Community Forums

countrykid · 11-10-2010, 08:32 AM

Does the cooling unit need changed if it works on electricity and does not work on lpg? There is a residue of green as if the cooling unit has failed. I read on some posts that electrical and gas used the same cooling unit and it could not be the unit if elect works and gas does not. Please advise. Thanks

Dadeaux · 11-10-2010, 08:49 AM

Don't know the answer to the specific question that you asked but it's not uncommon for the switching circuit board to fail on the Dometic. Nothing that a couple of hundred dollars can't fix though.

Vegasdan · 11-10-2010, 09:30 AM

It's also possible you have an insect nest in the LP burner area. Check it as that would be an easy fix.

flair0425 · 12-14-2010, 03:30 PM

Your cooling unit has failed. There is a recall from dometic but since it has already failed it is too late. They will not do anything about it. In the recall they warn not to used the unit if the gas has failed as there is a danger of fire. To be safe you would have to replace the unit or refrig. I just lost mine and am going to put a home refrig. in. I don't boondock to speak of so I have elected to go all electric. Good Luck

countrykid · 12-15-2010, 06:00 AM

Have had the cooling unit on order since Aug 7, 2010 and expect it in Jan or Feb 2011. A bunch of units on back order!!!! Have never had a problem with it until it died in the middle of the night and the next day we moved to elect hookup and it worked fine. We boondock most of the time. A new unit quote was for $5800.00. (for the fridg not the MH).

"007" · 12-15-2010, 06:52 AM

If you see yellow residue around coil and in burner tube areas you may have a failed cooling unit.
If you are using fridge with electric your cooling coils are fine. You have a problem with LP gas which could be cob webs in burner tube or a defective heat sensor for flame area.
This web site has reinforced burner tubes which do not require recalls on Dometic or Norcold.

countrykid · 12-15-2010, 01:37 PM

The burner tube obove the ignitor has quite a bit of bright yellow cake like residue around it and in the bottom of the enclosure!! I assume when it quit in the middle of the night it probably doused the flame? and a couple of days on electricity worked before all the amonia leaked out. Make sense???

"007" · 12-15-2010, 03:05 PM

You need a new cooling unit and your lucky you did not have a fire do not use your fridge.
There are many threads and posts about fires on Dometic & Norcold fridge's here is part of one.

gorvcamping · 12-22-2010, 08:46 PM

Hello,

If your unit is working on electricity and NOT on LPG, then your cooling unit is fine. If your cooling unit was shot, it wouldn't cool with either source.

These units accumulate a lot of soot in the "chimney." This is the most likely cause of your problems. Downdraft wind/road vibration causes the soot particles to clog the burner ports, thus preventing any propane from flowing through the port. If you are handy, I would suggest that you take the wind cover off (a single Phillips screw usually holds it on. I used an electric razor brush (any small "bottle brush" will work) to clean mine out. After a good cleaning mine worked great. However, it is possible that your thermocouple (if not a "DSI" model) could have failed. If a cleaning does not work, then I would suggest that you take it in to a good local RV center for a diagnosis.

Hope this helps. Good luck with it...

"007" · 12-22-2010, 09:45 PM

If countrykid had not already found the yellow paste substance as he claims I would agree rust particles can cause a problem with LP operation.
Which cleaning is required.
Thanks for your first post gorvcamping and welcome to irv2.