High Altitude Fridge Problems
Our Dometic fridge had intermittent lighting issues while we were camped at about 9500' in Taylor Park. On a previous trip to the west coast just a few weeks ago and here at home (6500') it seems to work fine and it works fine going down the road (once I got to lower elevation (i.e. it went out once on trip home from Taylor while we were still at high altitude)). The problem seems to be altitude related, but the symptoms are strange.
Once or twice a day the problem would be noticed....the fridge would try to light the pilot and the problem would occur when the pilot would light, but the igniter would keep trying to light it. Click, click, click, click, like every 1/2 second. After a while, it would quit clicking and the pilot would go out. At the time, it seemed like something wasn't sensing that the pilot was actually lit. I'd find the fault light on (day or night) and have to turn fridge off and turn back on (there is no DC option). Sometimes the problem varied in that it sounded like there was air in the line and wasn't getting a steady stream of fuel....it would half way light, then make a sound I can't really type (kind of a soft whoop), and go out, and try to relight. I switched to a full propane tank mid-trip and thought I'd solved the problem, but nope...it started again. The other tank sensor shows green, so its not empty.
I just went out and turned on the fridge, here at home, using first one propane tank then the other, and the fridge lights first time every time. I read in another thread where someone with a truck camper had a similar issue. I didn't see resolution in their thread, but it was mentioned to possibly adjust the regulator. I removed the cover on what I think is the adjuster screw and turned it less than 1/2 turn left, and then 1/2 turn right from original location and didn't notice any impact.
A possibly related issue....our range's stove top burners kinda pulse...especially when on high. This happens here at home and was happening at high altitude.I haven't lived in a house with a gas appliance in forever, but it seems to me that the flame should be steady. Is this pulsing related to the fridge issue Is it too much pressure, too little? Faulty regulator?
Thanks for any ideas.
Dave
Once or twice a day the problem would be noticed....the fridge would try to light the pilot and the problem would occur when the pilot would light, but the igniter would keep trying to light it. Click, click, click, click, like every 1/2 second. After a while, it would quit clicking and the pilot would go out. At the time, it seemed like something wasn't sensing that the pilot was actually lit. I'd find the fault light on (day or night) and have to turn fridge off and turn back on (there is no DC option). Sometimes the problem varied in that it sounded like there was air in the line and wasn't getting a steady stream of fuel....it would half way light, then make a sound I can't really type (kind of a soft whoop), and go out, and try to relight. I switched to a full propane tank mid-trip and thought I'd solved the problem, but nope...it started again. The other tank sensor shows green, so its not empty.
I just went out and turned on the fridge, here at home, using first one propane tank then the other, and the fridge lights first time every time. I read in another thread where someone with a truck camper had a similar issue. I didn't see resolution in their thread, but it was mentioned to possibly adjust the regulator. I removed the cover on what I think is the adjuster screw and turned it less than 1/2 turn left, and then 1/2 turn right from original location and didn't notice any impact.
A possibly related issue....our range's stove top burners kinda pulse...especially when on high. This happens here at home and was happening at high altitude.I haven't lived in a house with a gas appliance in forever, but it seems to me that the flame should be steady. Is this pulsing related to the fridge issue Is it too much pressure, too little? Faulty regulator?
Thanks for any ideas.
Dave
