refrigerator in RPOD (Dometic)
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3481
Printed Date: 19 May 2024 at 8:46pm
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Topic: refrigerator in RPOD (Dometic)
Posted By: gpartmann
Subject: refrigerator in RPOD (Dometic)
Date Posted: 13 May 2013 at 11:36am
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1-yr old RPOD 177 - no problems with fridge last year - but now, can't get it to work on battery -shows red light and makes clicking noise - battery fully charged and 'on'. Fridge works fine on propane and plug-in.....any ideas? ------------- ghp in Sonoma |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 13 May 2013 at 1:07pm
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Try resetting the fridge. Turn off all power to it, trip the breaker and pull the fuse, wait a couple minutes, then replace fuse and reset breaker. ------------- |
Posted By: gpartmann
Date Posted: 13 May 2013 at 1:34pm
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Thanks - it's in the shop now - but they may not be able to get to it before I leave for dry-camping weekend - so, I'll try that if I need to. Baffling thng is that the light in fridge goes on, but it doesn't cool. So it seems to be getting electricity - ------------- ghp in Sonoma |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 13 May 2013 at 4:52pm
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If it's getting 12v, then it is almost a sure sign of needing a reset. We have seen very few reports of the three way fridges actually going kaput.
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Posted By: gpartmann
Date Posted: 13 May 2013 at 6:55pm
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Thanks - will give it a try! ------------- ghp in Sonoma |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 May 2013 at 8:51pm
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If you are dry camping you shouldn't use the 12 volt mode except while on the road - IF you are sure your Bargeman connector is set up correctly. For many trips I just use the propane mode on the road, especially for dry trips so I don't have to fiddle with it. Since your propane mode works fine just use that for your trip. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 13 May 2013 at 10:43pm
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Good advice from Techntrek ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: gpartmann
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2013 at 10:39pm
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Thanks - I don't like driving with the propane open in case of accident....used blue ice in fridge which then refroze at campsite. It turned out that there were some frayed wires - so dealer reapired that and fridge is working 3 ways again. Don't know how wires became frayed.... ------------- ghp in Sonoma |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2013 at 10:54pm
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gpartmann. Most modern lp gas tanks have a restrictor valve that only allows gas to come out at a slow rate not blow out uncontrolled. If you are in an accident (God Forbid) and the gas lines or appliances are destroyed or gas line severed it wont make any difference anyway. The gas tank on your car full of 18 gallons of gasoline is a lot more dangerous than a 30 lb propane tank. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: OHIOJJ
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2013 at 10:35pm
| where is the fridge breaker? |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 8:07am
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Aren't there alot of camper/rv fridges that do not even have the battery option? Personally I tow in battery mode but really do not have any fears of towing with gas as I'm sure as mentioned by others there are safety features which would minimize the dangers. ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 9:58am
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Yes, most of the larger fridges are two way with no 12 volt option. They are auto senseing, using 120 volts if available, but switching to gas otherwise. In the old days, before auto-ignition when pilot lights had to be manually lit and could blow out while driving, battery operation became common on the road. However, todays smart fridges, better RV/fridge design, and safer gas bottles, make gas operation on the road safe and convenient. Your 20+ gallon gasoline tank is indeed more of a hazard,
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 10:44am
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I agree with all the comments about towing in propane mode is safe. However, we should all remember to extinguish all flames, be it the water heater or the refrigerator, before you are near gasoline pumps. I don't want open flames or lit cigarettes near me when I am pumping gas. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: gpartmann
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 10:55am
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- panel with resets (breaker switches) and fuse boxes is under table on front panel of back bench in my model -yes, make sure everything is off at gas pumps....and you will be stopped going in to some tunnels to show that propane is off before being allowed to procede -basically, I bought a model with 3-way operation and I want that to work (which it now does since dealership repaired frayed wires (why did wires fray? poor design? don't know) ------------- ghp in Sonoma |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 10:57am
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To answer the question on the last page, all of the 12 volt fuses and 120 volt breakers are on the front of the converter. I believe on all pods (and most campers) it is in the front-left near the floor.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 11:00am
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The flame issue isn't as big of a problem as you might think. Gas vapors sink so they won't contact the flame in the fridge 3 feet off the ground. Gasoline also has a narrow combustibility range (there is a technical term for this) - too much or too little and it won't go boom. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 3:33pm
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And then there was the urban legend that a cell phone ringer could set off gas fumes at the pump, even though it was solid state and no spark possible.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 4:38pm
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Yup, that one, too.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Kickstart
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 5:07pm
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Problem for us in Washington State that most of you don't have to deal with is that WSDOT requires all propane tanks to be shut off on any WA State ferry, and we have a lot of ferry runs here in Puget Sound. I dunno if the requirements are the same in BC, but there's a lot of ferry traffic up there, too. ------------- '10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time! |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 5:31pm
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It's the same in BC. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |