'Automatic Energy System'. It automatically selected AC, DC, and LP, in that order. DC would only work if the coach was running and the batteries were being charged. LP would only work if there was no AC. In all cases, there had to be DC to the circuit board, regardless. If the DC voltage drops below 9.5 volts, the board will light the frig on gas even if there is AC present. The early models, like my RM 303, did not have a manual over ride to run on gas if AC was present. I suppose you could flip the ac circuit breaker for the frig but then nothing else on that circuit would work. I'm going to try that since the converter is not on that circuit, and while hooked up to shore power would still be running the dc circuits. Again, the web site 'rvmobile.com' was very helpful.


Jim and TereJim and Tere

1985 Regal
29' Chevy 454 P32
8411 3172 29FP3B
Gear Vendor 6 Speed Tranny
 
Posts: 3693 | Location: madisonville tn usa | Member Since: 02-19-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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