Gas fridge on the blink

jayzusb.christ

Hi, I got a second hand gas fridge recently - my dad had it in his garage at first and it worked fine. I took it to my boat straight after and lit it; while the flame seemed to be burning the fridge wasn't getting cold.

I turned it off for a day to let the coolant settle then lit it again; it seemed to be working then.

However, I then manoeuvred it round a bit to fit a copper pipe to the vent on the top connected to the boat's vent, and while the flame was still burning the fridge seemed to stop cooling. I don't know whether this was because of me moving the fridge round or whether it was something to do with the copper fitting on the vent.

Does anyone have any advice?

Is it level?
Does it have ventilation? Clicky.

jayzusb.christ

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

Is it level?
Does it have ventilation? Clicky.

Thanks a million! Will have a decent look at this later today and see what I can do.

autumnalcore

They are extremely inefficient are you sure you gave it enough time to test.

Old absorption fridges can suffer from stratification turning it over a couple of times and allowing to settle afterward can resolve that.

If they have been operated off level or otherwise overheated they can get blocked with sodium chromate crystals apparently whcih is irreversible but I would try inverting a few times before jumping to that conclusion.

jayzusb.christ

autumnalcore wrote: »

They are extremely inefficient are you sure you gave it enough time to test.

Old absorption fridges can suffer from stratification turning it over a couple of times and allowing to settle afterward can resolve that.

If they have been operated off level or otherwise overheated they can get blocked with sodium chromate crystals apparently whcih is irreversible but I would try inverting a few times before jumping to that conclusion.

Thank you! I'm pretty sure I've given it enough time. Trying it now with the vent left exposed (as per Sir Liamalot's link) instesd of piped awkwardly to the boat vent - seems to be working again. Just need to work on the boat vent I think more than the fridge.

autumnalcore

jayzusb.christ wrote: »

Thank you! I'm pretty sure I've given it enough time. Trying it now with the vent left exposed (as per Sir Liamalot's link) instesd of piped awkwardly to the boat vent - seems to be working again. Just need to work on the boat vent I think more than the fridge.

They will happily melt pvc without sufficient ventilation, you should install a couple of 12v fans to aid convection.

I'd a friend asked me to fix his fridge. It only worked at night.
I diagnosed bad ventilation and threatened his van heater.

He decided he'd rather it be a poor fridge and a passive space heater than a good fridge.

It needs an intake and a vent.
One low, one high.

jayzusb.christ

Thanks for the advice, all! Getting my head round it now

autumnalcore

I suppose we should have asked what kind of boat and where is it installed, if its below deck it could be dangerous you would want to have it as close to sealed from the cabin as practical and invest in a quality CO alarm. I it was me and I was planning on sleeping below deck I would invest in a compressor fridge.

Second that. Even competing with the pilot light for oxygen is not a great idea.