Dometic RV refrigerator troubleshooting to find the problem with the cooling of this unit.
This dometic refrigerator was working perfectly and all the sudden it isn’t cooling. This is why I keep thermometers in both the freezer and the refrigerator so that I can monitor temperatures of both.
I switched the refrigerator over to Gas and now it is cooling. The lights are lit up when on electric, but not cooling. This is when I immediately started looking for problems.
In this blog post I am going through different test and troubleshooting this problem so I can fix it. I wanted to share the steps that I am going through in hopes of possibly helping someone else with the same or similar problems.
In the picture below you will see my voltage/amp multi-meter that I am using to narrow down my search for the problem. I am using the Amprobe AM-20 multi-meter which is a much older tester, but still works great.
Dometic RV refrigerator troubleshooting
Below is a picture of the Dometic RV refrigerator troubleshooting and multi-meter test…
This first picture right below here shows the inside of our RV of the actual display panel. Notice that there are NO indicator lights on and I actually have it on Gas right now. The problem just began today when I noticed that the inside temperature was considerably less than normal. It usually runs around 36-38 degrees in the refrigerator and 0 degrees or a little bit less than 0 degrees. Today it was 30 in the freezer and climbing. The refrigerator was close to 50 and climbing.
The picture below is on the outside of the RV where the back of the refrigerator is located. You will see 2 fuses located on the lower left of this picture. I removed the black cover to get to these fuses for the Dometic RV refrigerator troubleshooting and testing.
In this picture below you will see where I am using my Amprobe multi-meter to test the fuses. Just to look at them they appear to be in good shape, but the test doesn’t show this to be true. This one is a 3 amp fuse and test fine.
This fuse is a 5 amp fuse and doesn’t appear to be good. So I will have to remove this fuse and see if this fixes the problem. Remember what I mentioned above? The refrigerator will not cool on electric, but when I switch it over to gas it cools perfectly. This fuse is more than likely the problem.
The picture below shows the outside of RV after taking the cover off to access the back side of the Dometic RV refrigerator troubleshooting and testing.
See the electrical plug on the left of this picture below? This is the first thing I tested to see if I had 120 volts to this plug, and I did have. Next I started pulling the black circuit board and fuse cover off the be able to test fuses and circuit board for potential problems as seen in pictures above.
Below are some of the tools and things needed for taking on this kind of project…
Things To Check and Tools Needed
- Check power to outlet where refrigerator plugs in
- Check fuses on back side of refrigerator
- Spare 3 amp and 5 amp fuses
- Flat bit and Philips screwdrivers (to remove outside access cover panel and circuit board and fuse cover)
- Flashlight or work-light (to see everything really well inside of access panel)
- Some type of multi-meter to test amps and voltage (a cheap one like mine works fine)
Above you will see the tools needed as well as things to look for and check when tackling a project like this one. Dometic RV refrigerator troubleshooting and testing isn’t the least bit hard, just time consuming.
I will see you tomorrow with more on this Dometic RV refrigerator troubleshooting and cooling problem.
Always do your best,
-Mike Pilcher
P.S. I will get a video up here that shares the complete testing and repairs. 🙂
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