mastic wrote:
Does anyone out there have any info on diagnosing and repairing an RV,
Ammonia type refrigerator? I have one that obviously has a small leak,
(it stopped cooling and you can smell ammonia), and would like to see
if I can repair it and recharge it. Maybe some links or something?

Thanks in advance.

Ammonia is quite corrosive, so once it has started leaking, there may be
many more pinholes forming.
As I understand it, there must also be Hydrogen in the system. When it
develops a leak, the Hydrogen is going to escape very quickly through
even the smallest hole.

These things are called Arkla coolers, or Ammonia absorption chillers.
That may give you some help in looking up info on it. note that Hydrogen
and Ammonia are both flammable and can be explosive. Also, with all that
still in the system, you can't just apply a torch to the tubes.

Jon

www.rvmobile.com used to have a good tech section on ammonia refers.
I think they sold rebuilt cooling units that you could swap in.
Most likely what you have is junk and it is time to move on.
Erich

"mastic" donttry@thisaddress wrote in message
...
Does anyone out there have any info on diagnosing and repairing an RV,
Ammonia type refrigerator? I have one that obviously has a small leak,
(it stopped cooling and you can smell ammonia), and would like to see
if I can repair it and recharge it. Maybe some links or something?

Thanks in advance.

On Thu, 06 May 2004 13:29:39 +1000, mastic donttry@thisaddress
wrote:

Does anyone out there have any info on diagnosing and repairing an RV,
Ammonia type refrigerator? I have one that obviously has a small leak,
(it stopped cooling and you can smell ammonia), and would like to see
if I can repair it and recharge it. Maybe some links or something?

Thanks in advance.

This is rather specialized stuff that I wouldn't try doing myself,
since they run on vacuum, ammonia, water and hydrogen in carefully
balanced quantities...

But there's good news - there are repair shops that specialize in
repairing and recharging RV absorption cooling systems. (I've seen
them sitting all boxed up at a local shop that went under a few years
back.) Remove the entire chiller as one big block from the back of
the refrigerator (not exactly easy, but DIY doable) and take it in,
and they swap it out with a rebuilt and recharged one. Ask at your
local RV Repair shops or try Googling for them.

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

In article ,
mastic donttry@thisaddress wrote:

Does anyone out there have any info on diagnosing and repairing an RV,
Ammonia type refrigerator? I have one that obviously has a small leak,
(it stopped cooling and you can smell ammonia), and would like to see
if I can repair it and recharge it. Maybe some links or something?

Thanks in advance.

Possible, but not easy, by all I understand. The ammonia is also
supposed to be accompanied by hydrogen. If you've got a leak that lets
you smell ammonia, bet on your hydrogen being *LONG* gone.

I don't even want to ponder the logistical nightmare of trying to pump
hydrogen into the system and somehow re-seal it...

--
Don Bruder - - New Email policy in effect as of Feb. 21, 2004.
I respond to Email as quick as humanly possible. If you Email me and get no
response, see http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/main/contact.html Short
form: I'm trashing EVERYTHING that doesn't contain a password in the subject.

On Wed, 05 May 2004 22:48:11 -0500, Jon Elson
wrote:



mastic wrote:
Does anyone out there have any info on diagnosing and repairing an RV,
Ammonia type refrigerator? I have one that obviously has a small leak,
(it stopped cooling and you can smell ammonia), and would like to see
if I can repair it and recharge it. Maybe some links or something?

Thanks in advance.

Ammonia is quite corrosive, so once it has started leaking, there may be
many more pinholes forming.
As I understand it, there must also be Hydrogen in the system. When it
develops a leak, the Hydrogen is going to escape very quickly through
even the smallest hole.

These things are called Arkla coolers, or Ammonia absorption chillers.
That may give you some help in looking up info on it. note that Hydrogen
and Ammonia are both flammable and can be explosive. Also, with all that
still in the system, you can't just apply a torch to the tubes.

Jon

Indeed. What I would suggest, is finding an RV dealer who junks out
trailers and motorhomes, and buy a good used reefer.

They are quite popular for the survivalist and bus converter crowds, as
the newer ones run from 12vt dc/110/propane and can be had for very
little money. A buddy just recently purchased one from an 30+ foot
Airstream that had been rearended by an 18 wheeler. Its a huge reefer
for an RV...12 cubic foot I think. He paid $125 for it. I got the 6000
watt inverter/charger for $35.. Unfortunatly the batteries (8) had
busted out of their trays...sigh.

Gunner

"A vote for Kerry is a de facto vote for bin Laden."
Strider

Simple fix: Remove the 3 mounting bolts, slide the unit out and
THROW-IT-AWAY!

--
There are only 10 kinds of people...Those that understand binary and
those that don't.
"mastic" donttry@thisaddress wrote in message
...
Does anyone out there have any info on diagnosing and repairing an RV,
Ammonia type refrigerator? I have one that obviously has a small leak,
(it stopped cooling and you can smell ammonia), and would like to see
if I can repair it and recharge it. Maybe some links or something?

Thanks in advance.

"mastic" donttry@thisaddress wrote in message
...
Does anyone out there have any info on diagnosing and repairing an RV,
Ammonia type refrigerator? I have one that obviously has a small leak,
(it stopped cooling and you can smell ammonia), and would like to see
if I can repair it and recharge it. Maybe some links or something?

Thanks in advance.

My locale RV company repairs and recharges these units, but it is not a home
project due to the equipment and supplies required. The following address
supplies one of the best descriptions of operation that I have seen.
www.lpappliances.com/G-Absorb.html

Jack