Refer problem

Thank you Rambo. Chris, I'm getting power to the refer because when I turn the switch off and then back on, the lights come on. They stay on (lights on are "auto", "ac", and "temp") until I switch it to gas and then all lights go off (including the light inside the refer). I have a 3 amp and a 5 amp fuse in the back. I'm going to replace both of them. The board is not encased in compound. Thanks for your comments. Any other ideas are appreciated!

*If* the circuit board on the rear of the unit is encased in potting compound- IOW, if you cannot see the discreet components- I would bet you need a new board. You can try turning it on gas and pressing on the board to see if it comes on.
I would have to say I don't run in to many of these with the original boards, but I do every now and then.
Otherwise, I would check the 12 volt power in to the refrigerator-, and the 3 amp fuse on the board to see if the fuse holder clips are tight.

pjyates100 wrote:
I don't even know if I have an automatic shut off switch. I've never heard of that. I will look. If the problem was in the gas line, wouldn't the "check" light come on rather than the power going off? Thanks for your response!

Your coach may not be equipped with one. Mine is a few years newer and a different make. If it is, you will find a box mounted near the LPG tank with both the gas line and some 12v wires running to it. It may have a reset button on it, too. That is the valve itself, and the control panel, if there is one, will be somewhere in the coach. Mine is brown, about 2x4 inches and has an on-off switch as well as a blinking light when it is working.

A blinking light is hard to miss, so you probably do not have the remote panel, at least. Even so, you still can get air in your gas lines. I certainly did in my '77 Vega travel trailer. Try the burner purge, anyway. If the burner lights normally, the hot water heater lights, and the furnace gets warm, you'll need to look to the fridge itself for the issue.

You make a good point about the power going off. My Norcold has a blinking light and a beep alarm when it fails to light on gas, but the 12v lights do not go out unless the fridge is turned off. I'll leave it to the more technically knowledgeable in that field to guide you further.

I don't even know if I have an automatic shut off switch. I've never heard of that. I will look. If the problem was in the gas line, wouldn't the "check" light come on rather than the power going off? Thanks for your response!

Remove the rear black control module cover. IF the epoxy that all the electronic components are mounted on is off white/beige. REPLACE that module with a current model module. Dometic Refer controls from about 1992 to 1997 had problems. IF the epoxy is greenish, then you have a current module board. No sense going any further until you find out which you have. Doug

I've had this happen a few times. Assuming your gas is on at the tank, check to make sure your automatic shut-off switch has not been accidentally turned off. Mine is located on the kick board below the lav sink cabinet, which makes it vulnerable. Next, check that there is not a bubble of air in the lines that will prevent the fridge from kicking over to gas. You can do this by lighting a burner on the gas range. If it does not light immediately, an air bubble may be the issue. Once the burner catches, you may be able to light the fridge, although it may still take a few tries. Good luck.