Gas Fridge - Repair or Replace?

[Stemar]

I've finally got the gas hooked up to Jazzcat's fridge. which is 1984 vintage. The burner lights and has a good blue flame, but 24 hours later, there's no sign of anything getting cool. Given the simplicity of the system, it seems likely that the coolant has escaped. Is it worth getting someone to recharge it, or should I ditch it in favour of something like this?

CR65X | Alpicool & Zcamp

 

[vyv_cox]

I don't think it is possible to re-gas an absorption fridge. Sometimes the refrigerant 'settles out' and I have seen it suggested that Iinverting them for a short time will solve the problem. The one in our motorhome stopped working after being in hot sun for a time. Inverting it is out of the question but driving the van a few miles fixed it.

 

[PCUK]

If it's an old Electrolux fridge, they never get very cool on gas. Better to replace it and fit a solar panel.

 

[Daverw]

Often the solution inside will cristalise, in small systems you can heat the pipes, this will crack the crystals and allow the solution to dissolve again it’s not a gas but a sort of brine solution

 

[Boathook]

Try going for a motor is some rough water to see whether that sorts it out.

 

[Plum]

I've finally got the gas hooked up to Jazzcat's fridge. which is 1984 vintage. The burner lights and has a good blue flame, but 24 hours later, there's no sign of anything getting cool. Given the simplicity of the system, it seems likely that the coolant has escaped. Is it worth getting someone to recharge it, or should I ditch it in favour of something like this?

CR65X | Alpicool & Zcamp

I have a Waeco CRX50 fitted 7 years ago. Excellent. I particularly like the removable ice-box which then gives more volume if you dont need that feature.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Stemar]

I notice that Waeco, Dometic and Alpicool have similar model numbers. Are they the same, apart from Alpicool being around £200 cheaper?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I've finally got the gas hooked up to Jazzcat's fridge. which is 1984 vintage. The burner lights and has a good blue flame, but 24 hours later, there's no sign of anything getting cool. Given the simplicity of the system, it seems likely that the coolant has escaped. Is it worth getting someone to recharge it, or should I ditch it in favour of something like this?

CR65X | Alpicool & Zcamp

I had this problem on mine. The problem was slight almost invisible corrosion on the air holes at the burner. In mine they are thin slots just below where the flame is. It took a bit of dismantling to get there but scraping the slots clear with a penknife blade solved the problem. It didn't make much visible difference to the flame but the fridge instantly sprang back into life. I've done it three times now.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Had a similar problem in our motorhome - sorted by looking at utube which found the problem - needed cleaning from memory.