Dometic Refrigerator works on electric until gas is turned off!

[Goatkeeper]

Hello, thanks in advance for your help.
We have a 2011 Sandpiper 300RL with Dometic refrigerator. Never any issues until recent.
Unit works fine on electric power as long as the propane is turned on. When we leave for a few days and shut propane off, leaving the power on, the auto light is on(as it should be) and unit appears to be functioning properly. But when we return the check light is on, the auto light is still on, but the refrigerator is warm. This has happened the last 3 times we have left for 3-7 days.
We are plugged in to shore power all the time. There have been no power failures. The refrigerator runs the entire time we're here on electric...but while we're here the LP is also on. Only when we leave do I turn LP off and this is when the refrigerator stops cooling in electric mode.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Jimmy Carter

[jbflag21ds]

Sounds like your AC side in the fridge system is not working. Could be as simple as the 5A glass fuse on the control board failed, or the heating element is bad or the board/wiring for the heating element is bad.

LP fridges sip propane, so just run it on LP until you can troubleshoot. Here is a manual that covers many 2-way models

https://fourwheelcampers.com/NewDome...atorManual.pdf

[boondocking]

Originally Posted by jbflag21ds

Sounds like your AC side in the fridge system is not working. Could be as simple as the 5A glass fuse on the control board failed, or the heating element is bad or the board/wiring for the heating element is bad.

LP fridges sip propane, so just run it on LP until you can troubleshoot. Here is a manual that covers many 2-way models

https://fourwheelcampers.com/NewDome...atorManual.pdf

Quote from OP:

"The refrigerator runs the entire time we're here on electric..."

[Reverse_snowbird]

If you've got the 'auto' selected, the refrigerator is going to automatically run on propane if there is something wrong with the electric side. The 'check' light is telling you that the propane is turned off.

Have you tried to use the 'electric' only selection?

If you select the 'electric only' setting with the propane on and the refrigerator turns warm, you have something burned out.

These refrigerators have an 'electric ignition' which runs off the battery and will automatically light the propane. The sound will fool you into thinking that it's running on electric when it's running on propane.

That's just a guess. There could be something weird going on.

Let us know what you find.

Welcome to the forum!

[Slick Rick]

Mine has a button for gas selection. If it is on, I believe it over rides the auto.

[jbflag21ds]

Originally Posted by boondocking

Quote from OP:

"The refrigerator runs the entire time we're here on electric..."

They are on electric but the electric side of the fridge is obviously not working

Originally Posted by Slick Rick

Mine has a button for gas selection. If it is on, I believe it over rides the auto.

Yes the button switches between "auto" mode (when ON it uses electric, then LP if electric not available) and "forced LP" when OFF, but they are not wanting to run on LP when away.

So right now regardless of the button setting, it appears to ONLY be running LP even if on shore power. If there is power at the AC outlet behind the fridge, then the fridge itself has an issue on the electrical side. Either simple 5A fuse that controls the AC heating element, or the AC heating element itself or something in between.

[Goatkeeper]

Thank you all! I guess I assumed the sound I heard was the compressor turning on, but y'all are probably correct, it is running on LP...not AC. Had a power glitch around the time this issue started...I'll bet it fried the fuse. It will be about 3 weeks before we are at camper again, but I will check fuse and element.
I will post what I find. Again thanks for the info.
Jim

[dalford]

Goat keeper, welcome to the forum from the Space Coast of Florida..

[Goatkeeper]

Hello,
I wanted to let folks know that my refrigerator issue was a simple blown 5 amp fuse! I didn't even think about checking for a control board. I checked breakers in camper and none were tripped, so I assumed it was running on AC. Heck, after I checked close, there isn't even a refrigerator breaker!
I would like to thank those that responded for the info and the quick responses. Very kind!
Jim

[Creedmore P Crawley]

Thanks for coming back to do an update . . .