ELECTRICAL troubleshooting, Dometic, & AC, trying to understand how it works

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August 15, 2018, 10:44:12 pm

Just back from my first 7 night camping trip to San Francisco, and driving my 27 MB all the way back down to to San Simeon on Hwy 1, headed back to Long Beach CA. I do not recommend anyone else try that, but coastline of California is beautiful! I really learned how to drive my LD in those tough/tight road conditions. Also I would not do it solo again!

First thing is my fridge door swings open way too often, and I’ve continued to put lighter items in the door, and close to the hinges, maybe it was all the curvy roads, still I’m suprised how often it swings open.

Second the fridge seemed to work properly at first, but now only seems to want to work on gas mode, not electric mode when it’s plugged in. Then when I try to turn propane off (to left, correct?) it goes to CHECK mode, which means it’s not cooling anymore. I did level the LD at all my stops

Hope LD can help, I’m not sure if they will check it or send me to a warranty center for diagnosis and repair. Open to suggestions, I’ll call tomorrow and ask about it. I’m posting in case someone knows a trick to making it get off propane and back to electric, thanks

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #1 – August 15, 2018, 11:13:26 pm

Quote from: Tiger (Clark) - August 15, 2018, 10:44:12 pm

First thing is my fridge door swings open way too often, and I’ve continued to put lighter items in the door, and close to the hinges, maybe it was all the curvy roads, still I’m suprised how often it swings open.

Second the fridge seemed to work properly at first, but now only seems to want to work on gas mode, not electric mode when it’s plugged in. Then when I try to turn propane off (to left, correct?) it goes to CHECK mode, which means it’s not cooling anymore.

That door should not swing open when it's closed. Like never. I can't think of an adjustment on the door to make it close properly. I'm sure you've pushed it shut with vigor! When you close the door, do you hear it lock or snap into place? It can take a strong push to get both doors to close.

With regards to the gas and electric mode ... again I'm guessing your setting is Auto? If you select gas and NOT auto, then the fridge will remain on gas and never switch to electricity unless the setting is Auto. Hope this helps.

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #2 – August 15, 2018, 11:48:58 pm

Tiger-

Ed's suggestion to check the switch is "Auto" is the best place to start, especially for a new LD with a new refrigerator.

If you should find that the switch is in "Auto" and it still is not working on AC, these two links to posts on a different forum may help:

Refrigerator not working on electric - iRV2 Forums
Dometic RM7732 Stopped Working No lights - iRV2 Forums

The original source for the Dometic troubleshooting document is this link:

Technical Help - Refrigerator
http://www.beamalarm.com/foretravel-links/PDF/dometic_rm7030_7732SM.pdf

The refrigerator needs 12V to run the control board. If it runs on gas, you can be fairly sure the LD fuse is OK and the voltage is 10.5V or above. Make sure the 120V circuit breaker that feeds the reefer is not tripped. Next, use a voltmeter to check that you have 120V and 12V at the rear of the refrigerator. If you have 12V there, check the refrigerator control fuse(s) (diagram on page 17).

I expect that much of the information applies even if you have a different Dometic model than the 7030/7732.

Mark H

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #3 – August 16, 2018, 12:04:05 am

Tiger,

I concur with Ed. The fridge should not open without your express permission. When closing the fridge and freezer doors you must insure nothing is hendering their closure. It should close easily and “click” shut. Clicking comes from the door’s locking mechanism. That darned little finger trigger you have to depress to open the door.

Although heavier items would be better placed inside the fridge and not on the door shelves, there should be no issue with the door remaining closed even with heavier items (like that six pack of Corona I have in mine 😎).

Ed also mentioned the “auto” setting. I leave mine there all the time. If not, the fridge will most likely not run on 120v. As I keep our LD fridge running 24/7 at home running on 120v (and propane is always on while parked at home or at a CG) when I disconnect the 120v power cord the fridge automatically switches to propane without issue.

Leveling is a tricky thing. I use a small bubble level that I place on the counter top between the sink and the stove top. This spot is the perfect place for us to check level. Works perfectly. If the bubble is 1/2 outside the center circle the fridge will often refuse to light up or if it does it will shut down soon. I have frustrated over this issue several times including this stay at Serrano. Without sufficient leveling blocks it may be an impossible task. I’ll include shots here to demonstrate what measures I took to keep my Haagen-Dazs frozen.

Don’t give up. Make sure that fridge/freezer door “clicks” when you close it. If it doesn’t, then there is an issue but I can’t imagine that to be the case.

Never give up...never surrender.

Kent

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #4 – August 16, 2018, 06:10:32 am

We have a 2013 dometic fridge and newer fridges might be different.

There is shut, then there is what I call Iocked, press the handle (slim piece several inches long - one on fridge and one in freezer) and you will feel a little snap. That keeps the for shut.

