Dometic fridge wont work/ start on LP
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Topic: Dometic fridge wont work/ start on LP
Posted By: Poddy
Subject: Dometic fridge wont work/ start on LP
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2020 at 2:58pm
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Hello fellow Podders, i have a 2011/ RP172. My problem is i cannot start the fridge in LP mode. I cleaned the burner, the small silver jet, i see a spark, but i'm certain there's no propane reaching the flu. Burners inside and water heater work fine. I read on this forum about an in-line buss fuse inside behind the interface of the fridge. That's my last hope- that it's blown- will check tomorrow (but im thinking if it's blown, i probably wouldn't see a spark) . Anyone have a similar problem in the past? Tks.
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Replies:
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2020 at 3:29pm
You might wish to visit your heat stack and take the chimney off and see if it is clean inside as well as the swirly piece of metal that hangs off the cap. May need a small hand mirror and flashlight to see inside stack. Possible that spiders/bees ect. could have built a nest in there. If there is any obstruction in the stack, pilot won't light. Also, if you have one of those worthless tank indicators on your propane cylinder, please remove it, you will get better pressure. I also own a 2011 (have owned it since March 2011) check your propane line to the fridge. Read a week ago (FB site) of an individual who had the same situation as you so he removed the propane hose that went from the regulator to the fridge and found out when he blew on it there was an obstruction inside (with difficulty he was able to blow air through it), the hose was beginning to come apart. Once he replaced that hose (this was on a 2012 model) everything worked like clockwork.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Posted By: Poddy
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 6:17am
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Thanks Jato, I'll take a look at that chimney when the rain today holds up and see if it needs a cleaning. I'm wondering if the chimney can be taken off or is it permanently attached?
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 8:42am
The top of the chimney (with the angle vent) comes off by wiggling it back and forth. Check first to see if you have a small screw holding it in place. I am not sure about removing the whole chimney, that is something i have not attempted.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 10:16am
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I would not advise trying to remove the chimney. It is an integral part of the plumbing and might better be termed a boiler with a chimney in the center. Remove the top, the insert, and the burner. Then run a brush down through. A 12 gauge shotgun cleaning brush attached to a stout cord such as parachute cord that won't break should be about the right caliber for the chimney.That may or may not be the problem though. I have not found the chimney to be blocked except for a mud dauber nest when we first bought our RPod. I put screens on all the vents to keep the critters out after that and have not had any chimney blockages.
If you are seeing a spark but no flame ever appears, I would suspect the LP system. There are things that can go wrong. The LP line could be clogged or kinked somewhere along the path. The solenoid that needs to open to let the LP gas flow isn't opening. The line was not thoroughly purged. This last happens with mine when not used for a while on propane or when I have had to change the regulator or purge the oily liquid out of the lines that accumulated. I'll elaborate.
I took the LP line off at the refrigerator and at the LP regulator. If you do this, stick the end that goes into the regulator in a container to catch any oily liquid that comes out. I then took an air compressor and air chuck and from the refrigerator end, blew out the LP line. There was a fair amount of oily liquid that came out. I think this stuff accumulates and hinders the flow of the LP gas. The stove and furnace each have a high enough flow rate that this is not an issue but the refrigerator uses very little gas to begin with. After reassembling and purging the air with the stove and furnace, I went through several cycles of the refrigerator sparking with no flame, then with short bursts of flame that would not stay lit and finally with a solid flame. I had also cleaned the burner and orifice as part of the process.
My refrigerator was not cooling adequately before I did this but after this cleaning, performs much better.
Also, you may have a regulator problem. You may need to get the LP system tested to make sure you have the correct 11" water column pressure available. If not, the regulator could be bad or the pigtail that goes between the LP tank and the regulator could be bad. I have had more than one pigtail that went bad, one of which was in very cold weather. I replaced the regulator which did not fix the issue. I replaced the pigtail and we were back to normal.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Poddy
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 10:40am
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Im starting to feel there's so many little things that can be the source of my problem that it's going to be my white Coleman Marine Cooler for the duration of this summer, but i'll keep trying and testing. Tks for all the help folks.
