Freakin fridge

[Simonjdcooper]

The flame on our fridge lights easily, has had a new thermocouple and ran for a weekend away without trouble.
It has always been tricky to keep it burning and almost always requires me to have a dig around at the burner end before it stays on for use.
We are heading off later and the usual faff with getting it going has resulted it in still not working.

Open to any actual hints and tips.
Life's too short for inane comments about something not relevant.
No we aren't going to swap it for a compressor one this afternoon, great yours always works perfectly.

If you have had a problem and you fixed it please share. Ours lights and then goes out even if you hold it burning for 30-40 seconds. I'll try longer just in case.

Thanks.

 

[ivorantony]

Usually means thermocouple or main gas valve,

 

[Simonjdcooper]

Usually means thermocouple or main gas valve,

New thermocouple last month, so must be the gas valve

 

[Landy Andy]

Have you cleaned the jet?

I clean mine out at least once a year and am always surprised what I find in there.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I would dismantle it and give the burner a good clean including blowing through the jet with compressed air( computer air cleaner can).
It looks as though the position of the burner can be adjusted . I would carefully check the position of the centre of the flame to the centre of the flue (which I trust has been cleaned) and put a mark on the burner body so you can reposition it easily.

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[Steve N Tracy]

I can't see how old your fridge is but the later ones use a system where a small earth or voltage is read through the ignited flame making a connection between the burner and the piezo igniter if it does not see this the flame is cut after around 40 seconds there is a set distance gap between the igniter probe and the burner to endure the probe is in the flame when lit.

 

[Simonjdcooper]

The flame on our fridge lights easily, has had a new thermocouple and ran for a weekend away without trouble.
It has always been tricky to keep it burning and almost always requires me to have a dig around at the burner end before it stays on for use.
We are heading off later and the usual faff with getting it going has resulted it in still not working.

Open to any actual hints and tips.
Life's too short for inane comments about something not relevant.
No we aren't going to swap it for a compressor one this afternoon, great yours always works perfectly.

If you have had a problem and you fixed it please share. Ours lights and then goes out even if you hold it burning for 30-40 seconds. I'll try longer just in case.

Thanks.View attachment 1110022

Ok, so in a strange turn it seems the switch that controls the 3 way setting is where the problem is, I found this out when the fridge started and was running while part disassembled, but putting the grey cover plate back on made the auto start click again. After some repeated on off attempts with the ckntrol switch pulled in different directions it seems that this is the culprit. So to set about fixing that...

 

[Simonjdcooper]

Have you cleaned the jet?

I clean mine out at least once a year and am always surprised what I find in there.

The jet burns fine, it's an issue with keeping it burning not getting it burning.

 

[Baggydave]

Ok, so in a strange turn it seems the switch that controls the 3 way setting is where the problem is, I found this out when the fridge started and was running while part disassembled, but putting the grey cover plate back on made the auto start click again. After some repeated on off attempts with the ckntrol switch pulled in different directions it seems that this is the culprit. So to set about fixing that... View attachment 1110056

Maybe a squirt with electrical contact cleaner will sort. Good luck

 

[Richard n Ann]

No we aren't going to swap it for a compressor one this afternoon, great yours always works perfectly.

Maybe you could just fit a compressor kit on it. Ours works perfectly

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[Simonjdcooper]

Maybe you could just fit a compressor kit on it. Ours works perfectly

Haha yes, I think we will upgrade the kit at the end of the year when finances allow. We don't have the battery power to run a compressor so would need to upgrade to lithium with the associated palaver.

 

[Simonjdcooper]

Maybe a squirt with electrical contact cleaner will sort. Good luck

It's running now after some juggling and I've secured a replacement 5 miles from the campsite we will be staying at available for collection when we need it Thank God

 

[Sleeveless]

The problem sounds like the 3 way selector switch. There is a Dometic service bulletin covering this. Corrosion/ tarnish on contacts 6a /6b cause a resistance hindering the tiny thermocouple current which keeps the gas safety solenoid valve open . This is even more of an issue when the desired temp inside the fridge is reached and the gas valve reduces the burner intensity. The switch can be taken apart and the contacts carefully cleaned .

 

[1967bowesj]

Maybe you could just fit a compressor kit on it. Ours works perfectly

Did we there Richard n Ann lasted to post #10 lol

 

[Steve N Tracy]

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[Simonjdcooper]

The problem sounds like the 3 way selector switch. There is a Dometic service bulletin covering this. Corrosion/ tarnish on contacts 6a /6b cause a resistance hindering the tiny thermocouple current which keeps the gas safety solenoid valve open . This is even more of an issue when the desired temp inside the fridge is reached and the gas valve reduces the burner intensity. The switch can be taken apart and the contacts carefully cleaned .



View attachment 1110107

View attachment 1110108

Thanks, I have bought a replacement, but good to know the original can be refurbished. I may do that and have a backup.
It may not be that specific issue as it works or doesn't work if pressure is applied to the switch shaft in a certain direction...

 

[Sleeveless]

Thanks, I have bought a replacement, but good to know the original can be refurbished. I may do that and have a backup.
It may not be that specific issue as it works or doesn't work if pressure is applied to the switch shaft in a certain direction...

"it works or doesn't work if pressure is applied to the switch shaft in a certain direction"...... That's a classic switch contact issue, moving the switch shaft "wiggles" the contacts together slightly improving the surfaces. Also, switching rapidly between gas and battery about 10 times or so also works for most people.

 

[Simonjdcooper]

"it works or doesn't work if pressure is applied to the switch shaft in a certain direction"...... That's a classic switch contact issue, moving the switch shaft "wiggles" the contacts together slightly improving the surfaces. Also, switching rapidly between gas and battery about 10 times or so also works for most people.

Thanks for the input. Took me a while to narrow it down, I've got a replacement part now.

 

[jerryz]

regularly spray the main12v input connector pins on the burner control module,,,with contact cleaner