Jane

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Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #5 – August 16, 2018, 09:04:43 am

Quote from: Kent Heckethorn - August 16, 2018, 12:04:05 am

Leveling is a tricky thing. I use a small bubble level that I place on the counter top between the sink and the stove top. This spot is the perfect place for us to check level. Works perfectly. If the bubble is 1/2 outside the center circle the fridge will often refuse to light up or if it does it will shut down soon.

DW says I'm always a half bubble off but she still loves me so that's ok.

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #6 – August 16, 2018, 09:34:08 am

Can't asnwer as to why your refrigerator is not switching from gas to electric. I always leave the setting to auto. I also agree with others as to the door - it should never swing open without your permission.

My concern here is the leveling issue. I do know some folks like to be perfectly level but its not a requirement. Dometic and the Mothership both say if you (the human) is comfortable then its ok for the refrigerator.

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #7 – August 16, 2018, 10:55:32 am

I agree that the refrigerator door should not open on its own; the first checks I'd make are the possibilities of a defective/broken latch and/or hinges and overloading the shelves in the door. Excessive weight in the door will cause the plastic hinges to sag (or break!); if the door is geewhoppered, the latch will miss the "securely closed" mark and the refrigerator's contents, and maybe the door itself, will end up on the floor.

The dog might love this event; you will not.

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #8 – August 16, 2018, 12:39:31 pm

Hi Clark. About the latch/locking mechanism; I'm sure it has changed since my refrigerator was built ('99). The magnetic strip seals seem to be all that is holding. I checked this YouTube video and it caught my attention because the author said " It broke almost instantly" and he couldn't get anybody to understand what was wrong, "thought he was crazy". That tells me that it must not be a common failure, but it does happen. It had a picture of the part, a little gray plastic pawl, one for each door.
As far as the not switching to 120Vac, make sure that the 12v, supply to the control logic board is good, (light goes on inside when the door is opened), and the 120v. is good. The plug firmly plugged into the outlet in the outside access door compartment. Maybe shift the plug to the other half of the outlet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQZedY6xMY4

Looking for door lock parts with Google yielded many different parts, so it sounds like they keep changing it, (and can't get it right, is my opinion). RonB

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #9 – August 16, 2018, 09:25:35 pm

Joan, now that's a new one, never heard before "geewhoppered"
may I use it? Grin

At 07:55 AM 8/16/2018, you wrote:

Quote

I agree that the refrigerator door should not open on its own; the first checks I'd make are the possibilities of a defective/broken latch and/or hinges and overloading the shelves in the door. Excessive weight in the door will cause the plastic hinges to sag (or break!); if the door is geewhoppered, the latch will miss the "securely closed" mark and the refrigerator's contents, and maybe the door itself, will end up on the floor.

The dog might love this event; you will not. 2003 TK

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Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #10 – August 18, 2018, 09:53:41 pm

Thanks to all who commented, I did find the little lock plastic triangle thing to lock the door, that I was not using when I closed the fridge for travel. I do have the fridge on auto. It is still not switching to electric, so I though it was a fridge issue

Then I tried to turn on my AC the next day, plugged in and with the generator, the blue light comes on, and it shows an hourglass to the right, but AC doesn’t come on. I spoke to Vince briefly Friday, but he wanted me to be next to LD when I call him Monday to troubleshoot. He said the first thing to check is to see if the microwave comes on to show LD has power. He told me how to check the generator breaker fuse on/off on the right, to tell him where the switch was, I will check tomorrow, still looking for ideas to reset the electrical

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #11 – August 19, 2018, 03:37:14 am

Hi Clark. One other easy thing to check is power at your standard AC receptacles. The Microwave and A/C have their own outlets, but the refrigerator and other outlets go through the GFCI circuit breaker. That is the one with a test button in the distribution panel. If it has tripped, then you need to firmly shut it off (that reloads the spring), and then turn it back on. It should stay on. many times people plug in hair dryers, or similar large loads, i.e. box heaters, toasters, coffee makers, and the breaker trips off to the center. That is half way between full on, and full off. If you aren't used to working around circuit breakers it is easy to miss. I have a plug tester that lights up a code to tell you that a plug has power, and if it wired correctly. It also has a GFCI tester to see if the electronics are up to snuff. RonB

It could look something like this: picture of handle on gfci circuit breaker - Penelusuran Google

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #12 – August 19, 2018, 12:59:15 pm

