Dometic fridge

Bryan22 · 05-09-2021, 07:02 AM

So. I have a dometic fridge in my hideout and it seems to only be using propane even though it’s plugged in on a 30amp site. Fridge is set to auto and works great, but it would be great if it would work on electric instead of propane. Someone told me the fridge won’t work if there’s no propane regardless. Is this true? This is our first travel trailer and we’re just getting started, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

jxnbbl · 05-09-2021, 07:08 AM

I do not know the definitive answer but I believe I’ve run out fridge with the propane tank turned off

**chuckster57** · 05-09-2021, 07:10 AM

Welcome to the forum

First off the fridge doesnt HAVE to have propane to operate, It will run on AC power if everything is right. FIRST make sure the breaker for the Fridge is not off or tripped. Then go out to the fridge and remove the lower access panel. Look for an electrical cord on the left side and make sure its plugged in, if it is then you need to test the outlet. If it has power then post back for further testing.

**flybouy** · 05-09-2021, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan22

So. I have a dometic fridge in my hideout and it seems to only be using propane even though it’s plugged in on a 30amp site. Fridge is set to auto and works great, but it would be great if it would work on electric instead of propane. Someone told me the fridge won’t work if there’s no propane regardless. Is this true? This is our first travel trailer and we’re just getting started, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

How do you know it's not running on electric? The fridge should go to propane automatically if the power drops out. It does that by opening the gas valve and energizing the ignitot. The fridge doesn't "know" if gas is available, it just opens the valve and tries to lite it off. If the flame doesn't ignite then it will go into fault mode.

rhagfo · 05-09-2021, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan22

So. I have a dometic fridge in my hideout and it seems to only be using propane even though it’s plugged in on a 30amp site. Fridge is set to auto and works great, but it would be great if it would work on electric instead of propane. Someone told me the fridge won’t work if there’s no propane regardless. Is this true? This is our first travel trailer and we’re just getting started, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

If set to auto the it should also indicate if operating on gas or electric. Do I understand that on auto it is showing gas operation?
If that is the case check for power as mentioned before.

jxnbbl · 05-09-2021, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhagfo

If set to auto the it should also indicate if operating on gas or electric. Do I understand that on auto it is showing gas operation?
If that is the case check for power as mentioned before.

For my fridge if you shutoff the propane (at the tank) and cut off the electric then an alarm will sound if on automatic. I imagined that this is the case here if the electric doesn’t work

Bryan22 · 05-10-2021, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

How do you know it's not running on electric? The fridge should go to propane automatically if the power drops out. It does that by opening the gas valve and energizing the ignitot. The fridge doesn't "know" if gas is available, it just opens the valve and tries to lite it off. If the flame doesn't ignite then it will go into fault mode.

. To be honest, I don’t know. All I know is the other night i ran out of propane as it was cold and we were using the heater. When the propane ran empty, the fridge “check” light came on and stopped cooling. I hooked up a fresh tank and it kicked right back on with no check light.

NH_Bulldog · 05-10-2021, 04:46 PM

Bryan, what year is your Hideout and what model fridge do you have? Adding a signature line with that info might help people with similar set-ups steer you in the right direction. In the meantime, does your refrigerator panel at the top look like this?

**sourdough** · 05-10-2021, 04:48 PM

For more specific replies it would be helpful to state size, brand and type of fridge. Or, year, make and model of trailer. There are all kinds of brands, sizes and operations of RV fridges. The more information; the better the answers.

LHaven · 05-10-2021, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan22

Someone told me the fridge won’t work if there’s no propane regardless. Is this true?

No. But the opposite is true -- the fridge won't work on propane if you have no power (either AC or DC).

cavie · 05-11-2021, 01:58 AM

Most fridges default to AC if it is present. If you want it on gas, you must turn it to GAS.

LHaven · 05-11-2021, 02:25 AM

Yeah, his symptom is consistent with no AC to the fridge at all. I'm assuming he's checked the breaker.

**chuckster57** · 05-11-2021, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LHaven

No. But the opposite is true -- the fridge won't work on propane if you have no power (either AC or DC).

You only need DC power for the fridge to operate unless it’s a residential type. And Dometic will operate until about 11.9VDC if memory serves me correctly. This assumes you have propane and it’s turned on.

LHaven · 05-11-2021, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

You only need DC power for the fridge to operate unless it’s a residential type. And Dometic will operate until about 11.9VDC if memory serves me correctly. This assumes you have propane and it’s turned on.

Right, but what I'm saying is that if your battery fails, you'd better be on shore power so it will still run off the converter. You have to have some power (either) to run the fridge board, not just propane.

**flybouy** · 05-11-2021, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan22

. To be honest, I don’t know. All I know is the other night i ran out of propane as it was cold and we were using the heater. When the propane ran empty, the fridge “check” light came on and stopped cooling. I hooked up a fresh tank and it kicked right back on with no check light.

Since it runs on LP then obviously the 12 v dc battery is operating the board sufficiantly. You have a Hideout 272 LHS (year unknown) but you state it's your first camper. I suspect you don't understand the operation of the fridge and had it manually set to Manual which is LP only.

When plugged into shore power set the fridge to "auto" mode. It should run off of the shore power unless that drops out, i.e. either you unplug from shore power or for some reason the power goes out. When you unplug from shore power it then runs on LP gas without any intervention by you. When you plug back into shore power it will then switch back to 120 vac and off of LP gas, again without any intervention from you.

If you have the fridge set to manual then it's locked to work on LP gas only. Check the buttons on the control panel on top and set it to auto mode and see what happens.

Bryan22 · 05-11-2021, 12:51 PM

It looks exactly like this. I was unsure where to find the make and model of the fridge. I believe I posted it was a dometic though.

Bryan22 · 05-11-2021, 12:56 PM

Sorry. It’s a 2017 Hideout

wiredgeorge · 05-11-2021, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan22

Sorry. It’s a 2017 Hideout

Folks are not as likely to give you contextual answers unless your year, make and model of your camper and your tow vehicle are in a signature below your posts. A lot of folks don't like to have to try and dig this info out. To make a signature, click UserCP at top right of each page, go to signature, put in info and save.

NH_Bulldog · 05-11-2021, 05:32 PM

In mine (picture I posted above) if the right button is pressed in, it is on auto (amber light is on). This makes it run on shore power if the camper is plugged in. If power is cut, it automatically switches to gas. If the switch is in the out position, it is gas-only even if plugged in to a power source.

Before our first trip of the season, I put it on auto, turn on the gas and forget about it until our last trip of the season. We don’t unload and load for each trip, just let it run. If we lose power in a storm at home, it switches to gas and keeps everything at temp. When we disconnect from power to leave for a trip it switches to gas. When we get to where we are going and plug in, it switches back to electric, and so on and so on. I literally touch the power button twice a year.

Your model number should be printed on a sticker inside the fridge on the side wall. Maybe a DM2652?

Bryan22 · 05-12-2021, 11:47 AM

Yeah. The button is pressed in for auto and I just cut the propane to switch tanks and the fridge went into fault. It’s getting power as the lights come on. I’m thinking now it is an actual fault within the fridge somehow...

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