We've got a 3 way 50 litre chescold fridge that we've had for about 15 years,it's been a great fridge up till now but it's now only getting down to about 15 degrees on gas,any ideas on whats goin on with it.
cheers
Gaz
Baz421 said
09:39 PM Mar 8, 2016
We had one in the NT for many years and worked best on gas.
The powder inside has probably packed down. Turn the fridge upside down when it's OFF and be a bit rough with it to loosen the powder (re fridgerant powder for want of a better word).
Lift it up say 100mm and drop flat and hit the bottom with your hand.
Turn upright and try it.
Hetho said
09:44 PM Mar 8, 2016
Hi Gaz.
You can try giving it a good "shake up". lift it, drop it (on something soft), roll it, tip it upside down, etc.
The dry chemicals need to be disturbed and therefore become active again.
Cheers.
Hetho
Gaz n Shell said
09:48 PM Mar 8, 2016
Thanks guys ,knew I could depend on ya's to have some ideas,I'll give the old girl a shake up tomorrow and see what happens
cheers
Gaz
gemmybob said
03:31 PM Mar 9, 2016
Sorry mate, There's no powder in these fridges, its a liquid Ammonia mixture, though the idea to turn it upside down does have some merit if its an old fridge. When you turn it upside down you will hear the refrigerant gurgling as it runs down with gravity. If its working on the 240 and 12 Volt OK, its more likely that your gas jet is dirty. These jets have to be cleaned periodically, and as we get most of our propane from Indonesia (not Aussie made), and its particularly dirty. While you are at cleaning the jet, a trick I use is to put a rolly cigarette filter in the line before the gas jet, a piece of cotton attached makes it easy to get out next time. Saves cleaning, just swap out the filter instead of all that disassembly to get at the jet. Good luck
-- Edited by gemmybob on Wednesday 9th of March 2016 03:35:43 PM
oldtrack123 said
04:54 PM Mar 9, 2016
Gaz n Shell wrote:
G/day folks
I'm engaging the nomads brain trust.
We've got a 3 way 50 litre chescold fridge that we've had for about 15 years,it's been a great fridge up till now but it's now only getting down to about 15 degrees on gas,any ideas on whats goin on with it.
cheers
Gaz
Hi
It could be due to a number of things
But suggest you check in the below order
How does it go on 240V?
Is the problem only on gas?
If so
{1] Is the flame full size it should be burning with a blueish colour & the outer edge of the flame should just touch the outer edge of the flame tube
If not you have either:
a dirty jet
The gas regulator pressure is too low
A faulty thermostat
[2]Is the Flame tube Clean??
[3]Is the whirly baffle still hanging down in the tube
If it does not work ok on 240V
[4] The bad news one, can you detect any ammonia odour inside or around the back of the fridge or any part with a greenish deposit If so that is a good indication of a leak in the system & you have lost some of the refrigerant[ammonia ]
That means a whole new system but most likely a whole new fridge.
[5] If no ammonia odour
.
[6][No Crystals normally in the system, but can form & cause blockages, IF it has been MISUSED[ NOT RUN LEVAL & overheated] & IF THAT IS SO, almost impossible to repair
[7]it could have a vapour lock
you could try taking it out:
Turn it upside down & give it a good shake about
Let it stand upside down over night.
Then turn it right way up & give it another go.
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 9th of March 2016 05:05:55 PM
Explorer said
04:58 PM Mar 9, 2016
Gaz Hi,
Not knowing where You are located, most parts are pretty warm at the moment. Absorption fridges normally struggle in hot ambient temperatures. If the outside temp is over say 30 degrees would suggest that the fridge is probably okay. Unless You can smell ammonia the "gas" would be okay.
Regards Mike.
Gaz n Shell said
08:10 PM Mar 9, 2016
Thanks all,
I've just flipped the fridge over and given her a good shakeup , gemmybob is right I could hear the ammonia gurgling down the tubes , I'll let it rest and try again . No ammonia gas smell,so that's a bonus.
We're at home in the Illawarra at the moment and the weather is around the 30 degree mark so maybe the old girl will struggle anyway ,it used to handle 30 deg . alright before thou.
If she is still crook I'll take your advice and check the jet ,the reg and the flame tube
Thanks again folks for all your advice,I owe ya's a beer when we catch up
cheers
Gaz
Dougwe said
08:27 PM Mar 9, 2016
Nothing to do with fridges but the powder comment reminds me what I had staff carefully do to powder fire extinguishers in vehicles. Just tap around the sides of extinguisher with a rubber mallet. That was done twice a year to loosen the powder inside. Never had to find out if it worked though, phew!
Baz421 said
08:59 PM Mar 9, 2016
gemmybob wrote:
Sorry mate, There's no powder in these fridges, its a liquid Ammonia mixture, though the idea to turn it upside down does have some merit if its an old fridge. When you turn it upside down you will hear the refrigerant gurgling as it runs down with gravity. If its working on the 240 and 12 Volt OK, its more likely that your gas jet is dirty. These jets have to be cleaned periodically, and as we get most of our propane from Indonesia (not Aussie made), and its particularly dirty. While you are at cleaning the jet, a trick I use is to put a rolly cigarette filter in the line before the gas jet, a piece of cotton attached makes it easy to get out next time. Saves cleaning, just swap out the filter instead of all that disassembly to get at the jet. Good luck
-- Edited by gemmybob on Wednesday 9th of March 2016 03:35:43 PM
I stand corrected,,,, but a question please. Were those built in the 80's powder or liquid?
Ours worked best on gas in the NT in say mid 30's heat.
