Gas operation on my Electrolux fridge

[JohnI.Stephen]

I have a 2002 Bailey Senator Oklahoma with an Electrolux fridge. I have a problem with igniting the fridge on gas; the last time I used it, it worked perfectly; that was 2 years ago. Since then we have used the on-site 240v supply.

With the exterior cover removed and the supply of gas proven by being able to ignite the gas hob, I select GAS on the Electrolux fridge. The instant I do this, the piezo electronic ignition starts to click every half a second with an orange flash displayed in the viewing hole. As soon I I depress the regulator knob (with a view to holding it in for 10-15 seconds), there is an audible "noise" (as though the gas was being lit), the clicking stops as does the flashing of ignition, but there is no flame visible, suggesting that the gas has not been lit at all.

I have repeated this many times but never seem to be able to "light" the gas and so confirm that the fridge is operating on gas. Any thoughts please?

Thanks

John

 

[Damian]

John, when the gas lights, the flame recognition probe shuts down the ignition sequence.

Whilst you may not be able to see the flame, as they are very small anyway, does not mean it has not been lit.

Have you tried, after the ignition stops and you release the control knob after 10 or so seconds, going outside and feeling the exhaust vent of the fridge to see if hot air is being dispelled?

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

John, when the gas lights, the flame recognition probe shuts down the ignition sequence.

Whilst you may not be able to see the flame, as they are very small anyway, does not mean it has not been lit.

Have you tried, after the ignition stops and you release the control knob after 10 or so seconds, going outside and feeling the exhaust vent of the fridge to see if hot air is being dispelled?

Hello Mr Mod; thanks for this sound advice. I have switched on the second (full!) gas cylinder and tried again (the primary cylinder is adequate to light the hobs though). Yes, sure enough, despite the fact that I can see no evidence of a flame and despite that fact that the handbook states that "the inspection glass is inside the refrigerator at the bottom left", I can now feel warm exhaust gas !

I'll leave it on for a couple of hours and see if we have a cold ice box.

Still can't work out where the "inspection glass" is though on my Electrolux RM 6291L ?!

Thanks again

 

[RayS]

Gas flames can be difficult to see throught the "window" in the fridge. Follow Damians suggestion, or if you are still not convinced remove the bottom exterior vent and look - usually to the right - at the vertical tube heat exchanger. The gas burner lives at the bottom of this and you should be able to see the flame quite easily. If still a problem, get someone else to operate the fridge and watch exactly what happens at the burner. It may be that the jet - which is a very small hole in a small shiny cap - has become blocked or has had a bit of scale or other debris fall across it. if so, remove with a small paint brush. If the jet is blocked DO NOT attempt DIY unless you are fully conversant and/or CORGI registered.

 

[Damian]

Hello Mr Mod; thanks for this sound advice. I have switched on the second (full!) gas cylinder and tried again (the primary cylinder is adequate to light the hobs though). Yes, sure enough, despite the fact that I can see no evidence of a flame and despite that fact that the handbook states that "the inspection glass is inside the refrigerator at the bottom left", I can now feel warm exhaust gas !

I'll leave it on for a couple of hours and see if we have a cold ice box.

Still can't work out where the "inspection glass" is though on my Electrolux RM 6291L ?!

Thanks again

John, I am glad you seem to have solved the problem.

As for the sight glass, they dispensed with it in most of the fridges as it was more trouble than it was worth.

Unless you were at exactly the right angle to view, you could see nothing, and I also expect it had something to do with cost.

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

Thank you both very much; I am delighted to report that, some two hours later, the freezer box is quite cold, so despite my inability to be aware that the gas was lighting, all is well.

Thanks again.

John