Fridge ??

[bpike]

I followed the instructions on starting the refridgerator and it didn't work. Now I'm 3 days from a maiden voyage and the fridge isn't working.
Any help?

[tlhdoc]

It can take some time to get the propane from the tank to the fridge.  Do you smell any propane when you are trying to light the fridge?  You also have to hold the propane button down until the thermocoupler warms up, allowing the propane to flow.

[wavery]

tlhdoc is right. I've timed mine so that I don't have to stand there, bent over, clicking that dumb lighter. After I first turn on the propane. It takes 2 minutes 15 seconds of holding down the pilot button on mine. If I wait that long, it will light on the first click.  

[EvanDoss]

I just lit mine for the first time just to see if it worked.  I bought the camper last summer but never even needed to tried to run the fridge on gas.  I had to hold down the button for at least 45 seconds and still had to press the lighter at least 5 times before it lit.

I know this may be silly but be sure you have plenty of propane in the tank.  You may not be empty but I imagine if you are low it might be difficult to light.

[bpike]

The propane tank if full. I'll try holding the pilot button down longer. I followed the instructions and it said I only needed to hold it about 5 seconds.

Thanks everyone.

[mike4947]

The 5 seconds is only if the lines are full of propane. The problem is RV dual stage regulators are designed to bleed the trailer lines over time once the cylinders are closed. So you end up with lines filled with air. Since the fridge burner uses so little propane it takes quite a while before the propane can refill the lines and displace the air.

A common "trick" is to light a stove burner, since it uses more propane it will bleed the lines to the stove quickly and leave less line for the fridge burner to purge.

[dthurk]

Another way of doing it, that I use at home if we've been working on gas appliances or gas lines (we've got loooooong gas lines) and we've got air in the system...
 
Use a propane torch (such as is used to sweat fit copper plumbing fittings) to "simulate" the pilot light.  During this process, you should be able to switch the valve from "Pilot" to "On".  That will cause your burner to turn on.  The burner won't light, as you're only pumping air and bleeding the lines, but now you're using the main burner which is much faster than just the pilot.  When the propane arrives at the burner, your torch "pilot light" will light the burner in normal fashion and the actual pilot light will fire up and stay lit.  This method gets your lines bled very fast, probably just a few seconds, but isn't for the faint of heart (no, there won't be a big WHOOSH of flame).  Nonetheless, you must be very careful.  DO NOT let your torch go out or leave the pilot light position until you have propane flame as long as the gas valve to the refer is open.  If done properly, this method is safe.  I would not use one of those inexpensive, click to start, butane lighters that are so prolific in campgrounds.  They are too unreliable for this method.  You need a flame that WILL NOT go out to do this safely.  The propane torch is perfect, great flame and also keeps your hands out of the firebox.
 
I've lit furnaces and hot water tanks at home using this method.  Should also work on camper refers, furnaces and hot water heaters.