Fridge won’t run on propane

[AKNate]

We have a Dometic DM2862RBX refrigerator that has recently stopped working on propane. You can turn it on, the gas light illuminates, and the burner fires right up. The lighter then continues to spark continuously and then after a bit it shuts of the gas, which puts out the burner and the Check light comes on. It seems to not be sensing that the burner is ignited. I can’t find a service manual online for this model and the owners manual is utterly useless. Under troubleshooting it just says if it isn’t working, take it to a service center.
There is some sort of sensor riveted to the heater stack that I think could be involved in detecting the flame, but I don’t know for sure and have no specs to test it or any other component against to know if it is working. The other option is the control board could be bad. People seem to like the Dinosaur boards as replacements, but I don’t see this model fridge or the model of control board in it listed on their site.
Any suggestions are appreciated. I currently have a fridge full of food going bad and warm beer. I wish Dometic and all the other manufacturers out there would make useful information about their products available.

[AKNate]

I disassembled the burner assembly more and found quite a bit of powdery white ash. I blew it out with compressed air and so far it is staying on. I’m guessing some sort of bug nest was in there that met a fiery end and clogged up sensors.
If anybody knows where a service manual is for this model, that would still be useful to have for next time.

[AKNate]

After two hours, it’s back to the check light.

[DKB_SATX]

If you've checked the air path (especially above the flame... does your 30 have an old-school rooftop exhaust vent like my 26?) the most likely thing is the thermocouple that detects the flame. The manual (available from Dometic's website if you don't have the paper) should tell you how to check it.

[AirstreamInc]

Originally Posted by AKNate

We have a Dometic DM2862RBX refrigerator that has recently stopped working on propane. You can turn it on, the gas light illuminates, and the burner fires right up. The lighter then continues to spark continuously and then after a bit it shuts of the gas, which puts out the burner and the Check light comes on. It seems to not be sensing that the burner is ignited. I can’t find a service manual online for this model and the owners manual is utterly useless. Under troubleshooting it just says if it isn’t working, take it to a service center.
There is some sort of sensor riveted to the heater stack that I think could be involved in detecting the flame, but I don’t know for sure and have no specs to test it or any other component against to know if it is working. The other option is the control board could be bad. People seem to like the Dinosaur boards as replacements, but I don’t see this model fridge or the model of control board in it listed on their site.
Any suggestions are appreciated. I currently have a fridge full of food going bad and warm beer. I wish Dometic and all the other manufacturers out there would make useful information about their products available.

Hi AKNate,*

We're very sorry to learn about the issue you are having. Please send us a direct message with your contact information and the last 6 digits of your VIN so we can share it with our Customer Service and Technical Support team. We look forward to helping you get this resolved.

You can also reach Airstream Customer Service and Technical Support at*customersupport@airstream.com

Thank you.*

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Ok, here's what is *supposed* to happen:

The spark fires
The burner lights
The flame heats up the thermocouple ( = sensor)
The control board "sees" the heat (via the sensor)
The flame stays lit.

If the sensor has an issue, you will get a light / kill / trouble indication pattern. The first step solution is to check / replace the thermocouple. The next step is the control board. You should check the warranty on the fridge it's self. This all may be a covered repair.

Bob

[AKNate]

Thank you for the replies. As far as I can tell, this model of fridge is not like most models and does not have a separate thermocouple. The only thing shown in the manual ( https://www.dometic.com/assets/47/45...5.pdf?att=true ) is a thermofuse, but that seems to kill all 12V power, so I think that is a backup safety device, not a control device. It also shows a thermistor in the wiring diagram, but I think that is for measuring the fridge temp, not the flame. I’m guessing the igniter electrode also integrates some sort of temperature sensing, but they don’t say.
We are on the road, so towing the camper to a Dometic or Airstream dealer would be a major inconvenience.

[greghoro]

Quick search online came up with this Dometic general diagnostic guide

https://www.dutchmen.com/resources/m...ice_manual.pdf

Greg

[JCWDCW]

I believe the OP said he seems to have solved the problem. The burner being plugged would have limited the flame on the sensor (which is not a thermostat, but senses ions in the flame and sends a micro amperage back to the board ) If the flame is lit but the ignition spark keeps firing, the flame is simply not being sensed and eventually the control board times out and shuts off the gas. This particular gas burner is very susceptible to dirt and debris falling from the chimney. That usually happens on older trailers. It seems in this case the burner got partially plugged with some contamination from the burner venturi. OP did the right thing by blowing out the burner with air.
JCW