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High altitude and gas refridgerators

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gliderider
Reg. Nov 2009
Posted 2012-06-19 5:38 PM (#144962)
Subject: High altitude and gas refridgerators


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The manual says my Norcold 3 way won't run over 5,500 feet?  Is there anything I can do?  I searched for answeres but couldn't find "complete" instructions, on changing the pressure.   Anyone know where to find DIY instructions?  Or have any tips for me.  Thanks

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Painted Horse
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2012-06-19 6:59 PM (#144965 - in reply to #144962)
Subject: RE: High altitude and gas refridgerators



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Posts: 2453
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Location: Northern Utah

I don't know about the Norcold.  But the Dometic I had in my Logan trailer worked fine at the occassional 10,000 foot camp outs and easily at the many 8000 foot outings.

 

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Jeepplr
Reg. Oct 2007
Posted 2012-06-21 12:52 AM (#145013 - in reply to #144962)
Subject: RE: High altitude and gas refridgerators


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Posts: 233
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Location: Pataskala, Ohio

I think mine is NorCold and it worked fine at 9300 feet for a week in Silverton CO.  The outside air temp never got real warm but my ice-cream stayed hard.  That is more than I could say for that same fridge on the same trip down in Phoenix. 

My friend from Phoenix has coach (RV) and his fridge gave him some trouble in Silverton, he took it into the RV dealer and they replaced something in his fridge, it works now.

If you can get no good answer call an RV dealer in Denver and ask them, they deal with altitudes above 5500 feet all the time.

Hope this helps.

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gard
Reg. Aug 2007
Posted 2012-06-21 8:48 AM (#145017 - in reply to #144962)
Subject: RE: High altitude and gas refridgerators


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Posts: 5870
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Location: western PA

The higher the elevation, the lower the air density will be. With an aircraft piston engine, the carburators have an altitude compensating valve, that would reduce the amount of fuel available, depending upon the altitude of the aircraft. Without this adjustment, the engines would run rich and suffer in performance.

What's this got to do with propane appliances? The same thing happens to any gas sourced fuel at increased elevations. Propane is introduced into a burner at a specific rate, depending on a jet. This is a fixture that has a specific sized hole called an orifice. Because it is a fixed size, it cannot change the amount of gas that flows through it. At higher altitudes, with thinner air, it still puts out the same amount of gas. The result is a rice mixture which lowers the efficiency, creates soot, and burns more fuel than necessary.

The manufactures of gas appliances have altitude compensating kits for both natural gas and propane fired burners. They include replacing the gas orifices with those of smaller diameters. This will derate the amount of available BTUs, but will increase the efficiency had they not been changed.

Basically, for every two thousand feet of elevation above sea level, the orifice size is reduced by one drill number. If you live at those altitudes, it would be wise to have the changes effected. If you are only traveling through on holiday, make due with what you have, until you get back home again. 

Automotive motors that are electronically controlled, are automatically adjusted for the best air / gas ratio depending upon air density. Those with superchargers or turbochargers will notice little change in power with the higher elevations, as opposed to naturally aspirated motors.

Exactly which appliances will work unaltered? It's any one's guess unless they're tried. At least you will know why they won't work, and can be reasured that they will once again at a lower altitude.

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