Testing Dometic thermocouple?

[Californio]

Fridge lights but won't stay lit. In my experience with residential appliances, this says "thermocouple."

However, the only thermocouples I could find for the Demonic were from GW and priced accordingly, like $65.

Anybody know the voltage output these are supposed to have at flame temperature? It should be possible to test them before spending the big bucks.

Also, if these are just a standard voltage, any reason why not to use a standard thermocouple from the hardware store?

[reluctantartist]

Have you taken it out and cleaned the ash pot and the goodies inside? Have you been using it previously?
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1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

[Californio]

Fridge always worked fine on propane except at elevation.

I haven't pulled it yet, but want to be able to test thermocouple, or to have the new thermocouple on hand before doing so.

Anyway at 23+ years of use, this cries out thermocouple to me, just wanted to make sure before ordering one. Though I don't see a lot searching for thermocouple on these pages.

[reluctantartist]

I would clean it up first and then test it. I pull mine every year and go over it.
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1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

[Californio]

Yes, will do. Since whatever the thermocouple voltage is supposed to be, it's tiny, any kind of 23 year old crud buildup will make it not work. I also have a computer fan sitting around waiting to be installed. Here goes.

[WHITEWESTY]

It should be 25 ~ 35 millivolts. Put your voltmeter on the wires, low range. Hold a heat source under the thermocouple. The voltage should rise.

Dometic manual is available http://www.frankcondelli.com/fridge.htm

Ditto on the cleaning. Carefully clean the probe. I added 2 fans: one inside the refer on the aluminum fins controlled by toggle sw, to clear the frost on them.

Added two fans on the fins in the back of the refer, below the fins. You can check the operation of the bi-metallic switch by touching a soldering iron on in. it should click at ~140F or so. Put your Voltmeter across the terminals, set to ohms. i should close to turn on the fans.
Good luck

[Californio]

Thanks for the link, it pretty much says it all.

If it turns out the thermocouple is bad AND it's replaceable with an ordinary one (same approximate voltage...) I'll let you know.

Ah, how we spend our weekends.