DUMB THINGS I HAVE DONE #363

Ok here?s my full confession. I?ve got a Rockwood Pop-up A-frame (A122SESP) and after reading multiple posts about the benefits of installing a fan or fans to help airflow behind an inside the refrigerator I purchased two 4? fans for the outside and two 2? for the inside. Now, I?m not a rookie with my hands. I?m almost 70 and have been working on cars, planes, boats and whatever since I could reach the workbench. Unfortunately, that doesn?t prevent me from doing dumb things. In order to get 12V to the fans inside the refrigerator I needed to run a pair of 26AWG wire from the back of the fridge. At first I thought I could use the same penetration used by the thermostat capillary tubes. When that didn?t work out I knew there were no hidden coils to worry about so I drilled a 1/16? hole adjacent to the tubes but the long, skinny drill bit wandered and I nicked not one but both the tubes. When I discovered what I?d done the words that came out damaged the grandkids lives permanently. When I told their Mom they?d just learned a new language she didn?t laugh. Fans worked great but of course refrigerator won?t run on AC/DC or gas. So, I?m 10 days away from leaving on an extended road trip we?ve been planning for months and need assistance & advice. I also think I should be in the running for the annual ?Dumbest Things? contest. Here?s my questions: Where can I get replacement thermostats? (Dometic Model 4223 part# 00921130230) I?ve spent hours browsing and have called locally without any luck.  Second question: are the tubes capillary tubes or resistive? The tube from the gas thermostat appears to be a hollow tube but the one from the AC/DC thermostat looks like it might have wire inside. Finally I know how to bypass the AC & DC thermostats but haven?t figured out how to do the same with the propane valve and don?t won?t to blow myself up by a second dumb mistake  (but it would qualify me for the Darwin Awards). One thing I have learned is don?t try to fix something dumb with something jury rigged - you will regret it. Any thoughts and jokes appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Mike

Dometic Model 4223?  Most RV fridges use a thermister, which is resistive, but I've seen some with tube types as well. You should be able to visibly determine that from either inside or the rear.  I'm also a bit mystified about the gas vs AC/DC thermostat - have never seem separate ones. The interior thermister sensor merely tells the control board whether its cool or not and the controller selects the appropriate heat source for the boiler.   OK, I now see this fridge has rear controls and separate thermostats.  If you Google the parts you need, often several sources show up and ship quickly. Amazon & Ebay, a fridge parts specialist known as "The DometicGuy", pdxrvwho;esa,e.com, etc.

Do you have the manual for it?
http://techsupport.pdxrvwholesale.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Dometic-Refer-Model-RM4223-Installation-User-Manual.pdf

I'd call Dometic with the model and serial number of the fridge and see if they have the parts and can send them right out to you.  Pay for rush shipping if you need to.  If they don't sell direct retail have a local dealer order them rush for you, but first make sure Dometic has the parts available.  I hope you can recover before your trip.  I have had my share of "I wish I hadn't......"  So, I won't make jokes...stuff happens.  You'll laugh later...maybe much later if it interferes with your trip.

Only 26 gauge wire for two fans? That seems very light.

The fans inside the refrig are 2? in diameter and only draw 25ma each. I ran 22AWG from the power center  to the 4? fans on the outside but they only draw 400ma each. Fused at 3A.
Mike

wow your only at #363.... LOL

For the 12 volt source INSIDE the Fridge... Try the Light socket and switch.  NO need to drill holes.

John, a Dometic Model 4223 is a small 2.5 cu ft. single door refrigerator ... no inside light.

https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-RM4223RB-CoolFreeze-Black-Refrigerator/dp/B00JQYNRJM