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jrg3170's avatar
jrg3170
Explorer
Jul 09, 2018

Dometic fridge shuts off overnight (propane mode)

I have a two year old Dometic refrigerator that won't stay on in propane mode. Electric mode works fine.

When starting up the fridge makes a bunch of clicking sounds, the burner momentarily engages then goes out, then more clicking, then burner, and so on for maybe 1-3 minutes until the fridge gives up and the "check" light comes on.

If I keep resetting the fridge, maybe 4 or 5 times of this then the fridge will eventually engage and work fine. It will work throughout the day and into the evening. However, when I wake up in the mornings the “check” light is always on again. Repeat above and it starts working again.

This makes me think maybe air is getting into the gas line overnight somehow? Or maybe it doesn't like cold temps (I was in CO at 9K feet, 70s in the day and 40s at night). I don't think there is a leak as I just returned from a five day trip where the gas line was open the entire time and I had plenty left in the tank afterwards even with consistent usage.

I took a video of the burner trying to engage, see here: ***Link Removed***

Thoughts? Should I try replacing something?
  • Ranger Smith wrote:
    Always operate refrigerator on electric power at altitudes higher than 5500 feet."
    For some, maybe. I just spent two weeks at 6500 sans issue.
  • From Dometic . . .

    "OPERATING REFRIGERATOR AT HIGH ALTITUDE

    All gas appliances experience lowered efficiency (or rating) at high altitude. This is a direct result of lower atmospheric pressure and oxygen levels, and is not a defect of the refrigerator.
    Reduced cooling performance and burner outage may occur at altitudes higher than 5500 feet above sea level (while operating on LP gas). Always operate refrigerator on electric power at altitudes higher than 5500 feet."
  • Ranger Smith wrote:
    I think the problem was an altitude problem. Usually need to adjust when that high.


    There is no "adjustment" other than running these fridges on 120 vac at that altitude just as the manufacturers recommend. I don't recall Norcold's burner jet size but it wouldn't surprise me at all if it's a #58, just as is the case with a Dometic fridge.
  • Any of the above issues might be the problem.

    Or erratic igniter? Mine sometimes sparks, sometimes doesn't. If I keep retrying, it eventually sparks. If the "doesn't" time occurs during the night, without you there to retry, it would stay on check light.

    Mine has never had problems with high altitude, even up to 10K. The one time it went off on a cold night, around 30 degrees, the problem turned out to be the propane regulator.
  • coolmom42 wrote:
    Check the 12V supply to the control board. Your battery could be getting low at night.
    I like this answer.
  • jrg3170 wrote:
    I have a two year old Dometic refrigerator that won't stay on in propane mode. Electric mode works fine.

    Or maybe it doesn't like cold temps (I was in CO at 9K feet, 70s in the day and 40s at night).

    Thoughts? Should I try replacing something?


    There's nothing to replace, your fridge is performing exactly as expected ... at 9000' both Dometic & Norcold recommend you operate the fridge in the electric mode. Here's a past discussion on this same topic.
  • Check the 12V supply to the control board. Your battery could be getting low at night.
  • I'm totally guessing, but is the propane supply steady and sufficient?

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