Refrig Not Working on Propane - OK Electric

[JudyJB]

I have a full tank of propane, but I discovered the other day when I was driving all day that my refrigerator was not cooling on propane. It works fine on electric, but I have a couple of long drives ahead. It is only three years old and never had this problem before. I am getting propane to stove and hot water heater, so that is not the problem. Also, since it is working on electric, it is not a fuse. And the little battery light is on, so it is getting power under propane.

I called two RV repair places and both are backed up, so can't look at it for at least 2-3 weeks, by which time I will be taking my California son and two grandkids up to upper Michigan. I can't delay that trip, so I don't know what to do. I am going to take the cover off on the outside later today and see if there is anything obvious looking.

Any suggestions?

[sharon]

Do you have the control set for Auto? Try taking off of Auto and setting on gas....Sounds like a problem in the board. Does it try to light? If so, could be the igniter.

[MelissaD]

Since other gas systems are working it's in the fridge. You can pop the cover and see if you find a loose wire to the igniter or a dirty igniter. The burner tip may be dirt and not lighting correctly. There is a thermal couple in there that senses the fire is light. If it goes bad it will turn off the gas. That's all I can think of.

[Liz]

Check for insects, lizards, and even rodents nest. Don't ask how I know.

[JudyJB]

It is on auto, but when I press the "gas" button, it does not light up, Sharon.

I am going for a quick bike ride while the weather is good and then I have a student presentation event online at 7:00 pm tonight, so I will probably not be able to tackle opening the outside cover until tomorrow. Thanks for suggesting things to look for. Hope it is not rodents, lizards, bugs, and such.

[gingerK]

Control board I bet.

[JudyJB]

Is the control panel inside or outside? And how do you get access to it?

[mtngal]

Judy, recently I had to get new ignitor, it was a 30 minute job. Maybe a mobile tech?

[Acadianmom]

You can run your generator while you are on the road until you can get the refrigerator repaired.

My refrigerator only runs on electric. I keep 4 of the larger blue ice things in the freezer. When I'm on the road I put the blue ice in the refrigerator part. If I don't open the door the temperature only rises a few degrees. If I have any food I am worried about getting too warm I just put it in the freezer while I'm on the road.

I have an inverter around here somewhere. I need to see if it would run the refrigerator while I'm on the road.

Martha

[Bethers]

When mine did that in my old rig it was the thermocoupler. Easy and not expensive fix. But could be other things. Access is from the outside panel. That's also where you want to check for insects, wasps, etc.

[monik7]

Last weekend I found mine blinking red on gas. It was set to auto, but since no hookups, it was on gas. When I turned it completely off then back on, it worked fine. I don't know what caused it to do that, but it worked fine from then on.
Sandi

[IrishIroamed]

Sorry for dropping a dumb newbie question here, but I was told all RV fridges run on propane only. Or is it specific to TT's? I know JudyJB & Sandi have C's, so I'm curious that theirs may run on electric only (?)

[MelissaD]

Sorry for dropping a dumb newbie question here, but I was told all RV fridges run on propane only. Or is it specific to TT's? I know JudyJB & Sandi have C's, so I'm curious that theirs may run on electric only (?)

Depends on the unit. Many fridges and water heaters now have a "gas or electric function". They add electric heater elements to "replace" the heat from the gas fire. May also be a "price point" of the RV or a function of age. Some of the smaller TT's like the 20' and under seem to run on gas only. Something else to put on your wish list

[MandysMom]

RV fridges may be electric only ( many new Class A have this option), or Propane/ electric which allows you to choose between and usually there is an auto selection where if you are plugged in it will use electric and automatically switch to gas if you unplug. To further muddle things, there are two way and 3 way fridges. 3 way can choose propane or 12 volt (battery) or 110 ( house type plug in power), just depends,on what the manufacturer chose for the rig and not exclusive to trailers or motorhomes. I have not recently heard of RV with a propane only feature because propane fridges have a control panel which requires electricity. We even have a small chest type that can run on 110 AC current or 12 volt DC current and can be in either fridge or freezer mode, which gives us extra freezer space when we travel in our bus conversion and is portable.
Velda

[MelissaD]

Since you are some what in the area this place is in Shipshewana on IN-5 just south of IN-120 (by the Shipshewana Campground North). Not much to look at but I know full timers that swear by them. See everything from Class A DP to TT in the lot. Looks like its about 125 miles from you.

http://www.fixyourfridge.com/index.php