Dometic Fridge "we don't make that part any more"

luvrbus · July 23, 2021, 08:54:33 PM

Quote from: richard5933 on July 23, 2021, 06:59:46 PM
The Amish communities have been using absorption fridges for decades. No electric in their homes other than possibly what they can do with a 12v battery, so it makes perfect sense that they'd be good at keeping them going.

Amish have electricity in their homes they just cannot use the public grid they use generators

richard5933 · July 24, 2021, 03:50:16 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on July 23, 2021, 08:54:33 PM

Amish have electricity in their homes they just cannot use the public grid they use generators

Depends on the group and local bishop. Many in Wisconsin will not use generators unless in their shop for running a business. Some will use battery only, some none at all. There is not one set of rules for all the different communities.

Regardless, many are still using absorption refrigerators in their homes. Last I looked, stores like Lehman's are still selling residential absorption fridges, although that may change as larger 12vdc compressor fridges come to market and become affordable.

https://www.lehmans.com/category/gas-refrigerators-freezers

luvrbus · July 24, 2021, 04:58:49 AM

Quote from: richard5933 on July 24, 2021, 03:50:16 AM
Depends on the group and local bishop. Many in Wisconsin will not use generators unless in their shop for running a business. Some will use battery only, some none at all. There is not one set of rules for all the different communities.

Regardless, many are still using absorption refrigerators in their homes. Last I looked, stores like Lehman's are still selling residential absorption fridges, although that may change as larger 12vdc compressor fridges come to market and become affordable.

https://www.lehmans.com/category/gas-refrigerators-freezers

There are several different groups the ones with Mennonites ties seem to be the most strict lol but they all bend the rules using tractors for transportation the horse and buggy they use on Sundays

Ed Hackenbruch · July 24, 2021, 08:20:42 AM

So if any of them don't have electricity and use a 12v battery, how long would it last and how would they charge it?

dtcerrato · July 24, 2021, 08:45:23 AM

Quote from: Ed Hackenbruch on July 24, 2021, 08:20:42 AM
So if any of them don't have electricity and use a 12v battery, how long would it last and how would they charge it?

I would think solar?

luvrbus · July 24, 2021, 08:59:25 AM

Quote from: dtcerrato on July 24, 2021, 08:45:23 AM
I would think solar?

12V batteries have been around a lot longer than solar,I haven't seen any using solar in OK but I only see the ones on the highway

richard5933 · July 24, 2021, 10:44:37 AM

Quote from: Ed Hackenbruch on July 24, 2021, 08:20:42 AM
So if any of them don't have electricity and use a 12v battery, how long would it last and how would they charge it?

Same place they charge the batteries powering the lights in their buggies. Some have a generator in their workshops. Some communities have a central power tap & phone booth. I have an Amish friend, and to call him means calling the community phone booth and leaving a message. Someone eventually retrieves the messages and he calls me back in a few days.

They have ways of making it all work out.

chessie4905 · July 24, 2021, 12:30:42 PM

Leid diesel in Newville, Pa, had electric in bysiness, but restrooms had seats like outhouses. That was several years ago. My buddy goes over to Belleville, just over the mountain, every Wednesday. He hauls an Amish friend around the area in his pickup. Guy pays him by the mile or time, or produce. He is always bringing vegetables or cruits home for his suppers.lol I know he got the guy a gas engine from Harbor Freight for his washing machine.

luvrbus · July 24, 2021, 12:33:33 PM

Quote from: richard5933 on July 24, 2021, 10:44:37 AM
Same place they charge the batteries powering the lights in their buggies. Some have a generator in their workshops. Some communities have a central power tap & phone booth. I have an Amish friend, and to call him means calling the community phone booth and leaving a message. Someone eventually retrieves the messages and he calls me back in a few days.

They have ways of making it all work out.

The Amish community is about the only place you see a phone booth with pay phone.I seen them Walmart in Pryor OK buying stacks of pre paid long distance cards.I had to buy permits to move my tractors that cost a couple hundred bucks each time.Then you would see Miller (Amish) moving his D6 dozer on a trailer being pulled by a John Deere tractor paying no fees just chugging along.People in OK had a saying you could tell the status of the Amish by the tractor he drove John Deere green was a status symbol.I bought a lot of beef from Miller for many years

TomC · July 25, 2021, 08:04:13 AM

NovaKool is now making the option on their 9cu/ft refer with separate compressors for refrigerator and freezer. Good luck, TomC

luvrbus · July 25, 2021, 08:41:08 AM

The 12V Everchill fridge we installed in Greggs GM bus is working like a champ he told me, 900 bucks for 11 cubic fridge is not bad very nice frost free unit.It was a direct replacement for the propane Dometic,he has 120 w solar panel to keep the battery charged

Jim Blackwood · July 25, 2021, 09:29:37 AM

120 watts is all it takes to power the fridge?

luvrbus · July 25, 2021, 09:45:28 AM

Quote from: Jim Blackwood on July 25, 2021, 09:29:37 AM
120 watts is all it takes to power the fridge?

He purchased the solar package with the fridge

richard5933 · July 26, 2021, 10:51:59 AM

Quote from: Tedsoldbus on July 23, 2021, 11:46:40 AM
Thanks for all the input. Still having a few issues. Might just be too old and need rebuilt. Reached out by email to JC in Shipshewana. Hope to hear back. I could go there after Loudonville! Hey Bob, name of the place in Nanpanee by chance? There are lots of Amish north of Chattanooga and I am trolling a little to see if any of the horse and buggy guys here have taken this on as a trade. Who'd a thunk it? The Amish? If they do a fridge like they do the barns north of Chattanooga, they can have my bus for a week....

In addition to my bus I'm working on a 1994 Airstream. It has a Dometic absorption fridge with a failed cooling unit. Today I ordered an Amish built replacement through a company called rvcoolingunit.com which should be here in a week or so, depending on shipping. Cost for the cooling unit including shipping was $650, which is lots less than a new fridge.

The control board appears to function - heats 120v element when plugged in, and tries to light propane when it's not plugged in. Cooling unit does nothing but gurgle and get hot. Previous owner wasn't able to get it working.

I've read good things about these replacement cooling units, so I've got hope it will fix the problem. I'll report back once it arrives.

luvrbus · July 26, 2021, 01:15:51 PM

Quote from: richard5933 on July 26, 2021, 10:51:59 AM
In addition to my bus I'm working on a 1994 Airstream. It has a Dometic absorption fridge with a failed cooling unit. Today I ordered an Amish built replacement through a company called rvcoolingunit.com which should be here in a week or so, depending on shipping. Cost for the cooling unit including shipping was $650, which is lots less than a new fridge.

The control board appears to function - heats 120v element when plugged in, and tries to light propane when it's not plugged in. Cooling unit does nothing but gurgle and get hot. Previous owner wasn't able to get it working.

I've read good things about these replacement cooling units, so I've got hope it will fix the problem. I'll report back once it arrives.

They develop a air bubble and do the gurgle thing lot of time you can flip the fridge over and over a few times and it will start to work if it is not showing signs of leakage