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Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 11:02am
Are your stove burners working properly? You may have thought of this but my fridge won't work on propane if the propane has been off for a while, until I light the burners first.
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Julie
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Posted By: Poddy
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 11:23am
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EchoGale, yes burners work great.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 1:37pm
Have you let it go through several cycles of trying to light? It will throw an error code. Either turn it off and back on or hit the triangle with the ! to acknowledge and it should try again. After several cycles, it should light if there are no electrical or propane problems. However, if gas is not getting to it, there is no way it can light, even if it does spark. Unfortunately, it isn't something we can figure out by reading here. If you leved near me, I would not mind taking a look at it, but you did not list a location, so I have no idea if you are near by or far away.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Poddy
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 2:15pm
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StephenH, thanks but i'm in Eastern Canada. I tried the cycle thing, off-on sequence, nothing works.
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Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 2:25pm
Poddy, try cleaning the orifice burning chamber, burner, igniter and censer, I have to clean mine ones or twice a year.
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If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.
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Posted By: TimK182G
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2020 at 9:13am
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Hi guys. I'm piggy backing on this post. Will the fridge work when plugged in to my truck in 120V electric mode if my battery is junk and not holding a charge? Or do I need to invest in a new battery? Looks like I can get a deep cycle rv battery for less than $100 so not a huge deal if I need to get one.
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2018 R-Pod 182G
2014 GMC Sierra 1500
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2020 at 9:19am
No, you have to be connected to a 120Vac outlet for fridge 120V electric mode to work. If you meant 12Vdc electric mode that should work without a trailer battery, but be careful or you'll run your truck battery down and won't be able to start it.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2020 at 11:30am
While you could run the refrigerator on propane while plugged into the truck or shore power without a battery, I don't think you should. You need a good battery in there for while you are towing so that your brakes will work if the trailer becomes separated from the tow vehicle. Without a battery, no brakes if that happens. So, if your battery is bad, replace it. While you are doing so, add a battery disconnect switch so that when the RPod is sitting unused, you can simply turn the switch and your battery won't run down from having the LP/CO detector and other items constantly drawing power. However, always turn it back on when you get ready to tow and use the RPod.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Poddy
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2020 at 3:40pm
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Update! I got it working!! Took all parts off again from the small elbow silver pipe to the flu, cleaned everything again (compressed air and isopropyl alcohol) and used a lighter to manually catch the propane. After a few attempts it lit. Then i turned it off and used the interface inside the Pod and it lit again. Thanks for all your help everyone.
Poddy, Newfoundland, Canada
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2020 at 4:10pm
Thanks for letting us know. There must have been some tiny bit of dirt in the orifice that was preventing gas from getting to the burner. Sounds like you got it this time. Congratulations!
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2020 at 4:24pm
Yes, congrats on your fix and thanks for posting how you got there.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: Poddy
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2020 at 10:54am
One quick observation from this past weekend camping. Took a lot of tries (maybe 10min. of manual flicking a lighter outside under the flu for the flame to catch). Fridge then worked great all weekend but i would hear from time to time the clicking outside and the flame would light after a few seconds. Is this normal? Like i said, fridge worked great after i manually lit it, but would go out at times and re-light automatically.
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2011 RP172
2015 Toyota Tacoma
Newfoundland, Canada
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Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2020 at 12:58pm
If your fridge is cooled to your setting the LP will shut off, once it gets warmer LP will ignite again to cool the fridge
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If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.
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Posted By: Poddy
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2020 at 1:17pm
Thanks marwayne, so all worked as it should. I was very impressed with the chill inside as i only had it on two LEDS (maximum 5 LEDS). The freezer kept my ice paks solid (kept exchanging ice paks for my portable cooler outdoors).
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2011 RP172
2015 Toyota Tacoma
Newfoundland, Canada
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