fridge venting/baffles

kstockwell

kstockwell

Member
May 24, 2016
376
2
18
my fridge is no where near vented per these instructions.

I have a side vent and a top vent, and there are no baffles directing the airflow; there's a big gaping opening at the top below the vent, no side
baffles.
It's like it's hanging in space. I've had trouble cooling it on LP this year; was going to change the burner but now it looks like it's burning
bright blue, no flicker. I'll try to get the pressure checked to make sure it's at 11. What are the ramifications of no baffles? Is it just poor
cooling in hot weather?

http://thenorcoldguy.com/norcold-technical-support-blog/norcold-refrigerator-ventilation-how-important-is-the-venting/
http://dave78chieftain.com/vent.html

Does everyone else's fridge have the right baffles? Is this a Norcold specific thing? I did tape off the top vent, it's lower than they should be
and I assumed it was not creating the chimney effect. Last year (and i think previous years/owners based on the remote temp sensor that was
installed) it just had to be set all the way cold to work and didn't work as well when it was hot.

Two weekends ago when it wasn't hot out the freezer let my ice cream sandwiches get soft. It works fine on electric. If that's the case does that
mean I don't have to worry about the baffles as much and just focus on the LP pressure?

thanks, haven't asked any questions in awhile

kelly
--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
Kelly,
What year is your coach? as the 78 had a different outside vents.

> my fridge is no where near vented per these instructions.
>
> I have a side vent and a top vent, and there are no baffles directing the
> airflow; there's a big gaping opening at the top below the vent, no side
> baffles.
> It's like it's hanging in space. I've had trouble cooling it on LP this
> year; was going to change the burner but now it looks like it's burning
> bright blue, no flicker. I'll try to get the pressure checked to make
> sure it's at 11. What are the ramifications of no baffles? Is it just poor
> cooling in hot weather?
>
> http://thenorcoldguy.com/norcold-technical-support-
> blog/norcold-refrigerator-ventilation-how-important-is-the-venting/
> http://dave78chieftain.com/vent.html
>
> Does everyone else's fridge have the right baffles? Is this a Norcold
> specific thing? I did tape off the top vent, it's lower than they should be
> and I assumed it was not creating the chimney effect. Last year (and i
> think previous years/owners based on the remote temp sensor that was
> installed) it just had to be set all the way cold to work and didn't work
> as well when it was hot.
>
> Two weekends ago when it wasn't hot out the freezer let my ice cream
> sandwiches get soft. It works fine on electric. If that's the case does
> that
> mean I don't have to worry about the baffles as much and just focus on the
> LP pressure?
>
> thanks, haven't asked any questions in awhile
>
> kelly
> --
> 1978 Kingsley
> Putney VT
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
1978 Kingley i have upper vents and a door hatch in for lower vents

the hatch is not lower than the fridge, it's 4" higher
--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
There was a diagram of how to install a baffel .
I do not know how to send a shetch to you till our office staff comes in
Monday, then I can send my shetch.
What is most important is the top, as on the 78 the top vent is on the side
and to creat a good draft you'll need to install a vent at the top.
give me your email address and I'll send you sketch Monday AM.

> 1978 Kingley i have upper vents and a door hatch in for lower vents
>
> the hatch is not lower than the fridge, it's 4" higher
> --
> 1978 Kingsley
> Putney VT
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
What is odd is your good performance on AC. Usually propane is best, AC a close second and DC marginal as least heating Watts. Could the burner have
shifted and be not heating properly?
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
I have a top vent, it's clear; but it's just wide open up there above the fridge, and there is around 1" clearance on the sides.
regardless, i'd love to have what you can send me

mailto:snowsto

thank you
kelly

> There was a diagram of how to install a baffel .
> I do not know how to send a shetch to you till our office staff comes in
> Monday, then I can send my shetch.
> What is most important is the top, as on the 78 the top vent is on the side
> and to creat a good draft you'll need to install a vent at the top.
> give me your email address and I'll send you sketch Monday AM.
>

>
> > 1978 Kingley i have upper vents and a door hatch in for lower vents
> >
> > the hatch is not lower than the fridge, it's 4" higher
> > --
> > 1978 Kingsley
> > Putney VT
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.appliedgmc.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
That's what I'm wondering too! If AC works fine, then I have to assume the crappy vent job is OK. I had to turn the temp up when running AC. I did
clean the burner last fall because it wasn't keeping up during hot weather. I fiddled with it all again, and have it running now. I'm suspecting my
regulator. It's $20 for a new two stage, and $50 for the test system...

> What is odd is your good performance on AC. Usually propane is best, AC a close second and DC marginal as least heating Watts. Could the burner
> have shifted and be not heating properly?