Hi Clark, I missed the part about your Air Conditioner not running. The thermostat lights up blue but only shows an hourglass?
Definitely changed since 20 years ago on my rig. I would interpret that as the thermostat has 12v, (or a battery powered thermostat), and it is waiting for for 120VAC to be applied. Many people do have EMS systems that analyze shore power before connecting, about a two minute delay. Also it might be allowing for the generator to warm up and stabilize before connecting to that, about a 30 seconds delay.
So after a few minutes, no air conditioning either? Sounds like you have no AC power at all to your coach. This a simple tester that can also check if a GFCI is functional for cutting off power. After pressing the red button on the side, you do have to find the GFCI to reset it, if it isn't at the particular socket you are at. Bastex Socket Tester with GFCI check. Receptacle Tester for Standard AC...
I also carry one of these little pocket 'pen' testers. Mike Holmes on the TV show "Holmes on Homes" made them famous.
Amazon.com: Non-Contact Voltage Tester, BEBONCOOL Electrical Voltage...
Small, inexpensive, I find they can come in handy at times. I remove the usually AA battery from the pen if it is not going to be used for a while.
It isn't always easy to tell if you have 120VA in a motorhome, because the lights always work. So Vince is right, I check the microwave display first to see if I have AC. I wish it had a 9v. battery so I wouldn't have to reset the time so often. RonB

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #13 – August 19, 2018, 01:25:23 pm

SUCCESS!! 👏Thank you RonB, and other forum posters...was headed out to find my outlet tester, and decided to flip my electrical panel breakers on & off one more time, paying special attention to the GFI white button in the picture and it worked! I pushed it before, but maybe there is a pattern to reset it I need to learn, anyway all electrical for fridge and air conditioning is back on so we can go camping in Malibu CA this weekend!

I really did not want to spend the time and gas to go back to the Mothership this week, having to get rides back and forth to pick it up etc, but their is a Dairy Queen nearby just in case. FYI Kent I like a large chocolate dipped cone,if you ever need a ride to LD LoL 👍🐯🍦

Hope this can help other rookie LD owners down the line learn some pointers of how to get the rig going, when the electrical doesn’t seem to work. It’s good to know how to do basic troubleshooting

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #14 – August 19, 2018, 01:41:47 pm

"It's good to know how to do basic troubleshooting"

I once sought the assistance of a RV Service facility when my propane appliances would not work. Imagine my embarrassment when they discovered that I'd forgotten to open the tank valve.

Re: ELECTRICAL troubleshooting, Dometic, & AC, trying to understand how it works

Reply #15 – August 19, 2018, 01:45:00 pm

Well you will NEVER forget to open the tank again!

Attention LD Rookies, if you want your propane appliances to work #OpenTheTankFirst 😍

This LD owners forum is awesome, thank you to all the posters, moderators and creators of this helpful resource.

Anyone think starting a FB group for LDO might be helpful to find this forum? It would be easier to post pics and I could volunteer to help admin it some, hopefully with some help. Other FB LD pages exist, but not sure how much they promote this forum

Re: ELECTRICAL troubleshooting, Dometic, & AC, trying to understand how it works

Reply #16 – August 19, 2018, 02:11:45 pm

Hi Clark. Glad all is well. That white test button actually tests to see if the GFCI will trip OFF. Then you have to turn the breaker handle off to preload that spring, then turn it back on. So maybe that 'Test' message is a misnomer, sort of. Your house breakers work that way too. RonB

Re: Dometic, trying to understand how it works

Reply #17 – August 19, 2018, 05:56:57 pm

Clark, there is a built in delay in a lot of things when power goes on - for various things (eg making sure power coming from only one source at spots where both generator and shore are wired in, but sometimes other places also where some device wants to know the power is steady and no surges arehappening before letting the power continue through ). Delays are commonly 30 seconds but it is possible to have more than one delay happening so it can be longer to get to the outlet / appliance. So when turning on power give it a full minute or two before deciding it didn't come on.

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Re: ELECTRICAL troubleshooting, Dometic, & AC, trying to understand how it works

Reply #18 – August 19, 2018, 06:26:29 pm

I think everyone is right about the A/C control having a delay hence the hour glass. Be advised that the MFG could of built in a delay anywhere from 1 minute to up to 5. It's for the compressors own protection and most likely only happens on initial power up.

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August 15, 2018, 10:44:12 pm

Reply #1 – August 15, 2018, 11:13:26 pm

Reply #2 – August 15, 2018, 11:48:58 pm

Reply #3 – August 16, 2018, 12:04:05 am

Reply #4 – August 16, 2018, 06:10:32 am

Reply #5 – August 16, 2018, 09:04:43 am

Reply #6 – August 16, 2018, 09:34:08 am

Reply #7 – August 16, 2018, 10:55:32 am

Reply #8 – August 16, 2018, 12:39:31 pm

Reply #9 – August 16, 2018, 09:25:35 pm

Reply #10 – August 18, 2018, 09:53:41 pm

Reply #11 – August 19, 2018, 03:37:14 am

Reply #12 – August 19, 2018, 12:59:15 pm

Reply #13 – August 19, 2018, 01:25:23 pm

Reply #14 – August 19, 2018, 01:41:47 pm

Reply #15 – August 19, 2018, 01:45:00 pm

Reply #16 – August 19, 2018, 02:11:45 pm

Reply #17 – August 19, 2018, 05:56:57 pm

Reply #18 – August 19, 2018, 06:26:29 pm

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