1998 Airstream B190

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tdashmike
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 103
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:17 am
B190 Year: 1998
WBCCI: 0

Re: 1998 Airstream B190

Post by tdashmike »

skater wrote:
tdashmike wrote: I haven't compared the temp difference between 120V and propane but yesterday I checked again and it was 28F in the freezer and 38F in the area below. Do these number look right? I didn't have time to build the manometer yesterday. I'm trying to make a pad for the van, hopefully I'll be done in a few days. You can see from the pictures that it's just grass right now.
What's the thermostat set to? If it's at max, it seems rather high. :(
Yeah it's on max, that's good to know.
tdashmike
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 103
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:17 am
B190 Year: 1998
WBCCI: 0

Re: 1998 Airstream B190

Post by tdashmike »

I think I'm just going to run the fridge off an inverter while I'm driving instead of buying a new heating element. Installed a new converter yesterday, should have time to check the gas pressure today.

Completed the gravel parking spot today also.
tdashmike
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 103
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:17 am
B190 Year: 1998
WBCCI: 0

Re: 1998 Airstream B190

Post by tdashmike »

I finally built up the manometer and it looks like my pressure regulator is bad, only 9 in, should be 11 in. Another problem I found is that if I leave the gas stove on and connected to the manometer and turn off the shutoff valve at the tank and release some pressure with another stove burner to say 5 inches it will climb slowly back up to 9 in so I think the main shutoff valve is bad also. I want to check at the back of the fridge but I will need to get an adapter because the outlet is too big for my 1/2 hose.

Stove connection:
Stove.jpg
Stove.jpg (105.95 KiB) Viewed 7719 times
Manometer:
Manometer.jpg
Manometer.jpg (68.67 KiB) Viewed 7719 times
EDIT:
I did some more research and it looks like the regulator on the stove should limit it to 10 inches so I really need to check at the test port on the back of the fridge to make sure it's right.

Also, I watched this youtube video and it helped to confirm that my shutoff valve is probably leaking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK46tDIOzUA
tdashmike
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 103
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:17 am
B190 Year: 1998
WBCCI: 0

Re: 1998 Airstream B190

Post by tdashmike »

Finally found an adapter for the manometer hose. Couldn't find one locally so I ordered one from Amazon. One tip with the DIY manometer, add enough water so that the water does not pass the halfway point on the bottom of the loop or you'll get a fountain of water plus escaping gas. The Dometic 2301 refrigerator has a 1/4" NPT pressure test port.

Before I adjusted the regulator the pressure was 10.5" water column with nothing but the fridge on. After the adjustment, it was 12.1" w.c. with only the fridge on. If I turn on the furnace, the back two stove burners and the fridge, the pressure is about 11.1 w.c. You can actually see a visual difference, the stove flame is about 3 times larger now with no yellow flames.

Setup:
Setup.jpg
Setup.jpg (64.12 KiB) Viewed 7708 times
Test Port With Adapter:
Test Port With Adapter.jpg
Test Port With Adapter.jpg (83.39 KiB) Viewed 7708 times
Manometer (before regulator adjustment):
Manometer.jpg
Manometer.jpg (41.94 KiB) Viewed 7708 times
tdashmike
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 103
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:17 am
B190 Year: 1998
WBCCI: 0

Re: 1998 Airstream B190

Post by tdashmike »

While replacing the AC capacitors, I found that water is pooling up around the AC unit due to the fiberglass sagging over time, at least that's what I think it is.

One of the previous owners had filled in the perimeter of the AC unit with spray foam insulation. I guess he didn't know the drains were there so he plugged up both of the drains on either side. I had to take a metal wire to pull the insulation out of the tubes, took me about an hour.

Condenser and Blower Fan:
IMG_3013.jpg
IMG_3013.jpg (143.22 KiB) Viewed 7688 times
One of the Drain Tubes:
IMG_3012.jpg
IMG_3012.jpg (127.97 KiB) Viewed 7688 times
User avatar
skater
Site Admin
Posts: 2569
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:00 am
B190 Year: 1991
WBCCI: 13270
Location: Annapolis, MD

Re: 1998 Airstream B190

Post by skater »

Yours has drains? Do they drain underneath somewhere?

The Airstream trailers have drains, but I didn't know any B190s did. My A/C condensate just runs down the side.
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
tdashmike
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 103
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:17 am
B190 Year: 1998
WBCCI: 0

Re: 1998 Airstream B190

Post by tdashmike »

skater wrote:Yours has drains? Do they drain underneath somewhere?

The Airstream trailers have drains, but I didn't know any B190s did. My A/C condensate just runs down the side.
No, they just come out of the AC unit onto the roof. I had to clear the foam from the AC unit drain outlet.
User avatar
skater
Site Admin
Posts: 2569
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:00 am
B190 Year: 1991
WBCCI: 13270
Location: Annapolis, MD

Re: 1998 Airstream B190

Post by skater »

tdashmike wrote:
skater wrote:Yours has drains? Do they drain underneath somewhere?

The Airstream trailers have drains, but I didn't know any B190s did. My A/C condensate just runs down the side.
No, they just come out of the AC unit onto the roof. I had to clear the foam from the AC unit drain outlet.
Gotcha, thanks.
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
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