ARP Refrigerator Protection

Hiking Hunter wrote:
I'm interested in this discussion and the ARP unit. I've seen their website and videos. I wish they had presented a better case for why I need one. I understand the principle, but there is very little objective evidence in their case.

In their video, the temperature rises only around 3 degrees before the unit kicks in... and that's over an 11 1/2 minute period... and a tilt of around 20 degrees (my estimate - the video doesn't specify). I wish they had convinced me by showing what happens to the temperature under the same conditions without their unit.

How high does the temperature have to get for damage to occur? How much tilt? Over what period of time? How critical is it? How much does the ARP unit affect life expectancy? What is the normal temperature swing of an unmodified boiler? How much does ambient temperature affect the temp of a boiler?

Interested but skeptical until I can see a better case.

The ARP is a GOOD addition to an RV refer. Your questions point to the lack of knowledge probably 99 percent of RV'ers have about RV absorbsion refers. The ARP device PREVENTS operation that will partially destroy a cooling unit. NOT just protect from a fire or leakage. What destroys a CU is the hundreds/thousands of times over the years a RV refer is left ON when it is slightly out of spec level or there is rear ventilation that is blocked or it lacks adequate ventilation. Those things slowly destroy the capability of the refer to operate to 100 percent efficiency. Then one day it does NOT cool well and the RV'er says what a piece of junk. Ambient temp does not really affect the boiler. The normal operating temp of the boiler is around 350 degrees. The Dometic and Norcold "safety" devices kick out at about 700 degrees. NOT low enough to prevent damage from unlevel conditions. Doug

Hopefully you will never see it work. Like the Halon and AFFF extinguishers people are installing in the rear of the fridge cabinet, they are insurance policies you hope will never are needed.

I'm interested in this discussion and the ARP unit. I've seen their website and videos. I wish they had presented a better case for why I need one. I understand the principle, but there is very little objective evidence in their case.

In their video, the temperature rises only around 3 degrees before the unit kicks in... and that's over an 11 1/2 minute period... and a tilt of around 20 degrees (my estimate - the video doesn't specify). I wish they had convinced me by showing what happens to the temperature under the same conditions without their unit.

How high does the temperature have to get for damage to occur? How much tilt? Over what period of time? How critical is it? How much does the ARP unit affect life expectancy? What is the normal temperature swing of an unmodified boiler? How much does ambient temperature affect the temp of a boiler?

Interested but skeptical until I can see a better case.

Have not read the whole thread, but I put one in two years ago and everything works fine. No idea if it has ever had to work.

Salvo wrote:
Go read the patent. If it's different than what I stated then we can discuss it.

Who said I'm poo-poo'ing it? What's with all this argumentation? I don't get it.

Read the patent! Inform yourself first.

OK- I'll ask a few questions.
What temperature would you shut the system off?
Why?

What temperature would you turn the system back on?
Why?

How would you determine these figures, and why would you choose them?

What algorithm would you write to do this?

Yes- am arduino could certainly be programmed to do what the ARP does, but a simple om off, as you are supposing, is not at all what is being done.

Thanks all. I'm far from being an electronic "wizard", so it's worth my while to buy one and have it installed.

Mike

Salvo wrote:
The concept is extremely simple. Measure burner flue temperature. If temperature exceeds a limit then open relay that provides power to the fridge. Anyone knowledgeable with Arduino can build a controller for about $15.

Doesnt really matter how simple you feel it is, why are you poo-poo'ing it? If it's so easy, build a competing product.

BTW- Norcold did exactly what you said with the failsafe module. If it's as simple as you say there is no need for any processor, just a thermal snap switch.

Ahh jeez.......

Left Lane - Right Lane

Its all the...............................................KA POW!

Salvo wrote:
Hey, it's been years since I installed the device. So I got flu and boiler crossed. No big thing! Take it easy man!

The design is very simple.

LarryJM wrote:

POPPYCOCK!!!!. Your statement about flue temp just shows me you know ZILCH about them.
Larry

Well it just shows at least to me how little you actually know about the system and if as you say you are "VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT" you should not have made such a fundamental mistake and IT IS A BIG THING IMO where you measure the temp at. Again, while the design CONCEPT might be simple it's the advanced programming and flexibility designed into the system that is FAR FROM SIMPLE. You need to familiarize yourself with the current state of design since what th system is now is a FAR CRY from when the system was first being developed and initially tested and even offered initially. It's almost like comparing a "MODEL-T" with a Benz S500 ... both have four wheels and while the basic concept is simple, the two vehicles are WORLDS APART.

Larry

Take a DEEP breath. The Boiler tube and the FLUE tube in this discussion is the SAME. This is from the ARP install. "The ARP temperature sensor is clipped onto the boiler tube. The boiler tube is easy to identify because the electric heating elements are attached directly to the boiler tube". The Norcold recall IS attached to the Flue/Boiler tube but at a lower area by the Heat elements. The ARP device is mounted about 6 inches above the Norcold sensor. But BOTH mount on the same tube. Norcold DOES have a out of level/overheat built in system. It is NOT as good or precise as the ARP system. Norcolds is called the NO CO system and will shut the refer down when cooling unit protocols are out of normal safe parameters. The ARP system reacts much quicker and more precise. Which makes it a better sensor system. Doug