Dummies Guide to Gas Motor Home Fridges
These are my notes on gas fridges. There are two parts an explanation of how they work and part 2 a troubleshooting guide.
I hope this helps.
There are many videos on Youtube which will help.
Part 1 - How they work
Two simplified descriptions of how a gas fridge works.
1a Description for techies.
They have an ignition button that makes a spark. When you press this there is a clicking which is the spark arcing to ground. Works like the ignition button on many gas hobs. The mechanism changes the low voltage is changed to a very high voltage which will make a spark just like the sparking plug in a petrol engine.
They also have a valve button that holds open the gas valve to the pilot light, you hold this in for 30-60 seconds when you light the fridge.
The Pilot light stays lit the whole time regardless of the need to cool the fridge. This is why you must not have the fridge on whilst at a fuel station.
The thermocouple is located so that it is heated by the pilot light. It the pilot light goes out the thermocouple goes cold. If the thermocouple is cold the control board will not open the valve to the main burner. This prevents the van filling with unlit gas.
When the fridge control board senses the fridge needs to make things cooler it opens the gas valve to the main burner. (provided the thermocouple says it is OK to do so).
Gas on the main burner is then ignited by the pilot light.
1b Description for non techies.
I t uses flames to make cold - it is magic..
Part 2 Trouble Shooting
2a Not clicking (sparking)- the problem is usually the electrical supply to the ignitor.
Some have a separate
battery (usually button
battery) some use hab 12v.
First job is to find out which yours is. See manual or google it. Or look for wires or a
battery.
If it is a separate
battery change it. Under £1.
If it is from hab
battery check power is on at control panel and check all fuses.
Check the wire from the switch to the ignition point, it the wire is damaged you may seesparking along the length instead of at the ignitor or it have have detached at one end.
In an emergency you can light the pilot using a match, but it is a 2 person job.
2b Sparks but doesn’t ignite - it means no gas is getting to Pilot light or the Pilot Light is dirty.
Check you have gas and that all the valves and crash buttons are set correctly.
Check that the pilot is clean and not blocked..
2c Pilot Lights but goes out when you stop pressing the valve button - the thermocouple is to blame. It is either moved or broke.
Youtube is your best friend.
2d Pilot is burning but the main burner isn’t - you need to clean the main burner.
Lots of burner cleaning videos on Youtube.
2e Finally, don’t forget that most gas fridges insist on being level.
