refridgerator question?

[wavery]

Actually, all they would need is a switch in the thermocouple (assuming it is a true electro-thermocouple and not an oil-expansion valve*).

Austin

* oil-expansion valve may not be the technically correct term for the device...

It'll be interesting to see if someone can come up with the answer to this one. Seems a bit odd at face value.

[mountainrev]

Thanks for all your advice, everyone.  I have tried numerous times to light the fridge with while popped down, with no success.  The moment I pop up, I get it lit with little or no trouble, usually the first try.  But...I'll try again.  I'll be sure to hold the gas button down for longer than usual to purge the line.  

We're taking off for the Tetons on Monday morning, so it would be good to be able to arrive with a cold fridge.  I'll let you know the outcome, but probably not until we return in a week.  Thanks again!

[AustinBoston]

Thanks for all your advice, everyone.  I have tried numerous times to light the fridge with while popped down, with no success.  The moment I pop up, I get it lit with little or no trouble, usually the first try.  But...I'll try again.  I'll be sure to hold the gas button down for longer than usual to purge the line.

If you've always tried it in that order, that would be a big clue...all that trying while popped down purges the gas lines...

Austin

[mountainrev]

You might be on to something, Austin.  Only one way to know for sure.  But it still lights first or second try every time I have it popped up, whether or not I've just tried it popped down.  Last several times, I haven't even bothered trying to light it popped down.  So if it's truly just a case of me not fully purging the line, then I don't get why it lights when popped up, since I'm not holding the button down any longer then when it's popped down (at least, I don't think I am!).

But I will try it one more time this weekend.  Gotta love a mystery!

[mountainrev]

Just an update on my refrigerator puzzle, in case anyone was wondering... I still was unable to get it lit while popped down, but lit it when it was popped up, and it stayed lit after I popped down.  It remained lit overnight in the driveway, but blew out en route, probably along the perpetually windy I-80 in western Wyoming.  

So, I still don't really know what the problem is with lighting when popped down.   But at least I know it will remain lit when popped down, just not in Wyoming!

[austinado16]

I still suggest that you tow it in 12v mode that way you don't have to worry about the flame going out.  Also, if you've got $30 burning a hole in your pocket, go pick up the Acu-rite thermometer unit at Walmart that has the remote sensor.  This is the big tower looking base unit that does time, humidity, inside and outside temp, date, moon phase, and has an alarm.  You can put the remote inside the fridge, keep the base unit in your tow vehicle and keep an eye on how the fridge is doing.  When you camp, put the remote on top of the propane tank under the front bunk and you get a good outdoor temp reading.

As far as why it won't light goes, I'd still disconnect the gas fitting there at the fridge with the camper down and make sure you have gas coming out.  You probably do since it was working in the down position for a while.  The other thing I'd do is pull off the upper louvered panel and make sure chimney and the second air pipe are both clear and not full of cobwebs, a nest of some sort, etc.  If these become obstructed, you won't have the right airflow or air to propane mixture and the flame either won't light, or won't stay lit.

[zamboni]

One possibility is blockage.  Spiders love to set-up house inside the propane tube (between the jet and nozzle) on the fridge -- I had it happen several times on my old Starcraft.

Get a can of compressed air and try blowing it out.  Perhaps you are not getting the full amount of propane, and it is "barely" working when it does...