Gaz n Shell said
09:01 PM Mar 9, 2016
Yea I've heard that too Doug,so I gave it a go and you can feel the powder shift,it must settle after a while , especially in a vehicle going over corragations and bumps
Aus-Kiwi said
09:56 PM Mar 9, 2016
Try a fan at the back .. Pushing air through heat exchanger . I also fitted a solar fan on the top cover .
oldtrack123 said
12:02 PM Mar 10, 2016
Hi Baz Always ammonia solution, since that method was discovered & used well over 100years ago!![ late1800s from memory] I think you may be referring to what can happen if the whole unit becomes severely overheated[mainly due to being run not level] There is a corrosion preventive in solution in the system & severe overheating can cause that to separate out & form crystals . That usually results in blockages in the very small tubes of parts of the system & is very difficult to dislodge. Even if dislodged it does not go back into solution so more blockages & even more overheating occurs & lack of cooling That usually means the system is not repairable.
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Thursday 10th of March 2016 12:04:12 PM
Baz421 said
08:34 PM Mar 10, 2016
oldtrack123 wrote:
Hi Baz Always ammonia solution, since that method was discovered & used well over 100years ago!![ late1800s from memory] I think you may be referring to what can happen if the whole unit becomes severely overheated[mainly due to being run not level] There is a corrosion preventive in solution in the system & severe overheating can cause that to separate out & form crystals . That usually results in blockages in the very small tubes of parts of the system & is very difficult to dislodge. Even if dislodged it does not go back into solution so more blockages & even more overheating occurs & lack of cooling That usually means the system is not repairable.
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Thursday 10th of March 2016 12:04:12 PM
G/day folks
I'm engaging the nomads brain trust.
We've got a 3 way 50 litre chescold fridge that we've had for about 15 years,it's been a great fridge up till now but it's now only getting down to about 15 degrees on gas,any ideas on whats goin on with it.
cheers
Gaz
We had one in the NT for many years and worked best on gas.
The powder inside has probably packed down. Turn the fridge upside down when it's OFF and be a bit rough with it to loosen the powder (re fridgerant powder for want of a better word).
Lift it up say 100mm and drop flat and hit the bottom with your hand.
Turn upright and try it.
Hi Gaz.
You can try giving it a good "shake up". lift it, drop it (on something soft), roll it, tip it upside down, etc.
The dry chemicals need to be disturbed and therefore become active again.
Cheers.
Hetho
cheers
Gaz
Sorry mate, There's no powder in these fridges, its a liquid Ammonia mixture, though the idea to turn it upside down does have some merit if its an old fridge. When you turn it upside down you will hear the refrigerant gurgling as it runs down with gravity. If its working on the 240 and 12 Volt OK, its more likely that your gas jet is dirty. These jets have to be cleaned periodically, and as we get most of our propane from Indonesia (not Aussie made), and its particularly dirty. While you are at cleaning the jet, a trick I use is to put a rolly cigarette filter in the line before the gas jet, a piece of cotton attached makes it easy to get out next time. Saves cleaning, just swap out the filter instead of all that disassembly to get at the jet. Good luck
-- Edited by gemmybob on Wednesday 9th of March 2016 03:35:43 PM
Hi
It could be due to a number of things
But suggest you check in the below order
How does it go on 240V?
Is the problem only on gas?
If so
{1] Is the flame full size it should be burning with a blueish colour & the outer edge of the flame should just touch the outer edge of the flame tube
If not you have either:
a dirty jet
The gas regulator pressure is too low
A faulty thermostat
[2]Is the Flame tube Clean??
[3]Is the whirly baffle still hanging down in the tube
If it does not work ok on 240V
[4] The bad news one, can you detect any ammonia odour inside or around the back of the fridge or any part with a greenish deposit If so that is a good indication of a leak in the system & you have lost some of the refrigerant[ammonia ]
That means a whole new system but most likely a whole new fridge.
[5] If no ammonia odour
.
[6][No Crystals normally in the system, but can form & cause blockages, IF it has been MISUSED[ NOT RUN LEVAL & overheated] & IF THAT IS SO, almost impossible to repair
[7]it could have a vapour lock
you could try taking it out:
Turn it upside down & give it a good shake about
Let it stand upside down over night.
Then turn it right way up & give it another go.
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 9th of March 2016 05:05:55 PM
Gaz Hi,
Not knowing where You are located, most parts are pretty warm at the moment. Absorption fridges normally struggle in hot ambient temperatures. If the outside temp is over say 30 degrees would suggest that the fridge is probably okay. Unless You can smell ammonia the "gas" would be okay.
Regards Mike.
I've just flipped the fridge over and given her a good shakeup , gemmybob is right I could hear the ammonia gurgling down the tubes , I'll let it rest and try again . No ammonia gas smell,so that's a bonus.
We're at home in the Illawarra at the moment and the weather is around the 30 degree mark so maybe the old girl will struggle anyway ,it used to handle 30 deg . alright before thou.
If she is still crook I'll take your advice and check the jet ,the reg and the flame tube
Thanks again folks for all your advice,I owe ya's a beer when we catch up
cheers
Gaz
I stand corrected,,,, but a question please. Were those built in the 80's powder or liquid?
Ours worked best on gas in the NT in say mid 30's heat.
Hi Baz
Always ammonia solution, since that method was discovered & used well over 100years ago!![ late1800s from memory]
I think you may be referring to what can happen if the whole unit becomes severely overheated[mainly due to being run not level]
There is a corrosion preventive in solution in the system & severe overheating can cause that to separate out & form crystals .
That usually results in blockages in the very small tubes of parts of the system & is very difficult to dislodge.
Even if dislodged it does not go back into solution so more blockages & even more overheating occurs & lack of cooling
That usually means the system is not repairable.
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Thursday 10th of March 2016 12:04:12 PM
Thanks Ralph