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Lonaann's avatar
Lonaann
Explorer
Jul 26, 2016

Refrigerator won't stay lit after I let the red button out

5 years if Issues with 2002 Norcold N300.3 It was only used a few times when I got it in 2012, I took it to 3 different certified repair men (one twice) they put in lots of new parts, it would run a weekend or two then I would have problems with it staying lit. Last year the guy said there was a loose wire to the selector switch and he tightened it up it ran a couple of days and quit. This year I could Not get it lit. On this forum 2004 many people described all of my issues. Someone posted there was a service bulletin put out by Norcold years ago I purchased the $12.00 kit consisting of one red wire and one blue wire 7" long, (from Norcold) put it in myself. (it was very very easy) still didn't light, then I moved the thermocouple a tiny bit more into the flame and it lit right up. it has been running 5 hours. I wonder if it was the wires that caused issues in the past, but how could my thermocouple move? yes it was one of the parts that was replaced -- yes all orifices and soot catcher are clean.

3 Replies

  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    The thermocouple connects to the gas valve with what looks like copper tubing with a flare nut. It's actually a copper-jacketed coaxial cable. Tightening the nut makes up one side of the circuit with the jacket and presses a conductive core against a contact in the gas valve to make up the other side. That nut needs to be Snug, not Tight. Too much Tight can pinch that center and short the thermocouple. Then no voltage to the coil in the gas valve that keeps the gas flowing.
  • Thermocouple provides the 'flame proving' signal that holds the magnet open in the gas safety valve. Signal is generated by heat. Thermocouple must be ENGULFED in flame in order to generate the milivolt signal needed.

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