Operating a Gas Refrigerator/Cooling Uni

 Tips for Operating a Gas Refrigerator / Cooling Unit

• These units are designed for camping purposes only. Not for permanent or long term continuous use.
• Units are not designed for marine use.

The cooling unit, or coils of an ammonia absorption refrigerator is the heart of the refrigerator, it does the actual cooling. Everything else on the refrigerator either supports the cooling unit, or is an accessory. No matter how simple or complicated the controls of the refrigerator are, all cooling units require the same two things to operate:

• The unit has to be level
• The unit has to have adequate ventilation

Is the unit level?
All ammonia absorption refrigerators have to be level, when stationary and turned on to any heat source, no exception. Not doing so will permanently damage the cooling unit. If stationary, turned on and not level, liquids in the cooling unit pool in places they shouldn't and cause the boiler to overheat and plug or crack.

Travelling with the refrigerator on is acceptable, as the liquids in the cooling unit will be sloshing and not pooling.

To check the unit is level, you can simply place a half full glass of water on the top of the unit and note how level the water is in the glass.

Is the unit well ventilated?
The venting of a gas/electric refrigerator is critical. Not only to provide a place for the warm air from the cooling unit to escape, but to actually create a draft that will remove expelled heat as efficiently as possible. Poor venting can cause the cooling unit to overheat and damage the cooling unit.

When the cooling unit gives off heat, it causes air around it to warm. Warm air raises causing cooler air from the lower vent to enter the area and to extract more heat from the cooling unit and also rise. The greater the difference in temperature between the warmer air and the cooler air, the faster the air will rise. Narrowing the path of the air flow forces the cooler air through the cooling unit coils as it rises.

Be aware of the outside temperature when you start the unit.
When the outside temperature approaches or passes 35 degrees C, it is best to wait to start the unit up until later in the evening. Unlike a Freon unit, a gas refrigerator does take longer to start up. In high temperatures, it is possible for the unit to vapour lock during start up.