Dometic RmD 8505 removal

Ber090

Ber090

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Autosleeper Warwick
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Looks like I need to replace 240v heating element. Anyone done this on a Tec Tower.
Would have been happy to let engineer do it but no chance for months!Getting the part is no issue but told I need to remove tec tower to fit. Any advice welcome 🙏
Cheers
Bernie
 
Best of luck 🤔 we took ours out but to swap for a new fridge which didn’t have the oven .

we said at the time what a night mare it would have been to reattach the vent tube on top

maybe speak to a Dometic engineer before you start, or maybe check google 👍
 
I took our oven off of the tech tower and it was a sod of a job,as the oven was pop riveted onto two fixing brackets fixed to the top of the fridge in the end I had a flat bar to spread the gap a little and then with a long chisel chop off the rivets.
we did not want the oven so I turned the space into a microwave cupboard.😊
As usual everything is fixed from the side you can’t get at.😩
 
Thanks for advice. We are full timeing on a relatives drive till we find another property and in 3 days we have had the fridge issue, the central locking fail and a bulb blow. Done the bulb only the 2 bad ones to do now😂
 
No need to take it out you should be able to change it through the bottom vent. When you take the vent off you can see it goes into the chimney just above the vent.

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If you do move it forward to get space make a platform to slide it onto.
I would try to change element via vents first. We had to remove ours to change oven hinges, not difficult but you might end up removing roof vent for oven as well.
 
Lenny HB said:
No need to take it out you should be able to change it through the bottom vent. When you take the vent off you can see it goes into the chimney just above the vent.
Click to expand...
You have to move it forward to get to the element but..the 12v element sits on top of it and can be a bugger to shift out of the way getting to the 240 v one! Just bare it in mind..The chimney needs the heater case removing first to get the elements in place. The element will not get past the case around the chimney otherwise!

Done it and got the scratches and bruises to prove it!

Regards Kev
 
What Lenny HB says, no need to move it. Its not an easy task if you have big forearms but up the side of the chimney from the lower vent. You hopefully will be able to trace the 230vac element wires so as not to pull the 12vdc element by mistake. Mine were in tubes inside the rockwool insulation which was all surrounded by a metal shroud. The metal shroud unclips by pinching it together if you need to release it. Poke your phone up there and take some pictures to get your head around the topography. A couple of manuals attached which just give you some outline. I have a parts schematic somewhere but cannot lay my hands on it.
 

Attachments

I am in exactly the same predicament as you. The problem you will find is the difficulty in finding the correct element, which should be 230v 250W. Leisure spares (which is supposed to be part of Dometic) shows the part on their diagrams but do not list its part number.

Finally found one, thanks to Lenny HB listed by a small spares dealer in Devon called Swordcrown caravans. The Part number they quote is 289020930, which was on the outside of the packaging when it arrived. However the number printed on the heatshield plastic around the wires was 289018018, so who knows. But at least it is the correct wattage.

Have not plucked up the courage to fit it yet, as we will not be using the motorhome for at least another month. It looks relatively easy as it appears the fridge does not have to come out.

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Ber090 said:
Peter, Leisure spares found the correct part based on the numbers I gave them off the fridge. In stock in Germany 🇩🇪 and due to arrive in 5 Days
Click to expand...
Well I tried via a reputable dealer and they got the first one wrong. When you get it make sure it is a 250W one and not the 190W one that I was originally told was correct. Did they give you the part number? .
 
I think this is the one
ED0C2B1D-89AD-492D-BBC8-6ECB0F5EFEE7.png
 
As I said the correct one is 250W for the 8505. Have a look at the existing one on the fridge and you will see the wattage printed on the sleeve surrounding the wires into the element.

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Thx Lenny/Peter will check with them
Cheers
Bernie
 
You definitely do not want less than the 250watt version, and they have had several lower ones, you will be struggling to keep it cooling effectively.
 
