Forum Discussion

Mrjasenstuart's avatar
Mrjasenstuart
Explorer
Oct 20, 2020

Norcold 306 refrigerator not starting on propane

Hi everyone. We bought a 2017 trailer with a Norcold 306 fridge. It works fine when plugged into electricity but will not start on propane. I don’t think the previous owner ever ran it on propane, so this may be the first time this fridge has ever been started on propane. The igniter works because I can see the spark. I blew out the area with the burner with a can of air. I ran the stove burners for a few minutes to clear out air that may be in the lines. I’m not sure what else to try. I don’t think I am getting propane. I tried having someone inside hold down the gas button while I held a bbq lighter over the burner and that didn’t work either. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Oct 21, 2020
    Mrjasenstuart wrote:
    Thank you for the information and advice. I will try putting more of a demand on the propane and remove and clean the burner. It is helpful to know that there is a regulator that needs reset. I couldn’t find any gas turn off as others did on their models. By clean the burner, do you mean blow it out more thoroughly once it is removed, or actually wash in water or some other cleaner? Thanks again. I hope this fixes my problem.


    Orifice...soak in alcohol then air dry **No poking anything thru it/No high pressure air ---it can damage the metered hole

    Burner...small bottle brush then blow out with air

    thermocouple...emery cloth to lightly scrub just enough to remove any soot/carbon
  • Mrjasenstuart's avatar
    Mrjasenstuart
    Explorer
    Oct 21, 2020
    Thank you for the information and advice. I will try putting more of a demand on the propane and remove and clean the burner. It is helpful to know that there is a regulator that needs reset. I couldn’t find any gas turn off as others did on their models. By clean the burner, do you mean blow it out more thoroughly once it is removed, or actually wash in water or some other cleaner? Thanks again. I hope this fixes my problem.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Oct 21, 2020
    Norcold 306 has a 'gas safety control' built into the gas control
    No shutoff valve used

    To operate on LP
    Turn selector switch to GAS Position
    Turn Gas Control Knob to HI setting
    Push/Hold Gas Control Knob IN
    Push piezo lighter several times in rapid succession for about 5 seconds

    If LP System has NOT been used for a while turn stove top burners on HI (all of them) and leave burning to place demand on LP System and establish flow (Reg needs to come out of 'lockup' condition in order to control flow/pressure of LP)

    Might take SEVERAL attempts at fridge to establish FULL Flow to fridge Gas system


    After long periods of negligent a good thorough cleaning of burner, orifice should be done
    Canned air doesn't clear orifice or burner of spider webs etc
    **Doesn't take much to disrupt air/fuel ratio which is VERY narrow
    LP System pressure is 11"WC (0.39 psi) and MUST properly mix with air being pulled in before flammability can occur

    Norcold 305/306 Manual.....Pg 10 for burner/orifice cleaning
  • WayneAt63044's avatar
    WayneAt63044
    Explorer
    Oct 21, 2020
    Is there a gas shut off at the end of the tubing feeding the burner? On my Dometic it is just a small screw head in the side of a metal connecting block.

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