Ammonia detector

[SteveB2]

Was thinking about the fridge the other night and thought about trying to find an ammonia detector for a little more security with the Norcold. It could give some warning when the cooling unit fails and give us a chance to shut it down and get out. I've found a few in the $400 range but I'm not sure what's out there.

Any thoughts?

[Selah]

For that price you can get an automatic halon ( or what ever the replacement is) system for the back of the fridge. Right now our fridge is new and I am comfortable with it. In a couple of years I might go with the halon system.

[Gary RVRoamer]

An automatic fire extinguisher makes more sense, I think. Escaping ammonia may burst into flame before the detetor has a chance to notice it. And the extinguisher may save you and the coach, whereas you have to run for it if the ammonia alarm goes off.

Here is one:
http://www.rvcoolingunit.net/servlet...***/Categories

[TXiceman]

Ammonia will not sustain a flame. It will only burn when you have aflame source present. Mostly it will pop or explode.

For manually detecting an ammonia leak we use two things. One is the nose. The threshold for smelling ammonia is very low. The other thing is a burning sulfur stick (available from most ammonia suppliers and some industrial supply houses.

The upper and lower explosive limits on ammonia has a very small gap and it is hard to get the ignition. The problem most likely will come from the little bit of hydrogen in the system. Hydrogen also will not burn except in the presence of a flame source. It will tend to pop or explode and that is it.

Ken

[az99]

A real refrigerator might even be better if you don't boondock.

[bruceisla]

Or ... if you want to stick with the Norcold, the $400 goes a long way toward replacing the cooling unit with an Amish unit. Still ammonia but a more reliable cooling unit.