This thread had me checking this morning on my 10 series in the Morelo. There is no way I can reach to the top of the chimney shroud on my installation. What I don't know is this because of the Morelo installation or the new 10 series itself? I could do it and did on the 8555 in my Flair replacing the 230vac element. So if the former then some may not be able to on an 8 series fridge. Clearly a suck it and see. The problem with moving the fridge on the Flair was that it broke the sealing tape they installed to make it airtight. This of course was fitted before they put the sides of the van on so piece of cake!
I don't know how Morelo seal the fridge but the tape is not evident.
So a caveat to my earlier, and with hindsight, arrogant post.
 
Had a quick look and it looks doable on my Burstner. Will know when I get the part! Feeling lucky at present as just mended the central locking! 2 screw loose on the actuator. Now working correctly. Don’t see anything arrogant about your Post!
 
Ber090 said:
Looks like I need to replace 240v heating element. Anyone done this on a Tec Tower.
Would have been happy to let engineer do it but no chance for months!Getting the part is no issue but told I need to remove tec tower to fit. Any advice welcome 🙏
Cheers
Bernie
Click to expand...

Did you manage to replace the element, if so did you have to remove the Tec tower?
Reason I ask is that I also need to replace the 230V element on my 8505.

Pete

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Pete, I found it impossible to get to the spot without removing the tec tower. Bottled out and booked in with A19 Caravans on the 7th Sept. Hopefully he can sort it. I am providing the part. I used him on last van and he was the only Dometic repairer who seemed to know what he was doing. Fingers crossed!
Cheers
Bernie
 
Ber090 said:
Pete, I found it impossible to get to the spot without removing the tec tower. Bottled out and booked in with A19 Caravans on the 7th Sept. Hopefully he can sort it. I am providing the part. I used him on last van and he was the only Dometic repairer who seemed to know what he was doing. Fingers crossed!
Cheers
Bernie
Click to expand...
You might have been able to ease it out an inch or 2, its only a few screws around the front trim if I remember, (I subsequently had the whole cooling unit replaced all within the 2 year warranty) and that would have given you more clearance. But I have the benefit of seeing exactly what is back there.
 
I've got access to the chimney by sliding the fridge forwards. Can anyone explain how to open the chimney/heater case to remove the heater element from the tubes as I cannot raise the elements much before they hit the heater case?
 
AlisonS I gave in and got the best Dometic engineer to see to it. Ended up as full cooling unit replacement. £900 fitted. Changed Van since then and now have a new Thetford that won’t change on Auto!
Don’t you just love Motorhomes ?
Cheers Bernie
 
sallylillian said:
You might have been able to ease it out an inch or 2, its only a few screws around the front trim if I remember, (I subsequently had the whole cooling unit replaced all within the 2 year warranty) and that would have given you more clearance. But I have the benefit of seeing exactly what is back there.
Click to expand...

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AlisonS said:
I've got access to the chimney by sliding the fridge forwards. Can anyone explain how to open the chimney/heater case to remove the heater element from the tubes as I cannot raise the elements much before they hit the heater case?
Click to expand...
The outer case that holds the insulation and elements unclips. Once you have removed the top cap the case presses together along the vertical join and you can release it. Then removal of the elements is easy. Re clipping the case is more tricky.
 
I’ve finally worked it out. Had to take the fridge freezer and oven out. This is only held in by 4 screws capped off inside the fridge and freezer. Needed to disconnect gas pipes and electric wires as well as vent pipe above oven. Then took top off heater enclosure. Pressed the enclosure vertical joint together to unclip it and only then was able to remove heater element rod. It’s not that bad once you commit to taking everything apart. It’s just working it all out in the first place that’s time consuming.
 
Tykatem said:
Did you manage to replace the element, if so did you have to remove the Tec tower?
Reason I ask is that I also need to replace the 230V element on my 8505.

Pete
Click to expand...
Have you tested the element to make sure it has gone, as often the black module on the back of the fridge that switches the power sources is prone to failure. After Peter peterc10 bought a new element it turned out to be the black box.

Edit:
You posted while I was typing. :LOL:
 

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