Dometic RM2852 fridge wont stay lit ?
Hello All,
It's been a LOOOooonnnnggg time since I've been around here, but Open Roads Forum has always been my "Go-To" place when I need to get knowledgeable experienced advise... so here I am.
I now live in a senior citizens community, and I "hang out" at the RV Storage Lot here within the community. Being that many of the citizens here are on limited incomes, and/or not able to do all of their own maintenance on their rigs, I am often asked to help them out.
I do have some past experience with RV fridges not working properly, and I have a (very basic ) knowledge of both their function and common problems. I have had to replace the circuit board on a couple of rigs over the years, using the "Dinosaur Brand" purchased from Randy at BestConverter.com. These worked quite well for those repairs.
Ok, so here's what I have so far.
The senior citizen owner of this fridge, Dometic RM2852, tells me it would not self light when switched to propane... but he could get it to light using a long BBQ lighter.
It would stay lit for several hours, but at some point it would shut off and the "check" light on the control panel would then come on.
I have verified that this is what happens.
First I went to check for carbon build up at the igniter and did find some carbon there causing a weak spark.
I removed the build up,... shut off the fridge,... turned it back on,... and it lit at first spark. YAY ! I thought I was "out of the woods" that easy, but unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case.
When it did light, it ran for several hours, (overnight actually), and yes it did get plenty cold inside the fridge. All seemed well, but then at some point it will shut itself off and not re-light. (no self sparking from the igniter). "check" light comes on and stays on.
The propane tank is full, and yes I have fully checked and verified there is no spider webs of other blockages in the gas/air tube.
When is WAS burning,... I was getting a nice clean Blue flame. no problems there.
It just decides at some point to shut itself off.
We at at sea level, and there has not been any wind blowing it out. so it's not that either.
I called Randy, and He does not think it is the circuit board,... I also just got off the phone with Dometic Customer Service. I spoke with a nice lady there "Nina", who also thinks it is not the circuit board.
Nina checked with somebody else there, (I'm assuming another service technician), who also does not think it is the circuit board.
They suggested a possible DC 12v signal problem going TO the circuit board,... and suggested that I check, clean, and re-apply Dielectric grease to all connections in the electrical system supplying the fridge.
I have done this to all the connections on the board itself,... but not beyond that yet. But to be honest,... I'm fairly confident there is not an issue with electrical power supply going TO the fridge.
Nina also suggested the possibility of it being,(this is a quote), "the electrical component with the porcelain insulator".
I asked her if she meant the "Thermal coupler", and she replied "No,...that model fridge does not have a Thermal sensor".
That does not sound correct to me,
but maybe it is ? ? ?,... I dunno.
SOOoooo,... I figured I'd "Go running home to Momma", (i.e.- come to all you knowledgeable folks with my questions.
I'm trying to help out a friend here, and hopefully avoid having him go spend $$$ needlessly. He lives a Very modest life on a VERY limited income. He does not have the luxury of just taking it to a RV Dealership every time there is a glitch in his giddy-up.
So what say all of you ?
What do you think would be causing this periodic shut down when running on propane ?
What would you check next ?
I have not yet checked "the porcelain insulated electrical component",... but I still think that is the thermo-couple which tells the controller "Yep, the flame is still lit".
Maybe I'm wrong there,... but if it IS the thermo-couple,.. and the fridge DOES run for several hours before shutting itself off,... then doesn't it stand to reason that the thermo-couple is still operating properly ?
Any advise and replies are greatly appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time to read this long post.
Cheers,
Ron
It's been a LOOOooonnnnggg time since I've been around here, but Open Roads Forum has always been my "Go-To" place when I need to get knowledgeable experienced advise... so here I am.
I now live in a senior citizens community, and I "hang out" at the RV Storage Lot here within the community. Being that many of the citizens here are on limited incomes, and/or not able to do all of their own maintenance on their rigs, I am often asked to help them out.
I do have some past experience with RV fridges not working properly, and I have a (very basic ) knowledge of both their function and common problems. I have had to replace the circuit board on a couple of rigs over the years, using the "Dinosaur Brand" purchased from Randy at BestConverter.com. These worked quite well for those repairs.
Ok, so here's what I have so far.
The senior citizen owner of this fridge, Dometic RM2852, tells me it would not self light when switched to propane... but he could get it to light using a long BBQ lighter.
It would stay lit for several hours, but at some point it would shut off and the "check" light on the control panel would then come on.
I have verified that this is what happens.
First I went to check for carbon build up at the igniter and did find some carbon there causing a weak spark.
I removed the build up,... shut off the fridge,... turned it back on,... and it lit at first spark. YAY ! I thought I was "out of the woods" that easy, but unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case.
When it did light, it ran for several hours, (overnight actually), and yes it did get plenty cold inside the fridge. All seemed well, but then at some point it will shut itself off and not re-light. (no self sparking from the igniter). "check" light comes on and stays on.
The propane tank is full, and yes I have fully checked and verified there is no spider webs of other blockages in the gas/air tube.
When is WAS burning,... I was getting a nice clean Blue flame. no problems there.
It just decides at some point to shut itself off.
We at at sea level, and there has not been any wind blowing it out. so it's not that either.
I called Randy, and He does not think it is the circuit board,... I also just got off the phone with Dometic Customer Service. I spoke with a nice lady there "Nina", who also thinks it is not the circuit board.
Nina checked with somebody else there, (I'm assuming another service technician), who also does not think it is the circuit board.
They suggested a possible DC 12v signal problem going TO the circuit board,... and suggested that I check, clean, and re-apply Dielectric grease to all connections in the electrical system supplying the fridge.
I have done this to all the connections on the board itself,... but not beyond that yet. But to be honest,... I'm fairly confident there is not an issue with electrical power supply going TO the fridge.
Nina also suggested the possibility of it being,(this is a quote), "the electrical component with the porcelain insulator".
I asked her if she meant the "Thermal coupler", and she replied "No,...that model fridge does not have a Thermal sensor".
That does not sound correct to me,
but maybe it is ? ? ?,... I dunno.
SOOoooo,... I figured I'd "Go running home to Momma", (i.e.- come to all you knowledgeable folks with my questions.
I'm trying to help out a friend here, and hopefully avoid having him go spend $$$ needlessly. He lives a Very modest life on a VERY limited income. He does not have the luxury of just taking it to a RV Dealership every time there is a glitch in his giddy-up.
So what say all of you ?
What do you think would be causing this periodic shut down when running on propane ?
What would you check next ?
I have not yet checked "the porcelain insulated electrical component",... but I still think that is the thermo-couple which tells the controller "Yep, the flame is still lit".
Maybe I'm wrong there,... but if it IS the thermo-couple,.. and the fridge DOES run for several hours before shutting itself off,... then doesn't it stand to reason that the thermo-couple is still operating properly ?
Any advise and replies are greatly appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time to read this long post.
Cheers,
Ron
