Gas Fridge Issue

[Dino]

Morning all,
I'm gradually working my way through all the jobs in my recently purchased Freeman 33. The boat came with a Dometic RF60 Fridge. This works on gas, 12V & AC however from reading the literature it appears that the fridge needs to be initially cooled on gas or AC and the 12V will maintain the temperature. The 12v supply will not cool the unit it will just maintain a lower temp.
Anyway, I have always been used to gas fridges on boats and I would like to use this unit on gas. The previous owner told me that when he ran it on gas it would sometimes blow out in windy weather.
I presumed this unit just needed a vent cover fitted to the superstructure.
So I had a look at it last night and in the manual i discovered the following warning... "The unit may not be installed in motor vehicles and boats when using the gas
operation method!"
The unit is sold as a caravan/campervan fridge. Are Dometic just covering themselves or should this unit really be changed to an alternative gas boat fridge.

Any advice appreciated...

 

[omega2]

Our old Vanessa will blow out with the wind as well, just shut the wheel house door, and stay with it until you have done your cooking/whatever. I think they are referring to the modern cut-off valves that modern appliances are fitted with. However the installation should be approved/checked by a Calor Gas fitter. With regard to fridges yes pull the temp down with gas or mains, but at sea would not be happy running on gas, thats why they made to run on battery power.

 

[Dave_Seager]

Most of the Dometic 3-way fridges draw about 10 Amps continuously when used on 12 volts. There is no thermostat for the 12 volt circuit so they tend to overcool and will flatten most batteries pretty fast. The 12 volt system is only intended to be used in caravans and motor caravans when the engine is running. They are not recommended for use in boats. There are also safety issues regarding gas fridges in boats and I personally have experienced a boat fire caused by petrol fumes reaching the naked flame on one of these fridges.

 

[omega2]

iN THAT CASE GET ONE OF THESE??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Icey-Tech...velTickets_Accessories_RL&hash=item46104326f5

 

[PCUK]

Most of the Dometic 3-way fridges draw about 10 Amps continuously when used on 12 volts. There is no thermostat for the 12 volt circuit so they tend to overcool and will flatten most batteries pretty fast. The 12 volt system is only intended to be used in caravans and motor caravans when the engine is running. They are not recommended for use in boats. There are also safety issues regarding gas fridges in boats and I personally have experienced a boat fire caused by petrol fumes reaching the naked flame on one of these fridges.

Dave, isn't his one of the later types with sealed flame. I remember my old Electrolux gas fridge that worked fine for years on the boat in all weathers but put it on 12 volt and we could play rounders with cucumber for a bat and tomatoes for balls!

 

[Dino]

Thanks for the replies folks. Thankfully my boat is diesel. I'm not really sure why Dometic have stopped making marine gas fridges but I think they just don't feel happy standing over them.
I have a Carbon Monoxide alarm and a smoke alarm ready to be fitted to the boat so I think I'll get a gas detector/alarm to be sure.
The fridge is close to the saloon bunks so it will probably be a good idea to run it on the battery or shorepower when there is someone sleeping there.
I've just purchased a good battery charger and i'm fully set up for shorepower.

 

[Dave_Seager]

Dave, isn't his one of the later types with sealed flame.

I do not know whether the flame is sealed on this model but the instructions say "The unit may not be installed in motor vehicles and boats when using the gas operation method!" The exclamation marks is theirs, not mine. They also quote that it will use 220 Ah in 24 hours when running on 12 volts so I do not think it is any use on board unless you have shore power.

 

[pheran]

I do not know whether the flame is sealed on this model but the instructions say "The unit may not be installed in motor vehicles and boats when using the gas operation method!" The exclamation marks is theirs, not mine.

Which means that his insurance may well be invalidated!!

The other issue to bear in mind is that being of the absorbtion type, the operation of the 'fridge is likely to be severely compromised if its used even just a few degrees off the vertical.

Having one in a boat is a bad call IMHO.