3 way Repco fridge failing on Gas.
Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:05
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Hi All.
I have searched the archives for an answer to this before posting but to no avail.
I have a 3way Gas portable fridge purchased from Repco 3 years ago and up until now it has served its purpose
well.
On a recent trip though, it failed on Gas. Another family in our entourage has the identical fridge and when I compared the heat coming out the top of the boilers on both fridges, my fridge was noticabley cooler (couldn't leave hand over the top of good fridge but could on the busted one)
I have done some testing since returning
home and the fridge works fine on 240v chilling down to ~4deg but when I switch over to gas, it still keeps the fridge cool but only at ~14deg. (I havent bothered testing on 12V as this has never been reliable but rather a mechanism to keep the fridge as cool as possible whilst in transit from
home to
camp ground)
SO on this basis I believe the cooling system is intact (ie no leakage in the cooling system) and that the problem lies soley with the gas funtion.
What I have noticed during testing is that when it is on gas,
the pilot flame never varies in its size/heat. (ie the controls on the fridge for the gas has a min through to max setting.) It doesnt matter where you have the dial positioned, the flame never increases so Im assuming that theres a blockage of some sort or that that dial isnt functioning?
I dont think that there is a thermostat on the gas function of this fridge that overrides the gas controls.
Can anyone offer any advice on what the problem might be and some steps I could take to possibly fix it?
Also happy to hear of recomendations on a good place in
Brisbane who would be able to repair it if the problems too complex to solve at
home.
Thank you all in advance.
Andrew.
Reply By: Philip A - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:09
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:09
I am sure you will get more detailed answers but here goes.
1 the thermostat ONLY works on 240 volts on most of these fridges.
2 The gas flame should always stay the same size.
3 Your flame is probably not big enough as there is a blockage somewhere , probably the jet.
4 A quick fix is to take out the jet and spray some WD40 through it through the tube extension.
If you want to improve the 12v performance, fit a 12v computer fan blowing on the fins in the back.
regards Philip A
AnswerID:
284949
Follow Up By: GerryP - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 20:16
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 20:16
Agree with Philip above - probably the jet. If that doesn't work, make sure you have the correct gas pressure at the
test point in the gas pipe just prior to the jet.
Check the nameplate for correct pressure but probably around 11 inches water gauge. You can adjust, if necessary, at the gas bottle regulator.
Cheers
Gerry
FollowupID:
549779
Reply By: Philip A - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 20:05
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 20:05
I might be living in the past but my old Groen/Electrolux only had one speed, one flame, no pilot light.
The light at bottom is the heater AFAIK, and there is no control of it. It just burns away heating up the gas column.
The flame out thingo will stop it starting if you don't press the button long enough , and cut off the gas if the flame blows out, but there is no "main switch " as such.
But maybe the new ones are different.( but they sure look like a copy of the old European job)
Regards Philip A
AnswerID:
284980