Time for a new fridge

[nobbyfox]

Another question about fridges, apologies!
Afternoon all, I need your advice. My current fridge fitted in my 1990 Westy (Dometic RM182) only seems to work on gas and thats a bit hit and miss too. Parts are getting expensive and there is no guarantee that it will work.
Should i replace with a new 3 way Dometic RM123? Has anyone tried to fit one in the space available? The dimensions seem ok, w380 h585 d440. We have a stand alone Dometic 1700 which is fantastic but as we are a family of 4, extra fridge space would be handy.

Many thanks

[California Dreamin]

Hi there,
I looked into this a while back but didn't end up going through with it for various reasons..I've exactly the same fridge/setup and I wanted to keep the grey Westy door on the fridge..there just seemed to be too many issues for a straight fit..that's not to say it isn't possible.

These are the main points I found.

1) The original Westy RM182 doesn't have external cooling vents like 99% of installations, it chooses to vent internally with a vent panel on top at the back below the window, one to the left side as you look at it and most importantly, the intake vent on the lower front of the fridge (a grey grill against the floor).....the new RM123 has it's controls on the the bottom unlike the older fridge, so this would be an issue for this lower vent position.
In the absence of external vents you may have to add a circulation fan, much like the one on the original (a quiet 12 volt fan drawing in air from the lower vent and blowing upwards across the cooling fins).
Obviously, there is no way I would be wanting to cutout two rectangular vents in the outside panels of my Westy .....

2) From memory (I could be wrong) I seem to remember the exhaust is also on the oposite side, so flexible exhaust pipe length and degree of elevation (the angle that the pipe exits) may be difficult using the existing exhaust port.

3) Westy gas pressure is also higher than here in the UK...you are going to need an additional regulator to step the pressure down.

4) Fixing of the Grey Westy door to the fridge door to seal....this might be an issue baring in mind the new fridge controls are at the bottom.

5) Alterations to the 'Hard' steel LPG feed pipe and union.

6) Alterations to Westy 12 volt and mains electrical feeds (although this side should be easy)

Like I said.....I don't think any of these issues are unsurmountable, infact I was very close to ordering one but felt that I needed to be able to see this fridge in the flesh...make a direct comparrison, I wasn't prepared to shell out £400 plus without being sure I could make it fit.
So as you can imagine...I would be very interested to see how you go on if you do go down this route.

PS.....if you do scrap the old fridge I wouldn't mind having it for spares matey....

Martin

[trucker]

I to thought about this but I came to the same conclusion that trying to make a different 3 way fridge fit wasn't worth the grief for the same reasons martin has pointed out. Hopefully mime is sorted now after the service I gave it but I think if I was going to change I would go for a compressor one. There is loads on the samba about this. I quite like the look of gowesty's fridge be gone idea using a chest fridge but the wife and girls wouldn't be happy if I got rid of the bog box!

[California Dreamin]

Doable if you just want to find something that will fit in the gap but not so if you want to retain the original 'Westy' kitchen block look and function.

Martin

[Ralf85]

Another question about fridges, apologies!
Afternoon all, I need your advice. My current fridge fitted in my 1990 Westy (Dometic RM182) only seems to work on gas and thats a bit hit and miss too. Parts are getting expensive and there is no guarantee that it will work.
Should i replace with a new 3 way Dometic RM123? Has anyone tried to fit one in the space available? The dimensions seem ok, w380 h585 d440. We have a stand alone Dometic 1700 which is fantastic but as we are a family of 4, extra fridge space would be handy.

Many thanks

Is the fridge actualy knackered or does it need a service ie disconnect everything, turn it upside down (as the maintenance manual advises) and gently rock it from side to side? This is done to free up the cooling fluid inside the system which kind of coagulates if not used regularly.
If the fluid is still in the system and you rock it about a bit while it is upside down,you will hear the fluid moving around in the pipe. Connect up again. If this does not make it work again properly then yes buy a new one. Also the manual advises that you should run the fridge from time to time during winter to stop this problem happening as fridges are meant to be used and not stand idle. Good luck.

[Oldiebut goodie]

You don't need to turn that fridge upside down!!!!!
That is for when it isn't working and as you have already said - it is working on gas!!!!!!!!!

Replacement elements may be all that is required after you have checked your power supplies and they are not that expensive.

[nobbyfox]

Thank you all for the replies. I hadn't factored in the vent or the exhaust issue! a***. It sounds like a lot of work and as has been said, the grey Westy fridge door will not fit.
Maybe i should buy some new parts and keep my fingers crossed!!
I am going to buy a new igniter as that has stopped functioning properly too. But then it is 22 years old.

Thanks again chaps for the advice, appreciated.

[trucker]

Maybe i should buy some new parts and keep my fingers crossed!!
I am going to buy a new igniter as that has stopped functioning properly too. But then it is 22 years old..

My igniter wasn't working properly, it turned out to be the selector switches on the front panel it might be worth giving them a dousing in electrical contact cleaner.

[nobbyfox]

Thanks Trucker, will spray like crazy this weekend!!

Cheers

[California Dreamin]

Also look at the bullet fuse holder on the drivers door pillar.....the fuses become loose and tarnished and so the holder needs retensioning and fuses cleaning to make a good contact. Red fuse (Ebberspacher) white fuse (Kitchen unit/fridge)

I'm sure I've seen both mains and 12volt ellements are still available.....Gas side will all need blowing out, spark electrode repositioning (with around a 5mm gap from the burner) push buttons lubricating, crap fan replacing for a 120mm one (well documented).

Martin

[nobbyfox]

Also look at the bullet fuse holder on the drivers door pillar.....the fuses become loose and tarnished and so the holder needs retensioning and fuses cleaning to make a good contact. Red fuse (Ebberspacher) white fuse (Kitchen unit/fridge)

I'm sure I've seen both mains and 12volt ellements are still available.....Gas side will all need blowing out, spark electrode repositioning (with around a 5mm gap from the burner) push buttons lubricating, crap fan replacing for a 120mm one (well documented).

Martin

Thanks Martin
Yes i believe the elements are still available from Gunzle. And the fan at the back replaced with a computer fan if i remember the recommendations on the Wiki.
The fridge does click wildly to restart itself, maybe the nozzle/spark electrode needs a bit of TLC too.

[California Dreamin]

Well it's going to 'click' until the thermo coupling is heated up by the flame, the coupling then overides and turns off power to the igniter....basically a fail safe device in case the flame is bown out.

I was also going to say that I'm sure I've seen elements advertised here in the UK....Peter Gunzl is a reliable supplier but trading from Germany makes parts very expensive.

Martin

[Oldiebut goodie]

They are available on Ebay, surprise, surprise!

[Ralf85]

You don't need to turn that fridge upside down!!!!!
That is for when it isn't working and as you have already said - it is working on gas!!!!!!!!!

Replacement elements may be all that is required after you have checked your power supplies and they are not that expensive.

Let's see if the suggestions about fixing the electrics works. The way the message has been posted suggests that there is a problem with the fridge working properly even on gas. If that is true then the guidance given in the service manual is to turn it upside down etc to get it operating properly again. It is quite a shock when a fridge suddenly works better than you ever remember after this action.

[nobbyfox]

It works! Well on gas anyway. Big thanks to Spannerboy for fixing the switch.
Will see how i go this year with the fridge and then decide on a course of action, although the general opinion is to stick with the original and keep fixing it. I do want to keep the original look. Thank you all again for your valuable input. Appreciated.