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Old 12-10-2006, 06:47 AM   #1
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Arrow Funny Fridge

Hello chill experts,


I have a 3 year old Domatic 2820 Classic.

It warms up after about a week of operation, Gas/Elec.

Turning it off and than on gets it cooling again.

I thought about the temp probe, and I disconnected it from the control board to see what would happen.

When the probe is disconnected from the circuit board the fridge gets very cold.

So, does this mean that the temp probe if shot?

Michael
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Old 12-10-2006, 07:38 AM   #2
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Quote:
So, does this mean that the temp probe if shot?
possibly, or the board is bad.

john
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Old 12-10-2006, 08:02 AM   #3
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I vote for a bad board. Get a Dinosaur replacement board. They are much better built than the OEM boards.

Aaron
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Old 12-10-2006, 09:48 AM   #4
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A bad board after less than 3 years. Is that normal?

Michael
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Old 12-10-2006, 10:40 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by artlink
A bad board after less than 3 years. Is that normal?

Michael
I have seen them bad right out of the box. There is a tester that they plug the board into that will tell you if it is bad or not, a decent RV repair center should have one. For some reason the Dometic OEM control boards are basically junk, you would think they would make them better but I guess it is cheaper to just say "oops" and install a new board under warranty rather than put a decent one in to begin with....

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Old 12-10-2006, 11:02 AM   #6
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ditto what aaron has to say.

i put a dino board in my furnace last year due to a failure. they are as advertised, built to military specs and soldered on both sides of the board.

quality stuff with no questions warrenty.

john
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Old 12-10-2006, 04:00 PM   #7
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I don't know guys, this past September coming home from Yellowstone we stopped at JC to have our frig serviced. After a week on the road it became a freezer. It was actually funny; I woke one morning, started the coffee, took the eggs out and went to crack one and I couldn't. Turns out it was frozen solid! Along with a whole bunch of other stuff. Well we did fine turning it on during the day and off at night. I put a temp guage in it to help regulate the temp. When we got to JC the first thing they did was replace the board. Did not solve the problem. Next a new sensor, that was it. Seems that the sensors go before the boards. If this is any help!
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Old 12-10-2006, 07:41 PM   #8
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If you're handy with money (yeah, right!), you could replace both parts. Or, if it isn't a special order, you could replace the sensor first (should be cheaper) and if it works, you are in business.
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Old 12-10-2006, 08:22 PM   #9
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Hi all,
Thanks for the input
I think I'll start with the sensor, wish me luck!
Will follow-up with results.

Terry, new Avatar?

Michael
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Old 08-03-2007, 05:44 PM   #10
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Hot in Colorado!

It's hard to believe that I have been turning my fridge ON and OFF for over 6 months now.

Well I've had it. Today I had to pull the temp probe from the board in order to get some cold.

Of course I have waited till I'm on the road to order parts

I'm ordering both a Dinosaur board and a new temp probe,
anyone know who has them for a good price?

Oh, did I mention my TV AC just went out too

Man, I'm hot.
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Old 09-15-2007, 04:53 PM   #11
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A good beating

Follow-up to 3 year old, the poorly performing Domatic 2820.

Without replacing any parts, and reinstalling the temp probe to its original place...

1. I selected a quarter round piece of firewood (mesquite) in the classic size for a piece of firewood.

2. Turned fridge OFF and let the coils cool to ambient temp.

3. Grasping firmly, I inserted both my arm and the firewood up into the outside fridge compartment and proceeded (with gusto) to beating about the coils and pipe above the flue (without causing and dents mind you) for a full 90 seconds.

4. THE RESULTS:
The fridge works as it was when new. I have delayed reporting for 3 weeks.
At burning man, with temps in the high 90's the fridge held a temp of 34 degrees at setting 3.
For the past 3 weeks it has held this temp with temps in the 90's.

Said fridge has both an internal fans and a thermostatic controlled vent fan.

I would like to thank Lewester for all his expert help
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Old 09-15-2007, 05:39 PM   #12
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it sounds like an in-the-field service memo! thanks, i'm sure many of us will need and use it.
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Old 09-15-2007, 06:21 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Artstream
Follow-up to 3 year old, the poorly performing Domatic 2820.

Without replacing any parts, and reinstalling the temp probe to its original place...

1. I selected a quarter round piece of firewood (mesquite) in the classic size for a piece of firewood.

2. Turned fridge OFF and let the coils cool to ambient temp.

3. Grasping firmly, I inserted both my arm and the firewood up into the outside fridge compartment and proceeded (with gusto) to beating about the coils and pipe above the flue (without causing and dents mind you) for a full 90 seconds.

4. THE RESULTS:
The fridge works as it was when new. I have delayed reporting for 3 weeks.
At burning man, with temps in the high 90's the fridge held a temp of 34 degrees at setting 3.
For the past 3 weeks it has held this temp with temps in the 90's.

Said fridge has both an internal fans and a thermostatic controlled vent fan.

I would like to thank Lewester for all his expert help
So the fridge responed to purcussive repair. I like that.
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Old 09-15-2007, 06:26 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Royce
So the fridge responed to purcussive repair. I like that.
Yes Royce, a form of cupping and clapping!
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Old 09-15-2007, 06:36 PM   #15
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My favorite repair, the time-honored Sledgehammer Method.
So, do you think it just needed a technical tap, or did you frighten it into working again?
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Old 09-15-2007, 07:26 PM   #16
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Spare the rod, spoil the food

Terry, it was alot more than a technical tap, more of a trashing.

It sure got the message across!
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Old 03-08-2008, 04:57 PM   #17
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Field fridge repair update

Now that warm weather is around the corner (hang in there folks, it's coming)

I thought this might be the right time to follow-up on my coolness status.

6 months after the fridge beating incident my fridge continues to perform better than ever.

1. With out the flue exhaust fan on
2. With out the internal fin fan.(thank you John HD)

The setting remains on 2-3 and the fridge (which I was on the verge of replacement) keeps a cool 33 degrees.

Not to rub it in, ambient temp is currently, 83 degrees.

So Hoist a frosty one ,

Michael
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Old 03-08-2008, 05:06 PM   #18
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Hey Michael,

Sounds like you had the early signs of that all too common disease 'Dometicus Arterio-sclerosis'. By beating on your poor fridge (after all, it was sitting there a defensless captive!!!!! ) you effectively got the same result as removal and 'burping' has accomplished for others.

It probably dislodged a partial blockage in the boiler section that allowed the unit to run full-bore again.

Glad it works now!
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Old 03-08-2008, 05:31 PM   #19
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Quote:
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Hey Michael,

Sounds like you had the early signs of that all too common disease 'Dometicus Arterio-sclerosis'. By beating on your poor fridge (after all, it was sitting there a defensless captive!!!!! ) you effectively got the same result as removal and 'burping' has accomplished for others.

It probably dislodged a partial blockage in the boiler section that allowed the unit to run full-bore again.

Glad it works now!
My bad


Lewster was invaluable, with many PM's behind the scenes as well as express parts.

Thank you sir

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Old 03-08-2008, 05:47 PM   #20
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Michael/Lew,
Would hickory work as well as mesquite?
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