ROO 23ikss refrigerator

[dudleydoo]

I can't get the fridge to work on auto and go to gas while traveling.
Any suggestions? While we were camping I couldn't tell if it was on electricity or gas but it won't work while driving.

Bonnie

[DK-in-SC]

Here are a few things to check:
1) be sure that your electrical disconnect switch is set so that you still have power inside the camper
2) be sure your propane tanks are on (I know... but I had to ask anyway)
3) if you stand outside on the kitchen side of the camper by the fridge, you should hear a click, click, click if the fridge's gas system is trying to turn on
4) it may help to turn on one of the stoves burners for a minute to be sure gas is flowing. If you haven't used them before, there may be air in the line

I've found that sometimes it takes a few minutes before the "click click" stops the the gas system in the fridge starts running. Hope this helps.

[dudleydoo]

Thank you and I had done everything you suggested. It seems to be working now as the ice cube tray has a little crust on top. I just hope that when we shut it off tomorrow before we start traveling that it continues. We do leave the gas on while traveling and never had this problem previously.

Bonnie

[MuddauberE]

There is a "check" light that will come on if there is an issue with the fridge. I usually see this light come on after the lighting of the burner fails on the fridge due to air in the lines. Just light the stove and then turn off and back on the fridge.

I always cool the fridge and load it before switching to gas. I'm sure you don't have to be told that but some people don't know. It can take a couple days to cool a fridge on gas alone.

[dudleydoo]

MauddauberE, I guess we were on electric while camping in Georgia. Our trailer was in storage there and I towed it over to Lake Lanier for the week. We must have been on electric and I thought "AUTO" mode so it would work on gas on our way back to Wisconsin, wrong! I just had my DH click on gas and I heard it ignite and could smell a little gas and felt the heat. Hopefully it works on the way home. I only drive about 250-275 a day so things won't go bad.

[DK-in-SC]

Auto should work on electric when available, and then flip over to gas when not plugged into electric.


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[dudleydoo]

By George! I think I've finally got it, whew. Stopped here in Illinois now and it's time for some wine and snacks.


I sure do like taking time to get back home. When we just drove down to see the kids we only stopped one night and that made for long days. This is so much easier and I am getting the hang of towing this trailer. I started out driving a 24' class C in Alaska with no experience and did well. Now this 23' foot trailer...who knows what I will tackle in another year or two!


Bonnie

[rockfordroo]

I always cool the fridge and load it before switching to gas. I'm sure you don't have to be told that but some people don't know. It can take a couple days to cool a fridge on gas alone.

Mine cools faster on gas. The greater the delta temperature, the better it works (the thermodynamic efficiency is proportional to the temperature difference it heats up to vs ambient temperature i.e., Thot minus Tcold. Thot is the temp the ammonia gets heated to and Tcold is the temp of the cooling fins that take the heat away.) The gas gets the ammonia a lot hotter than the electric heater does.

[bikendan]

Another thing is to give it time to cool.
many newbies expect it to cool in a few hours.
generally the freezer will cool before the fridge does, since it's a smaller compartment.

[ChibullsAN]

Also don't forget if it's been on electric and you then unplug and go to gas.... the fridge won't turn on. It only turns on when it reaches it's threshold temperature to turn on. If the check light is off and the auto is on, it should work fine.

[CNYCamper]

Sounds like everyone here tows with the fridge running. I have always shut mine down. I never tow xs of 4 hrs and everything stays cold. guess I'm paranoid but I don't like the idea of driving a closed vehicle ahead of a closed trailer where I won't hear an alarm.
Agree w/rockfordroo - gas cools faster.

[rockfordroo]

I don't tow with the fridge running, either. First day we just through everything in a cooler. After that, it stays cold enough on the road. I have a remote temp sender I put in the fridge that I can monitor in the truck. It'll stay under 40F for hours.

[MuddauberE]

Originally Posted by dudleydoo

MauddauberE, I guess we were on electric while camping in Georgia. Our trailer was in storage there and I towed it over to Lake Lanier for the week. We must have been on electric and I thought "AUTO" mode so it would work on gas on our way back to Wisconsin, wrong! I just had my DH click on gas and I heard it ignite and could smell a little gas and felt the heat. Hopefully it works on the way home. I only drive about 250-275 a day so things won't go bad.

Auto does just what it says. If electric is available, it will use electric. If not, then it will auto switch to gas.

[rockfordroo]

Auto does just what it says. If electric is available, it will use electric. If not, then it will auto switch to gas.

Only if the electric is 110VAC. If you're on the road, it's only gas (and only if you've got 12VDC to run the electronics).