Dometic RM 3862 Cooling unit

[Texan]

Have a leaking cooling unit and wondering what is the best remanufactured unit available?
RV cooling unit warehouse has the Amish unit for $495 with $100 rebate


also need an Atwood 8940-111-DCLP furnace ignition board and RV warehouse also  sell there Dinasour board for $86...

comments appreciated

 

[afchap]

Amish unit is both BETTER and LESS COSTLY than Norcold or Dometic.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

The Amish unit is highly regarded, though it has not been in use in RVs long enough to have a well-established track record.

I think it is as important to have proper installation as to have a high quality unit. There are two major concerns when installing an absorption cooling unit: (1) the bonding of the new cooling unit to the fridge case  and (2) proper sealing around the "box" and maintaining factory-spec clearances when re-installing the fridge in  the RV. An absorption fridge is very sensitive to both of these.

If I were replacing a cooling unit, I would probably choose the Amish (Pines Refrigeration) brand and go to the factory in Shipshewanna, IN, to have it installed.  I just don't have much confidence in replacements done by typical RV techs and the function is too critical - and too expensive - to gamble. Factory installation is reasonably priced - about $300, depending on model.

 

[Texan]

Just an update, replaced the cooling unit with one of the Amish units, had a hard time getting the old unit out as it was really stuck but after a lot of prying and digging out a lot of the old foam it finally turned loose. Install was straight forward but suggest you take a lot of pictures as you disassemble. It started cooling in about 30 minutes and now is working just great.

The furnace problem turned out to be the spark electrodes, I did buy one of the Dinasaur boards and now  I have a spare and I am alright with that as the price was $75 and it is a beautifully built board.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Thanks for the feedback and glad to hear the cooling unit install went well.

 

[Master-Tech]

i have tried several remanufactured cooling units from different companys, i say no names but price is 2/3rds of a new unit, my experience is you get what you pay for. I recommed new one from Manufactures, you get solid warranty and not refurbished / the cost and long life is your decision.  Dinosour makes good replacment style board resonably priced but they are not fenwall friendly or pal compatable for diagnostics , oh by yhe way always Thermal-Mastic and good sealing permagum ,,,,  Good Luck !!    Rodney  ,,,, 

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Agree with Rodney - re-manufactured cooling units are a gamble. I would not use one. But I would buy a new cooling unit from a company that manufactures new ones, though not necessarily from the fridge manufacturer itself.

 

[Texan]

I appreciate all advice and did a lot of research before making the decision to buy the remanufactured unit. Price ended up to be $395 with rebate and was far cheaper than new units . The remanufactured units use all new tubing and insulation and come with a 3 year warranty. Reviews were all good and unit received was new looking as far as I could see and started up and working great. Cooling units are sealed and no working parts so I don't know what could possibly go wrong except for heat stress causing a leak which was what happened to the once NEW unit.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Good luck with it. Follow the installation instructions carefully - getting the cooling unit properly bonded to the fridge "box" and re-insulating/sealing around it is every bit as important as the new hardware.