Need Help-Refrigerator DOA on Trip

[scoobybri]

Just arrived at the campground and the Dometic fridge in my 2012 189FBS is not working...at all. Before we left, I had it on AC power and it was working properly. When I disconnected from the AC, I heard the clicking of the pilot light trying to light. Propane was on so I assumed it continued cooling. When we got to the campground and plugged into AC power, the fridge looks to be dead. As in no lights whether the switch is set to Auto or Gas. Power switch is on. I checked the breaker and it is fine. I popped the panel off of outside of the camper and checked for 110v at the fridge outlet... there is 110v. So something is amiss and I have no idea what is wrong. Even when set on Gas, it does not fire up via propane...I don't hear the pilot trying to light. Propane tanks are full and turned on. I'm at loss.

It's 10PM and there are some cold packs that should keep everything ok overnight but I may have to run out and get a cooler in the morning if no one has any suggestions. I just got the camper two months ago and this is our first real trip out. Really disappointed.

Thanks in advance.

BTW, the interior light in the fridge is not on. It looks like there is power loss somewhere (but not at the 110v plug.

Also, battery is fully charged. Switching between the battery and 12v via inverter makes no difference.

 

[twinster2]

Did you check the 12 volt fuse for the refrigerator?

 

[scoobybri]

Picked up a multimeter to check out voltages and resistance.

Fridge 20amp fuse on the inverter panel is good. Both fuses on the fridge's control board are ok. I'm getting 13.5v at the terminal block in the fridge panel. So it is getting both 12v and 110v and all fuses check out so the fridge must have bit the dust somewhere between home and the campground. I guess we will be using a cooler for the rest of the trip. Kinds defeats the purpose of having a refrigerator.

 

[scoobybri]

Found the culprit. The fridge has 2 thermal fuses that stop 12v from reaching the control board. One is attached to the compressor (I'm not sure if that is the correct term for this type of fridge) that trips when that component gets too hot. That one was fine. The one that went bad is a thermal fuse that sits behind and below the compressor that Dometic added starting in 2009 to quickly stop propane from flowing if it senses a fire (which obviously there wasn't or I would be posting about how my camper went up in flames). That is the one that blew. I was able to bypass the 2nd thermal fuse temporarily and the fridge is working properly. Either the thermal fuse went bad or it tripped because there was too much heat while running on propane while we were driving. (Don't need to debate that subject in this post.) The design of the shielding could have lead to a buildup of heat due to the positive air pressure around the camper while driving not allowing proper air flow. Regardless, it is working for the remainder trip and I already have replacement thermal fuses on the way so I can put one back in when I get home. I've been keeping a close tab on the heat coming from the fridge and it seems completely normal over the past few hours. Also, I'm not going to run the fridge while driving just in case that it caused the problem.

 

[PaintyLiz]

Found the culprit. The fridge has 2 thermal fuses that stop 12v from reaching the control board.

That is great to know! Although my camper was made in 2008, so maybe it only has one fuse. I had no idea it had any internal fuses. Thank you for possibly heading off a disaster in my world someday.

Liz

 

[Dakota 1120]

Scooby ... did you find the info on the 'internal fuses' in the owners manual or just by looking around and checking circuits?

 

[scoobybri]

Scooby ... did you find the info on the 'internal fuses' in the owners manual or just by looking around and checking circuits?

I bought my Fun Finder used and it had no manuals. But...there is a schematic of the wiring in the fridge access panel so I was able to trace the circuit and find the blown fuse.

 

[scoobybri]

That is great to know! Although my camper was made in 2008, so maybe it only has one fuse. I had no idea it had any internal fuses. Thank you for possibly heading off a disaster in my world someday.

Liz

If your fridge is pre-2009, there is a recall on many Dometic units where they will install the second a fuse for free. At least they were several years ago.

 

[Dakota 1120]

I bought my Fun Finder used and it had no manuals. But...there is a schematic of the wiring in the fridge access panel so I was able to trace the circuit and find the blown fuse.

Thanks ... will check that out for future reference should it be needed.

 

[dogs_rule]

Thanks for that. Mine is def pre 2009. It’s always worked fine in 110. Have yet to try it on propane.

 

[5m0k3y]

Nice to see someone follow up with the solution, so many times on forums people post a problem and never follow up. Glad you were able to fix it!