Dometic fridge won't run on gas

[IanB1485]

I disagree with the thermocouple itself being faulty , IMO it's the selector switch.
One trick to try without pulling the fridge out is to , whilst holding the gas valve in and the flame is lit to gently turn the selector switch slightly back away from 'gas' and back to gas , if the indicator twitches slightly or starts to move to the green section , then it's definitely grease on the contacts of the switch contacts.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Yes, thermocouple, I suggested that in #4

John

I would clarify that to say the thermocouple circuit, as often the thermocouple itself is fine, it the electrical contacts, either in the switch that Ian B has written about, or in the valve where the thermocouple's connector is supposed to screw in and seat and make contact.

 

[Kevin M]

With this being a possible fault on a gas appliance, get a real professional to service and repair the fridge before something goes wrong and it all ends up in disaster .

 

[Jcloughie]

I would clarify that to say the thermocouple circuit, as often the thermocouple itself is fine, it the electrical contacts, either in the switch that Ian B has written about, or in the valve where the thermocouple's connector is supposed to screw in and seat and make contact.

Again. Much of that suggested in #4.

I take on board what Ian suggested. But a weakness in the control circuits is indicated. I would always start with the cheapest, so Ian’s switch, then the thermocouple, then the valve.

With this being a possible fault on a gas appliance, get a real professional to service and repair the fridge before something goes wrong and it all ends up in disaster .

The gas system is not touched unless it is the valve that is at fault.

John

 

[IanB1485]

Unfortunately under gas safety ( installation and use) regulations 1998 'work' on a gas appliance includes moving it or dismantling any part of ,so even if you don't touch the gas side it should only be undertaken by a qualified person. To illustrate this point I was , after servicing a caravan including a full gas integrity check and noted on it that one of the gas burners wouldn't stay lit , asked to repair it.On pulling the oven forward to get at the lid switches ( I have stand on which to rest the front of oven) and the side panel to get at the gas valve and thermocouple the inline gasoline union to oven developed a tiny leak as detected by as my gas sniffer and manometer. A person who has not attended an approved gas course, who might be a very competent engineer in other disciplines may not have the equipment to check that after the work is completed the gas system is completely leak free and safe to use. Only 3 weeks ago a Motorhome/campervan in Livingston suffered a gas explosion.After working or repairing the oven you should call out a gas engineer/mobile caravan engineer to just check it out, I call out a friendly gas safe engineer to check my work when having worked on my home condensing boiler.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I call out a friendly gas safe engineer to check my work when having worked on my home condensing boiler.

I think it needs to be made clear that in the instance you have given, you have only worked on your domestic gas installation becasue I presume you have the required gas fitting certification and registration that allows you to do so. Most caravanners will not have the certification and registration to work on domestic gas installations, and in fact would be committing a criminal offence if they were to do so.

I am aware of a case where a householder had built and new utility room and moved his gas boiler and some other gas pipe work by himself. After the move he did contacted a qualified gas fitter to come and certify the works. The fitter attended the site, he found several non conformaties , and he refused to certify the installation. In fact he issued an ID notice, on the whole house installation. The local council were involved, and I understand the housholder was fined with a suspended sentence for breaches of GS(I&U)R under Health and Safety law.

 

[Jcloughie]

Unfortunately under gas safety ( installation and use) regulations 1998 'work' on a gas appliance includes moving it or dismantling any part of ,so even if you don't touch the gas side it should only be undertaken by a qualified person. To illustrate this point I was , after servicing a caravan including a full gas integrity check and noted on it that one of the gas burners wouldn't stay lit , asked to repair it.On pulling the oven forward to get at the lid switches ( I have stand on which to rest the front of oven) and the side panel to get at the gas valve and thermocouple the inline gasoline union to oven developed a tiny leak as detected by as my gas sniffer and manometer. A person who has not attended an approved gas course, who might be a very competent engineer in other disciplines may not have the equipment to check that after the work is completed the gas system is completely leak free and safe to use. Only 3 weeks ago a Motorhome/campervan in Livingston suffered a gas explosion.After working or repairing the oven you should call out a gas engineer/mobile caravan engineer to just check it out, I call out a friendly gas safe engineer to check my work when having worked on my home condensing boiler.

It does not actually say that, you have used a bit of license there.

work” in relation to a gas fitting includes any of the following activities carried out by any person, whether an employee or not, that is to say—

(a)
installing or re-connecting the fitting;
(b)
maintaining, servicing, permanently adjusting, disconnecting, repairing, altering or renewing the fitting or purging it of air or gas;
(c)
where the fitting is not readily movable, changing its position; and
(d)
removing the fitting;
but the expression does not include the connection or disconnection of a bayonet fitting or other self-sealing connector.

You then need to look at the word ‘fitting;’ in the text of the regulations.

gas fittings” means gas pipework, valves (other than emergency controls), regulators and meters, and fittings, apparatus and appliances designed for use by consumers of gas for heating, lighting, cooking or other purposes for which gas can be used (other than the purpose of an industrial process carried out on industrial premises), but it does not mean—

(a)
any part of a service pipe;
(b)
any part of a distribution main or other pipe upstream of the service pipe;
(c)
a gas storage vessel; or
(d)
a gas cylinder or cartridge designed to be disposed of when empty;

Neither the thermocouple or the switch come in this category. Therefore, I stand by my comment in post #29


Alway wise to quote regs verbatim.

However. I fully agree that work should only be undertaken by a competent person. And, where it involves gas fittings as described above. A person with the relevant qualifications for that gas category.


John

 

[otherclive]

It does not actually say that, you have used a bit of license there.

work” in relation to a gas fitting includes any of the following activities carried out by any person, whether an employee or not, that is to say—

(a)
installing or re-connecting the fitting;
(b)
maintaining, servicing, permanently adjusting, disconnecting, repairing, altering or renewing the fitting or purging it of air or gas;
(c)
where the fitting is not readily movable, changing its position; and
(d)
removing the fitting;
but the expression does not include the connection or disconnection of a bayonet fitting or other self-sealing connector.

You then need to look at the word ‘fitting;’ in the text of the regulations.

gas fittings” means gas pipework, valves (other than emergency controls), regulators and meters, and fittings, apparatus and appliances designed for use by consumers of gas for heating, lighting, cooking or other purposes for which gas can be used (other than the purpose of an industrial process carried out on industrial premises), but it does not mean—

(a)
any part of a service pipe;
(b)
any part of a distribution main or other pipe upstream of the service pipe;
(c)
a gas storage vessel; or
(d)
a gas cylinder or cartridge designed to be disposed of when empty;

Neither the thermocouple or the switch come in this category. Therefore, I stand by my comment in post #29


Alway wise to quote regs verbatim.

However. I fully agree that work should only be undertaken by a competent person. And, where it involves gas fittings as described above. A person with the relevant qualifications for that gas category.


John

I think that you have used “fitting” with some degree of licence.