New atwood gas/absorption fridge

[lewster]

This just in.....................

Atwood Mobile Products (makers of the water heaters that Airstream uses in their trailers) has just announced the development of a new gas absorption refrigerator for RV use that utilizes HELIUM rather than hydrogen!

They will begin their product roll-out in August with a 6 cu/ft and an 8 cu/ft model. The heating will be LP or 120VAC and will have some 'advanced features' like LED lighting, more user-friendly crisper bins and more inter-active controls (according to Atwood).

I think the biggest feature is the use of helium WHICH IS NON-FLAMMABLE!! Norcold and Dometic ad better get on the ball, as their products have been under recalls due to known fridge fires!!!!

I'll post more information when it becomes available...........YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!

[Splitrock]

Cool! :-) Thanks!

[bredlo]

Sounds interesting - I'll keep an eye out for that.

[pmclemore]

Yeah, well, - does it ensure your running gear is balanced? What else ya got, Lew....?

Pat

[overlander63]

Helium? I know there are other things in the ammonia absorption fridges, but I don't remember Hydrogen being one of them. Lost of other nasty stuff, but not Hydrogen...
So, besides the He, what else is in the "mix"? I know helium is an inert (more or less) gas.

on edit, that was fun. I hit the "enter" button, and it posted....
Anyway, what kind of current draw for 12 and 120 volts? Any idea about LP consumption? If it works, I can seriously offer this as a viable alternative for some of the "don't want an absorption fridge" people.

[chowman2011]

OK..I'm in Search of a refridgerator....but is the "new" technology worth it???

Looking for a good 2 way...but I have been 'mentioned' just getting an electric .... considering utilizing solar ... the Dilemna continues....

[lewster]

Gee, what a tough crowd!

Actually, that's all I have at the moment. The currently available G/A fridges use a mix of ammonia, hydrogen, water and sodium chromate (an anti-corrosive to counter the effect of the concentrated ammonia) as the 'refrigerant'. When a cooling unit lets go, you smell the ammonia and see the yellow staining from the release of the sodium chromate on the back of the fridge. And unfortunately, if your boiler tube is operating on LP (or is very hot from the electric element), a leak in the right spot will ignite the escaping hydrogen gas and cause the hydrogen to ignite! Not pretty!!!! This is the reason that both Dometic AND Norcold have had massive recalls lately which add thermal sensors to mitigate, but NOT CORRECT these types of problems.

It's the chemical reaction between the heated ammonia (hence the need for an LP burner of electric heating elements) and the hydrogen that creates the intense cold.

I can go into the actual reaction and stages and parts of the fridge that accomplish it, but that will be another thread!

[chowman2011]

Hey Lewster,
Since You are a commercial member...I am curious--Is this Your testwater to an initial dealer offering??

No offense...I understand a business...just wondering....need a test subject for a free fridge??

Gotcha!!

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by lewster

Gee, what a tough crowd!

Yes, I re-read my post, and it looked almost like I was challenging you to pistols at dawn. Sorry...

[lewster]

Originally Posted by chowman2011

Hey Lewster,
Since You are a commercial member...I am curious--Is this Your testwater to an initial dealer offering??

No offense...I understand a business...just wondering....need a test subject for a free fridge??

Gotcha!!

Actually, NO! That's one threshold that I don't cross. If I were on this Forum to make money, I would have been gone a long, long time ago.

No offense taken tough.

[chowman2011]

Oh Lew,
Great technical post on a state of current(in-use) refridgeration units!!

AM SOLAR huh....Hmmm...I am intersted(in the product)...And You are a Great Source :-) !!

[chowman2011]

Originally Posted by lewster

Actually, NO! That's one threshold that I don't cross. If I were on this Forum to make money, I would have been gone a long, long time ago.

No offense taken tough.

Thanks Lew...I didn't intend ANY OFFENSE!!!

Seems You have a variety of skills that align with the variety of 'aspects' relative to My '77 Silver Streak "Refurbish"..Along with any other Silver Kin Trailer Out There.

I'll have to touch base with You....And I am Glad to Have Come Across this Thread and Find You Here--THanks!!

Christopher

[richinny]

ao now if your f ridge is not coling and you sound like a duck, you've got a helium leak. LOL

it sound like a great safety improvement! thanks for the information.

[Mexray]

I'm still chuckling at Splitrock's quick response with his 'Cool' pun....

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Mexray

I'm still chuckling at Splitrock's quick response with his 'Cool' pun....

Yes, I think we were all trying to ignore it. You know, don't encourage him, or he'll do it all the time...

[Splitrock]

Where's my sunglasses?

[2vets]

Any one hear anything about Atwood's new refrigerator? Is it released yet?

[lewster]

AFAIK, the new Atwood Helium refers ARE available! They come in 2 'flavors' : 6 cu.ft. and a larger 8 cu.ft. in either left hand door or right hand door. By offering 2 models of the same fridge, that tells me that the doors are NOT field reversible as most Dometic and some Norcold models are.

The list price for the 6 cu.ft. model # 12003/12004 is $1319 and the 8 cu.ft. model # 12007/12008 is $1399.

As most of the units that I work on are the larger 12-14 cu. ft. models in the larger 5th wheels and motor homes, I still have not seen one up close and personal.

I'll keep you posted when I come across one 'in the flesh'.