Fridge Gas Jet Keeps Clogging Up

[Kingfish]

Thats not a manometer. A manometer measures pressure in water column inches, not PSI. The most accurate gauge is probably the simplest and cheapest, because it actually measures the water column inches. It's not a dial at all.

[cpaharley2008]

You are right, sorry, amazon search error.

[Kingfish]

Originally Posted by Kingfish

I think you are on to something Ron. After a couple of days working flawlessly on gas, it quit totally yesterday morning. Last night I removed the orifice and re-installed just to let the pressure off the solenoid. No cleaning. It was 33 degrees this morning when I got up. Outside temp was about 60.

The fridge has worked flawlessly and better than ever since I took the orifice out two days ago and tapped on the solenoid. It has not gotten above 35 degrees the last two days traveling on the California coast.

Temperatures have ranged from 60s near the coastline to 95 or so inland. Fridge temp was 30 degrees this morning with overnight temp in the high 50s. It has never been that low before..... even during winter travel.

Go figure!!!

[padlin]

My manometer reads in psi if I set it to that, you can convert from one to the other except it's a pretty low psii.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[sunrisetrucker]

What is the proper water column inches for RV propane system? Just out of curiosity today I took some 3/8" ID clear plastic tubing and made myself a Manometer. I then proceeded to measure the water column inches in my trailer. It was 12", and my understanding is that 11" is correct. Is the extra 1" going to create a problem for me at some point, or will it just give my fridge an extra power boost to keep things cold?

[padlin]

When I replaced my autoswitching regulator my fridge started working a lot better. When I checked the pressure it was at 12.5 wc, as it's working better I dropped it down to 12. You need to check it with about half of the trailers load. In my case I fired up 2 of the stove burners then checked it on the test port of the fridge. I did not have the meter before I replaced the regulator so I don't know what it was prior.

I've always heard 11 wc was right but I'm not changing it.

[gbaglo]

Were you running the stove, maybe water heater at the same time when you took the measurement? I think you are supposed to have other propane appliances operating when measuring.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by sunrisetrucker

What is the proper water column inches for RV propane system? Just out of curiosity today I took some 3/8" ID clear plastic tubing and made myself a Manometer. I then proceeded to measure the water column inches in my trailer. It was 12", and my understanding is that 11" is correct. Is the extra 1" going to create a problem for me at some point, or will it just give my fridge an extra power boost to keep things cold?

11” w.c. is where you want it with 50% of trailer BTU’s in use. You are probably dead on with 12” w.c. with no load. Read this:
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...tml#post260752

[sunrisetrucker]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

11” w.c. is where you want it with 50% of trailer BTU’s in use. You are probably dead on with 12” w.c. with no load.

I measured it with no load, so I guess I'm good to go.
Thanks for your quick responses.

[Frank W]

We have a dometic rml 8555 model. Everytime we travel the jet plugs up with small bits of carbon. Upon cleaning the jet, the fridge runs perfectly until we travel. Is there a "filter" you can install before the jet? Any other thoughts or remedies?
Frank W.

[Gingerdog]

It's probably cheap propane with a hi carbon % My 17 is turning 10 yrs. and I've never even had the covers off any fridge ,furnace or hot water burner thingies. Maybe just lucky ?
But maybe I just get good gas.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Frank W

We have a dometic rml 8555 model. Everytime we travel the jet plugs up with small bits of carbon. Upon cleaning the jet, the fridge runs perfectly until we travel. Is there a "filter" you can install before the jet? Any other thoughts or remedies?
Frank W.

Hi: Frank W... I'm usually the one with the "Bad gas" problem!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Gingerdog

It's probably cheap propane with a hi carbon %

A "high carbon %" means contamination with oils... and yes, that can be a problem.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

A "high carbon %" means contamination with oils... and yes, that can be a problem.

How does that happen? A buddy of mine told me to never put a propane exchange tank (Blue Rhino, etc) on the trailer. Something about additives to protect the tanks that are bad for propane regulators and lines. Not sure if we are talking about the same thing and if there is any truth to what he said. If there is then why does my home gas grill and and fire pit with associated regulators do fine with it?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

How does that happen? A buddy of mine told me to never put a propane exchange tank (Blue Rhino, etc) on the trailer. Something about additives to protect the tanks that are bad for propane regulators and lines. Not sure if we are talking about the same thing and if there is any truth to what he said. If there is then why does my home gas grill and and fire pit with associated regulators do fine with it?

Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) is separated from natural gas. It is usually called "propane", but is actually mostly propane, some butane, and a bit of other stuff that sneaks through the process. I don't think that anything is deliberately added to it other than a trace of odourant (mercaptan compounds) to make leaks detectable. It isn't required to be exceptionally pure, so it isn't.

Fire pits and grills are relatively crude things with basic single-stage regulators, and seem relatively tolerant of fuel issues.