refrigerator won’t turn on

[SheriP]

We had a short power outage today and now my Dometic DM2832 refrigerator won’t turn on. It was on shore power at the time. Everything else works fine. I’ve tried turning the circuits off and back on with no change. It won’t even work on gas or battery. Any idea? This is a 2013 Prime time Crusader.

[boondocking]

Does the interior light come on when you open the door?
If not, check for a blown fuse. May have been a power surge when the power come back on.

[SheriP]

No lights inside. Where is the fuse?

[boondocking]

The various 12v fuses and the 120v breakers will all be together where the converter is. Where that is located in you trailer I am not sure.

[TinyHousers]

Watched a couple of videos (one 2013, the other 2014) but couldn't really see much. If you can't find it by google searching, I'd start by looking in the kitchen, probably at the base of the island. All fuses should be easily accessible from a panel...once you find that, hopefully they're labeled.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Most likely the fuses that blew are on the fridge itself. Access it by removing the lower vent grate on the outside of the camper.

[boondocking]

Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody

Most likely the fuses that blew are on the fridge itself. Access it by removing the lower vent grate on the outside of the camper.

The 120v fuse behind the fridge is for the electric element only, the 12v light in the fridge would still work. That's why I say to check the 12v fuses, that control the rest of the fridge circuits etc.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by boondocking

The 120v fuse behind the fridge is for the electric element only, the 12v light in the fridge would still work. That's why I say to check the 12v fuses, that control the rest of the fridge circuits etc.

There is also a 12 volt "tube type" fuse right beside the 120 volt fuse. The thermal fuse, near the burner tube, is also 12 volt. Either of these being blown would kill the fridge and all lights.

Edit: manuals with schematic diagrams can be found with a Google search.

[Spike56]

We had the same issue and it turns out the GFCI in the bathroom is connected to the fridge circuit. See it it is tripped and reset.

[Tom48]

If you have no light, the 12 v is out. Assuming you have lights in coach then it is probably just the 12 fuse in the fuse panel or possibly as said some have a 12 v fuse in the back. The frig will not run on gas or 120vac without live 12vdc.

[Comanchecreek]

Circuit board runs on 12 volt, heating element runs on 120 volts. Probably blew the circuit board fuse since you are saying it now does not work on gas either. If not, check to see if you are getting voltage at the circuit board. The board on Dometic's are notorious for failing. Don't know if your model is one of them, but that may be the problem if all of the power checks out. If the problem was only the 120 circuit the fridge would still work on gas, so the problem is somewhere in the circuit board electrics.

[SheriP]

Checked all the fuses and the gfci. All ok. When we opened the fuse box we found a connector between the panel and converter has broken wires but can’t figure out what this connector does. Photo attached. I don’t think it’s related to the refrigerator outage but unsure.

[jbflag21ds]

Does your fridge have a thermal fuse? Not sure about your Dometic model but mine did and i had the same symptoms.

When the 12v is coming in to the back of the fridge the positive goes to a round switch on the heat stack that may have a button on it if that button it resettable then that may help. Otherwise trace that wire to where it folds back on itself and has extra insulation in it and then it goes back to the circuit board.

In that folder over section is a thermal fuse. It is likely gone bad.

Simply test that section of wire for continuity to see if it has blown that fuse or not.

Check the images here

https://www.google.com/search?q=dome...tion+direction

[SheriP]

Thanks everybody. We finally found the reset on the circuit board and are now working on gas. The board needs to be replaced though. No power from the electric is getting to the heater.

[Scrapper]

I just did a search for a Dometic DM2832 and came up with nothing. What I did find is there are 2652, 2662, 2663, 2852, and 2862 models. Before anyone asks, I know any DM and RM models are identical as long as the numbers match.

CedarCreekWoody has it right. There are 2 fuses on the control board behind the lower vent on the outside of the rv. The 3amp fuse protects the circuit board from internal/external shorts. The 5amp fuse protects the integrity of the AC detection and heater circuit from shorts.

There is no need to do a google search for the manual as it is in the Library section of the forum. I attached a copy of the Service Manual, which is also in the Library, pay attention to the drawing on page 13 for the fuse location and page 18 for info on the fuses and thermofuse.

[jbflag21ds]

Originally Posted by SheriP

Thanks everybody. We finally found the reset on the circuit board and are now working on gas. The board needs to be replaced though. No power from the electric is getting to the heater.

You've checked the thermal fuse? That is what power to the board flows through.

From the 12v distribution block, to the round Thermo Fuse on the heat stack/chimney, then to the Thermal Fuse in the folded over section of the wire behind the chimney, then to the board.

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by SheriP

Thanks everybody. We finally found the reset on the circuit board and are now working on gas. The board needs to be replaced though. No power from the electric is getting to the heater.

Have you verified power to the 120 volt plug in back of fridge ?

[hdjimmi]

There is a little black box on the back from outside. Is there a red light on?