Forum Discussion

ekirkland's avatar
ekirkland
Explorer
Apr 13, 2023

Domestic refrigerator problem

I have a Dometic refer in my travel trailer on my farm that I use as a camp house. Just recently it has stopped working in the electric mode; works fine on propane. Any ideas as to what is going on? I have checked the fuse and it’s good. Nothing obviously wrong in the outside compartment. Thanks
  • Verify in the outside refer access that there is 120 volts. Use a known working device such as a drill.
    Check 120-volt fuse on circuit board.
    Check continuity on the heating element.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    There are basically 3 possible 120 volt failure modes
    ONE (And this is a 2 parter) No 120 volts to the Fridge outlet or a bad connection on the terminal board or elsewhere

    Two (in power flow sequence) Bad control board

    Three: Bad heat element

    Now on my dometic there was a design fault...

    The terminal board which distributes 120 volt both to the control board and hence to the heater and the ice maker is bottom center in the outside compartment

    There is a drain tube that drains the water that drips off the fins when the frost melts that hangs directly above this board... You are SUPPOSED to extend that tube out through one of the holes in the outside vent cover. but when I got mine.. That was not done. So the water dripped, dripped, Dripped right on the 120 volt distribution board (Oh it has a fuse) I moved it out..

    Well when I got the Recall I mentioned to my service consultant and the technician returning my keys said "I always put it out" (Liar he had not).

    There are also fuses in the black box bottom left corner I know some of those are 12 volt Do not know if there are 120 volt there.