Refrigerator not working over 5000 ft

[SocalHodaka]

So when just took a 3 week trip from San Diego to Yellowstone and other southwest areas. I keep the unit on Auto, so while driving of course the unit runs off gas. I notice the unit would be flashing when we pulled into the camp ground. For the heck I would to to start in in the gas mode and it would not light off. My owners books say the unit will not work over 5000 ft. What are you supposed to due if you want to dry camp above 5000 ft?

thanks Kelly

[wagonmaster2]

Dometic or Norcold? I have the 1200 Norcold in my coach and have used it at 8,500 ft., 9,000 ft. and even up to 9,500 ft with no ill effects. I do have a little problem with the water heater at those altitudes but all it takes is to open the compartment door so it can get more air to the burner. Seems some of these propane burners are too enclosed to get enough thin air at higher altitudes to burn like they should. I have tried several times to adjust the air valve on the water heater burner when at high altitude but as soon as I'd close the compartment door it would start cycling on and off.

Not sure if this could be the problem with your frig or not, or how to get more air to the burner.

Hope someone else will have a better solution to your problem.. Good luck, a none operating frig is not something you want when camping.

Wagonmaster2
2004 Meridian 36G

[Sammie]

Kelly, You might try checking the gap between the electronic ignition points. I had a problem similar to yours and found that setting the gap to approximatly the thickness of a dime creats a better spark to ignite the propane at high altitude. There may be an exact gap setting, you might check with your refrigerator manufacturer.

Sammie

[John Mo]

That's interesting because my refrigerator got a little finicky on gas when I was @ Yellowstone this summer too. I never considered the altitude.

[Bagger97]

The ignitor gap needs adjusting. When I first got mine it worked ok at home,5,280 ft, but when we went up to the Rockies it died out. Dealer set the gap per spec and it's worked fine ever since.

[powerboatr]

I will let you know how mine does in two weeks, were are off to to a spot that's supposed to be just over 10k feet in colorado

i have had my fridge blow out on the road and i had to make it go through a purge cycle to get it to relight

[David K]

The Norcold web site says that the frig does not operate or cool as well on propane at altitudes over 5,000 foot. The lack of air will not let the flame burn as hot which effects the gas absorption (what makes the unit cool).