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
John,
Your correct, lot of times the burner need to be blown out with air as
there are lot of old flskes in there.

On Sun, Apr 22, 2018 at 12:27 PM, John R. Lebetski
wrote:

> What is odd is your good performance on AC. Usually propane is best, AC a
> close second and DC marginal as least heating Watts. Could the burner have
> shifted and be not heating properly?
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Majority of the pressure regulators are not working well as the rubber
diaphram has deteriated.
We replace lot of them and also sell few every month.

> John,
> Your correct, lot of times the burner need to be blown out with air as
> there are lot of old flskes in there.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 22, 2018 at 12:27 PM, John R. Lebetski <

>
>> What is odd is your good performance on AC. Usually propane is best, AC a
>> close second and DC marginal as least heating Watts. Could the burner have
>> shifted and be not heating properly?
>> --
>> John Lebetski
>> Woodstock, IL
>> 77 Eleganza II
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.appliedgmc.com
> 1-800-752-7502
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
With our curved sides, there is no way to build the baffles the way they are outlined in the installation instructions for the fridge, but the closer
you can get, the better. Below is what I did, maybe it will help. I used 1/2" urethane bvoard and aluminum tape (mostly) and my fridge works really
well in all conditions. I also have a couple of solar powered computer fans mounted in the top vent to help with the airflow.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g5863-norcold-refrigerator-installation.html
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
Working on this on my 78 royale today.
I'm making aluminum baffle to reduce depth of recess to 25"
And filing the resulting space with glass fiber insulation.

It can't hurt to meet makers specs. And the added insulation should cut down on affect of exterior heat.

One thing you should check. The headliner material had sagged down and partly blocked the vent inside the enclosure.
I just ripped it out as it's not visible.

One could also fit a couple of computer fans behinds the lower vent as there is already 12v there but hopefully that would not be necessary as the
simpler the better.

--
Cary, NC

1978 Center Kitchen Royale.
 
these are all such great ideas and installs... thanks, now i feel like i should pull the whole thing out and get in behind there and do it right.

I did clean out my burner last summer; it is rusty looking but i soaked in in alcohol and blew it out, i also tapped all the loose rust from the flue-
I ordered a new burner because why not. Right now the flame is blue and strong looking; but that's not to say the burner couldn't be replaced.
Should I just put the new one in?

Is it better to just get a new regulator and put it in? I mean, $20? Or should I try to measure the pressure?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024E6TX2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

here's what i have now for a regulator

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
Seems like the burner is sitting not fully seated where the heat can be utilized correctly
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
Regulator installed, getting the old one out was a pain, everything was connected and spun.. While at it I put in an "extend a stay". Future
replacements should be a breeze

After 20 hours on, the fridge is still not cooling. The vent pipe is hot, I can put my hand on it but wouldn't want to hold it there.
Pull the fridge? Check out the venting and redo the baffle/insulation? Or replace the burner with the one I bought last year?

thanks
kelly
--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
My 23' had only a very small added upper vent for the icebox, which didn't work very well:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212101325399206&set=rpd.1557263599&type=3&theater

The small vent just below the awning. It isn't big enough, so mine had a pair of computer fans mounted in it - they fit perfectly. Powered by the 12
volt 'run' line on the icebox. Any time it called for refrigeration - 110, 12, or gas, the fans came on. Worked great.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
oh good lord. Just replaced the burner, which honestly didn't look all that bad; I had a blue flame.

Now it sounds like a flame and is REALLY bright blue and strong. So, I think I probably needed the burner all along. Not to say the new regulator
(and bonus extend a stay) wasn't a bad addition.

Will report temperatures later; but this seems like a big difference from what I had.

Lessons learned
parts of the LP are backward thread
you need ONE component at least to be able to spin
simply having a blue flame (not yellow) doesn't mean it's not bad
removing the burner assembly the second time takes 1/8th the amount of time it did the first round

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
I can't see the photo but I get the idea. I have the upper vents but I taped them off to try and make a chimney effect (I have a roof vent). I have
a couple of muffin fans I will probably put in at some point.

New burner assembly really changed the flame color/strength. So that may have been it all along. The old burner didn't look as bad as so many other
burners I saw on the internets...

> My 23' had only a very small added upper vent for the icebox, which didn't work very well:
>
> https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212101325399206&set=rpd.1557263599&type=3&theater
>
> The small vent just below the awning. It isn't big enough, so mine had a pair of computer fans mounted in it - they fit perfectly. Powered by
> the 12 volt 'run' line on the icebox. Any time it called for refrigeration - 110, 12, or gas, the fans came on. Worked great.
>
> --johnny

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
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