When my Dometic refrig is on LP gas it cycles three times and then shuts off. What might be the problem?

dbontherun wrote:When my Dometic refrig is on LP gas it cycles three times and then shuts off. What might be the problem?Not sure completely about what happens, but it sounds like what you are saying is that it TRIES to start 3 times then shuts off. That means after 3 tries it did not detect a flame, and then the default is to shut off until power is cycled. If so, it's likely either a) you don't have gasb) you don't have a sparkc) something is wrong with the control boardd) something is wrong with the flame detection and it doesn't detect a flame is present.

Your igniter/flame sensor is probably dirty.

ditto take it off and clean it and clean around the burner tube while ur at it

If you just filled up the tanks or had filled you may have an air lock and the gas isn't theren enough. Start the stove and maybe the furnace to purge the gas

As others have said, the burner components might just need cleaning. I had the same problem yesterday, however, after I had cleaned mine. In this case, the thermocouple (arrow in photo) had slipped back just a little. The frig would light the flame; it would burn for a minute or so and then turn off. When I slid the thermocouple into the right spot, all was well. I'd do as suggested and take out the burner and clean it, along with the electrode and thermocouple. While you're at it you could remove the spiral baffle from the flue and brush out the flue too. Good luck.jor

Dometic Refrig keeps cutting out. | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

Bonefish
Explorer
May 24, 2013
A thermocouple uses two dissimilar metals that when heated will generate a small voltage. This is sent to the controller board which is what controlls the gas valve. If you need a very sensitive volt meter to read the millivolt (.001 volt) change when it is heated to see if it is functioning. The 30 millivolts in the above post is .030 volts when heated and functioning.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
May 24, 2013
No- the thermocouple generates a small voltage when heated, which the circuit board reads, so you need to measure the voltage with the flame on.
dbontherun
Explorer
May 24, 2013
Chris Bryant wrote:
Those have had bad thermocouples. It is easy to test- with the flame lit, it needs to produce over 16 millivolts, and should be putting out around 30. Of course, it needs to be positioned in the flame, as well:)

Chris, I disconnected the thermocouple from the circuit board and did an Omhs test, it showed that the circuit was closed, shouldn't it be open until it reaches the correct temp.

DB
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
May 23, 2013
Those have had bad thermocouples. It is easy to test- with the flame lit, it needs to produce over 16 millivolts, and should be putting out around 30. Of course, it needs to be positioned in the flame, as well:)
sljkansas
Explorer
May 23, 2013
Since you are getting it to light, I would suspect a bad thermocouple.
dbontherun
Explorer
May 23, 2013
I do have a thermo-couple. Is there a chance that could be bad? I clean the burner and nozzle and the thermo-couple sits above the burner. The refrigerator has nice steady flame, it shuts off after a few minutes then ignites again. It will do this for three times and shuts down. All fuses are fine, my tanks are full. Just don't understand why it doesn't run on propane. It ran with no problems during my trip to south Florida and back. Any Ideas?

DB
dbontherun
Explorer
May 19, 2013
dbontherun wrote:
Chris Bryant wrote:
Do you have a thermocouple? Most Dometic models do have one, but quite a few use an ignitor on the board- these are pretty reliable though.
A model number would help.

The model is RM2862
dbontherun
Explorer
May 19, 2013
Chris Bryant wrote:
Do you have a thermocouple? Most Dometic models do have one, but quite a few use an ignitor on the board- these are pretty reliable though.
A model number would help.
dbontherun
Explorer
May 19, 2013
tboss wrote:
you never said as to whether you are gettin gas or not...

I am getting gas.
evergladesgator
Explorer
May 19, 2013
Sounds like thermocouple is not generating enough juice to open gas valve. Don't want to hijack this thread but along the same lines,

How much and how complicated to remove burner assembly to clean flue on a Dometic Americana fridge #RM2652. Works great on 120v (34*) but half azzzzzed on propane. Good flame on hwh and stove burners. Have a very nice blue flame the length (1 1/2" ) of the burner tube keeping the thermocouple hot to keep gas valve fully open. Just won't lower fridge temps. Freezer is great. Looking to see if Chris Bryant can chime in.
Thanks