Using the propane mode for my refrigerator on my ACE

[RowdyD]

When I am not connected to electricity and place my refrigerator into the propane mode, a red light appears and the refrigerator does not appear to cool.

Is there a valve somewhere (other than the propane tank) that needs to be turned on for this to work?

Thanks in advance for your guidance.
Rowdy

[JamieGeek]

In that mode when you're outside can you hear it? (Typically, when its quiet outside, you can hear the flame)

Does your gas range work?

The only valve would be the one on the tank.

[cavie]

Main switch ON. Gas switch ON. No lights will be on it it lights. If it does not light a CHECK light will come on. If you turn OFF the gas switch, it will seek out electric power. The auto light will be lit. Gas switch must be ON to run on GAS. It will not AUTO switch. Auto means it is looking for Electric.

[Bob Denman]

My Outlaw used to be a bit reluctant to fire up on propane. You could hear the clicking as it tried to start, and then a red light would come on...
We lit it manually a few times, and then traded it in...

[nosticks]

Originally Posted by cavie

Main switch ON. Gas switch ON. No lights will be on it it lights. If it does not light a CHECK light will come on. If you turn OFF the gas switch, it will seek out electric power. The auto light will be lit. Gas switch must be ON to run on GAS. It will not AUTO switch. Auto means it is looking for Electric.

Too confusing. Simply stated, run it in auto mode. When you don't have electric it will switch to gas on it's own and back to electric when electric is available.

Try lighting a burner on the stove for a moment or two. That should insure a good gas supply is available.

[Bob Denman]

Good idea: fire up the propane stovetop for a few minutes to make sure that the lines are, "propane-ified".

[cavie]

Originally Posted by nosticks

Too confusing. Simply stated, run it in auto mode. When you don't have electric it will switch to gas on it's own and back to electric when electric is available.

Try lighting a burner on the stove for a moment or two. That should insure a good gas supply is available.

Not that simple. the gas switch must be ON to switch to gas. Auto and gas on is the way to go. It will run on electric until the electric is removed then switch to gas IF the gas switch is on.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by cavie

Not that simple. the gas switch must be ON to switch to gas. Auto and gas on is the way to go. It will run on electric until the electric is removed then switch to gas IF the gas switch is on.

Actually, it IS that simple. There is no "gas switch". There is a single, 3 position switch: AUTO - OFF - GAS. Placing this switch is GAS makes it run on gas all the time.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Actually, it IS that simple. There is no "gas switch". There is a single, 3 position switch: AUTO - OFF - GAS. Placing this switch is GAS makes it run on gas all the time.

I have 2 switches single pole switches. ON and GAS.

[Bob Denman]

If that's the case: I would guess that the "on" setting would be "auto"...

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by cavie

I have 2 switches single pole switches. ON and GAS.

What model Norcold fridge in what model ACE MH?

[dkoldman]

For OP, your model is not clear but on my unit, if the red light is on solid RED (not flashing) then you have a fault code condition.

I have Norcold N7x and on my model, if I see RED as you are; it means that the "Fridge tried to start on the selected energy source and failed" Of course you know it failed on propane.



So the corrective action or possible solutions.

1. Try the manual mode if in auto.
2. Try the auto mode if in manual.
3. Check for empty LP tank.
4. Check AC / DC converter
5. Check Gas Shutoff valve to ensure it is open
6. Check propane gas is at correct pressure
7. Check that there is no air in propane gas line

FWIW, before I bought this rig I heard all kinds of bad press about propane refrigerators not getting cold, having to start them up the day before travel etc. For a while I was stuck on Thor's ACE because a few came with Residential Refrigerators. Thor stopped putting the Residential Fridges in the ACE 29.3 and now I know why. I love this Norcold N7x. It gets very cold very fast. We keep in Auto mode until we stop to get gas. Then we shut it off completely. Few times we forgot to turn it back on after getting gas , but did not notice until we got to where we were going and everything was still cold.

[taylorbob1]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Actually, it IS that simple. There is no "gas switch". There is a single, 3 position switch: AUTO - OFF - GAS. Placing this switch is GAS makes it run on gas all the time.

My Norcold is on the 1200 watt Inverter/outlet line.
So when I’m BoonDocking with the inverter on, I need to turn it to Gas (only).
Otherwise I’ll drain the batteries (although I do have solar).

Also, my light flashes orange when Gas isn’t lit properly.

[Lt Keefer]

When I have had problems with my fridge not wanting to go to gas operation, it has always been a propane flow issue. Running the furnace and a burner on the stove for a couple of minutes has almost always fixed it. A couple of times it was spider nests around and in the combustion area in the back of the unit.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

If that's the case: I would guess that the "on" setting would be "auto"...

It is.

[JamieGeek]

Note that the OP never replied....

[Pete'sMH]

My Norcold N8XRT has a very strange problem. It’ll only light when the temp control is set to the coldest position when starting with a warm fridge. After it’s cold it runs fine on gas. Hasn’t been too much of a problem because it seems to be very consistent. If I start it the day before a trip it’ll be like -7 in the freezer and 20 in the main cabinet by morning. Wish I could think of something to testa don’t I’m concerned that one of these days it won’t light at all.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

My Norcold N8XRT has a very strange problem. It’ll only light when the temp control is set to the coldest position when starting with a warm fridge. After it’s cold it runs fine on gas. Hasn’t been too much of a problem because it seems to be very consistent. If I start it the day before a trip it’ll be like -7 in the freezer and 20 in the main cabinet by morning. Wish I could think of something to testa don’t I’m concerned that one of these days it won’t light at all.

You may have issue with control board?

If you look at post #12, we keep our Norcold on setting #3 of 3 of 5 stars on thermometer. When the freezer is frozen; well basically you have all of the cold you need.

When we get ready to leave, we start the AC's and turn on the both refrigerators to get everything cool down. Takes us about an hour to pack.

When we do leave we turn both AC's off and main fridge goes to gas while outdoor kitchen fridge runs off inverter.

When we stop we start the generator so both AC's can run. I always have ice cold beer when ever we get where we are going or an extended stop.

[capeharj]

Show a picture of your refrigerator control panel. For most, auto will work for electric and gas, when you don't have one it automatically switches to the other. I have had 8 units over the years and they all worked that way. The other thing is do you have 12 volt, it won't work without it in either mode.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Note that the OP never replied....

Perhaps we overwhelmed him with our helpfulness?