"Hey Dad..." (nothing good comes of this)

[Vinnie]

"What's this thing? It doesn't do anything when I twist it"

Bottom compartment of gas fridge panel. Looked in the manual and it showed it in some pictures, but nothing ever said what the little electrified valve (?) thing actually is.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Vinnie

"What's this thing? It doesn't do anything when I twist it"

Bottom compartment of gas fridge panel. Looked in the manual and it showed it in some pictures, but nothing ever said what the little electrified valve (?) thing actually is.

Looks like a gas valve/ regulator for the refrigerator with a solenoid valve actuator..wouldn’t mess with it (don’t twist it)

[chuckster57]

That is the gas valve for the fridge. As stated leave it alone.

[Vinnie]

Originally Posted by jasin1

Looks like a gas valve/ regulator for the refrigerator with a solenoid valve actuator..wouldn’t mess with it

Ok so if it was already "messed with," how do I know where it oughta be. I never shot a pic of that compartment, so I don't know what the "starting position" should be.

I just fired up the gas part of the fridge for the first time- getting air out of the lines- and it was open, but I don't know if it looked different before.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Vinnie

Ok so if it was already "messed with," how do I know where it oughta be. I never shot a pic of that compartment, so I don't know what the "starting position" should be.

I just fired up the gas part of the fridge for the first time- getting air out of the lines- and it was open, but I don't know if it looked different before.

If the fridge lit, your ok.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Vinnie

"What's this thing? It doesn't do anything when I twist it"

Bottom compartment of gas fridge panel. Looked in the manual and it showed it in some pictures, but nothing ever said what the little electrified valve (?) thing actually is.

Originally Posted by Vinnie

Ok so if it was already "messed with," how do I know where it oughta be. I never shot a pic of that compartment, so I don't know what the "starting position" should be.

I just fired up the gas part of the fridge for the first time- getting air out of the lines- and it was open, but I don't know if it looked different before.

Gas valves can’t be adjusted properly without a manometer and some knowledge of the operating parameters of the refrigerator..I imagine it was set at the factory and really isn’t something you would ever need to touch.

[Vinnie]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

If the fridge lit, your ok.

I can hear a fire going in the flame box, and the fridge isn't throwing any errors... so, don't kill him? He's my "button pusher" kid. We're a bit nervous to let him sleep on the top bunk, because that's where all the mechanisms and pulleys/latches/levers are for the garage stuff

[flybouy]

This just begs the question, why are you in there and why would you twist it if you don't know what it is or what it's for?

[Vinnie]

Originally Posted by flybouy

This just begs the question, why are you in there and why would you twist it if you don't know what it is or what it's for?

Fair question- I was in there because I just first-time fired up the fridge on gas instead of electric, and it was throwing an error. I opened the panel to 1) look for a switch or something, like on the water heater, and 2) listen for any evidence of flame.

When I walked back inside to check the manual and troubleshoot the error code, that's when I heard the autistic teenager with impulse control issues hollering from outside. He soon after realized the black pipe was super hot, and removed his paw.

[flybouy]

I have an autistic nephew that's 22 now. He can't be left alone for a moment without getting into something. God Bless you and your family.

[notanlines]

Yes, the term 'autistic' certainly sheds another light on your situation. DW spent 10 years teaching SPED in Shelby County School System. After retiring from the Federal Prison System (25 years) she would have probably worked for free. Those were HER kids.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Vinnie

Fair question- I was in there because I just first-time fired up the fridge on gas instead of electric, and it was throwing an error. I opened the panel to 1) look for a switch or something, like on the water heater, and 2) listen for any evidence of flame.

When I walked back inside to check the manual and troubleshoot the error code, that's when I heard the autistic teenager with impulse control issues hollering from outside. He soon after realized the black pipe was super hot, and removed his paw.

Sorry I misunderstood the post…I thought you Just randomly started twisting things under the fridge..it didn’t make much sense but after explaining it further I totally understand

[LHaven]

The assembly is mounted to a rigid standoff underneath, and a rigid pipe off to the left, so I'm not sure in what direction it could possibly be twisted even if you tried. Unless he twisted the solenoid relative to the valve; you might be able to square it back up, or if the fridge works, just leave it alone. Would be worth testing the joint with soapy water in either case.

[goodellj]

I have something very similar-looking on my refrigerator. When the camper was brand new it would not operate on propane. I opened up the panel and traced the propane supply line and saw this little valve. Before taking it for service I tried the valve and voila! I haven't touched it since.

[WDPatterson]

That may be the safety valve that shuts off the gas if the igniter doesn't light. As someone else said, get some soapy water and make sure it's not leaking. Otherwise, you should be good to go.

By the way, I am so refreshed to see that there are servants on this page. People who have served their community, people who understand other people's hardships. It's important to be compassionate. Thank You, ALL !!

[rlh1957]

There is a dc 12v power going to fridge that fires the igniter for the flame… it does go to a switch/solenoid that opens and fires igniter when fridge is switched for gad operation.
It will try to light off a couple of times and if no light ie: no gas or other issue it stops a throws error code.
If it lights off you’re fine.
You can always try the soapy water test on the gas joints if you suspect any leaks. Sometimes soapy water tests show leaks before you smell it.

[ASCTLC]

Others already answered the "what is it" question so no need for me to rehash it.

But... If the fridge failed to start and threw a code the first time you tried to run it on gas it's likely due to it simply the lack of sufficient gas reaching the fridge during the first round of auto start tries. As you found, the fridge will fault out if it doesn't start in the predetermined number of tries by shutting off that gas valve you identified. It's a safety that prevents gas continuing to flow when it is not lit to be burned.

When I prep my campers at the start of a season I have a habit of turning on a stove burner and ensuring it lights before trying the fridge. That way I know I have propane through those long empty lines and close to the fridge before I have it start trying. Even then I've had it try a round of start tries, stop for a number of seconds then try another round of tries before it starts successfully.

Obviously, the closer the stove is to the fridge the quicker the fridge starts after first getting a stove burner to burn. One camper (KZ Durango) had a fridge a decent distance from the stove and I knew it would completely fault out once before it finally got the gas all the way to the fridge. I'd get a stove burner to light, then turn on the fridge, just let it fault out trying to start, turn it completely off, then let it go through it's start up routine again. Only had to do it on first prep after a winter of storage, once the gas got there for the season it was enough to get it running within a number of auto start tries but before it faulted out completely.

Just one of those camper experiences you get familiar with that may be a little unique to your camper model based on layout.

Further: that Durango had a rear kitchen and it would take a good 10-15 seconds of holding a lit lighter to the stove burner before gas would eventually reach it, then even longer before the gas reached the fridge. That camper layout made it obvious to recognize the way that system worked.