Dometic refrigerator not working on propane
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5467
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Topic: Dometic refrigerator not working on propane
Posted By: Pod People
Subject: Dometic refrigerator not working on propane
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 10:38am
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It seems that our refrigerator has stopped working when propane is selected. We are just returning from a 6 week trip where everything worked great until now. when we were leaving the campground, the ignitor wouldn't work. Usually, when we switch the refrigerator control to propane we can hear an audible "click, click, click" for 3-5 seconds and the ignitor works. now, there are no clicks and the orange control light continues to blink. After opening the side panel , there is no spark and no flame. It worked fine yesterday and has never had a problem before. the interior refrigerator light is on with only battery power, so I'm sure there is 12volt power to the refrigerator. I checked for loose or broken wires at the ignitor-no problems seen. No apparent spiders, bugs or obstructions on the burner or ignitor. There is definitely propane in the tank and the batteries are fully charged. the refrigerator seems to work fine on shore power and battery power while driving. we have an older Dometic RM7551 unit in our 2009 173 . any ideas would be appreciated thanks Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 11:31am
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Sounds like the problem is only with the igniter and not the gas valve. Since the fridge only lights once (excluding if the wind blows it out), unlike the heater and water heater, first thing I would try is to light it with a lighter. It is possible that the system won't activate the gas valve unless it detects a spark.
Also check the wires coming from the burner assembly. One of them is for the igniter itself, another is a ground wire, and then another for the flame detection (that little bar that sits in the flame and glows). Follow each one to its source and make sure they have firm, clean connections.
Wiring diagram can be found on page 28 here: http://www.caravansplus.com.au/pdf/RM7xxxL-operating_EN.pdf - http://www.caravansplus.com.au/pdf/RM7xxxL-operating_EN.pdf ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 3:11pm
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A few years ago, I had a spider set up shop in the flue and the fridge wouldn't light. Worked fine on AC and DC. There really were no signs of blockage anywhere - but I could see that the fridge would light and then shut off. A can of compressed air flushed it out the spider's remains and the fridge has worked fine since. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 11:09pm
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Thanks for the ideas. I searched a lot of forums, videos and web sites and got lots of info. I tested one aspect by using a long nose lighter to try and manually light the burner. It didn't light manually, so that meant there was no gas going to the burner as well as no spark. that meant the the gas valve was not opening and the ignitor was not getting the signal to spark. So logically, it was either the thermocouple or the ignitor or it's electrical connections. I removed the burner, cleaned it and the thermocouple and the ignitor. I checked all of the wire connections on both ends and vacuumed everything. It now works. I have it working on propane now parked in the driveway on a low setting. I've tried several times to turn it off, then back on. so far, it has worked perfectly. I'm not sure which operation "fixed"it-I just hope it's permanent. This should be part of the normal, routine maintenance. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 25 Oct 2014 at 10:30pm
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And Pod People you saved yourself about 200 bucks. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 26 Oct 2014 at 7:08pm
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Great! ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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