Refrig Not Working on Propane - OK Electric

[JudyJB]

No dumb questions here. Mine runs on either propane or electric (120 volt when plugged in to campground source) and switches automatically. I am very glad for the automatic switch, as I know I would never remember to do it manually.

Even when it runs on propane, it does require a tiny bit of 12v power, which is supplied by the house batteries.

And, by the way, it took me 6 months to figure out how the 12v batteries got charged by the 120v outside hookup through the converter, and then ran all the lights. I kept thinking the lights in my motorhome also switched over to 120v, which is impossible!! My inverter is under my bed in a wooden box, and I flipped the breaker to turn it off once because I couldn't figure out what the noise was coming from. Then when my batteries ran down and my lights got dim, someone helped me figure it out.

[linann]

Judy,

As long as you have electric when parked, you should be OK driving without propane. I never drive with propane on. After reading a safety article in one of the RV magazines that advised against driving with propane on, I decided it isn't worth it. Plus, it is illegal in some states.

The refrigerator stays cold even on long driving days because it is set cold the night before, the door is not being opened during the day while driving, and it is plugged in immediately on arrival at the new location.

Most RV parks know of a mobile tech that services their area and may even have someone at their campground who does this.

[Bethers]

It is NOT illegal to drive with the propane on in ANY state. It is illegal in some tunnels and on some ferries.

It's a personal choice and in my opinion there are a lot more dangerous items in the RV. Every time there is an rv fire, every rver I know immediately blames the fridge. Yet most are not caused by the fridge.

Btw, the same tunnels that have restrictions on turning off propane have laws against carrying gas containers through them. I've never yet heard of an rver carrying gas containers obeying that law. But I turn off my propane for them. And otherwise I travel with my propane on and fridge on.

How many of you check your battery connections regularly? The latest rv fire a friend of mine had was caused by bad connections to the auxiliary batteries. And just like in homes, faulty wiring causes fires.

I'm not going to say there haven't been RV fires caused by the fridges, but they have been blamed for way more fires than they cause.

[JudyJB]

Had about given up on getting my refrigerator fixed after calling multiple dealers in Ohio and Michigan. Finally, one place that could not get me in to service until mid-July, sent me to one of their repairmen who runs a mobile repair service after hours. He came and cleaned out some dirt from several places and got the gas to fire up, so for $75, I now have a refrigerator that will keep food cold even when not hooked up to electric!

Yea!!

[Bethers]

Good news and probably way lower cost than most of those places would have charged.

[gingerK]

Would be good to list his contact info here for any of us who might need him if we are in that area, Judy. Glad you got your fridge problem sorted out.

[JudyJB]

Well, except that it was not working on propane again today.

So, I guess I will have to call him when I get back to the Detroit area. Darn.

[Bettyboop]

Since you posted in May and it is now November. I suspect you have solved the problem. Mine was mud daubers. Little wasp that is attracted by the propane builds a muddy little nest for its eggs filling up the gas jet next to the igniter. My solution once cleaned out were screens that fit into the refrigerator vets on the side of the unit. No more access for the critters. I have these on the fridge, furnace and water heater vents now. I am a newbie to your site and just doing a little exploring. Thought I would contribute.