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sbaird
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2007
Posts: 49
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 Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:31 pm Post subject: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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I am trying to bench test my Dometic RM182 on propane. After following instructions for maintenance in a guide I found on samba, I am not getting any flame. The says nothing about needing voltage in this mode. However, there is an electrical connection to the main gas valve. The refrigerator needs 12VDC to operate the valve right?
thanks
~S |
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9935
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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For bench testing purposes the fridge runs fine on propane without 12v needed.
How are you checking for flame?
Mark |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6247
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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Here's a link to the dometic manual in case you don't have it.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/87wes...Manual.pdf
I don't know the answer to your question offhand though. Good luck!
_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4790
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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| sbaird wrote: |
However, there is an electrical connection to the main gas valve.
~S |
that is your thermocouple... it generates a small voltage from the heat of the flame that holds the gas valve open when the valve is manually moved open with the button.
since it is on the bench, remove the fire pan, clean it well, clean the orifice with an ultrasonic cleaner and/or a pilot cleaner. clean the intake and exhaust tubes with a vacuum cleaner and compressed air.
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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cmayna
Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2014
Posts: 1148
Location: SF Bay area, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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| crazyvwvanman wrote: |
For bench testing purposes the fridge runs fine on propane without 12v needed.
How are you checking for flame?
Mark |
You need to fire up the ignitor. 12v
_________________
'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9935
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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Before posting I looked up the OP and saw he had an 85.
Mark |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7468
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 7:06 am Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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| crazyvwvanman wrote: |
Before posting I looked up the OP and saw he had an 85.
Mark |
For the record, is it correct that all Dometics had manual piezo (no 12v needed to create a spark for the igniter) until mid-90 or so when the front panel changed on the fridge (as shown in MarkWard's photo below).
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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sbaird
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2007
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:59 am Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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Thanks everyone. Yes it does have a piezo.
I performed all the cleanout procedures already. The igniter is working. Possibly the thermocouple is faulty but the flame should ignite and stay on until I release the primer button. Yet I see nothing - note that I turned off lights in the room to make sure I could notice any flame.
Also, the jet does seem clear though I did not attempt to clean it.
My next check will be disconnect the gas into the burn box, secure a small balloon on the end, and see if I am getting gas into the box. |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4790
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 9:04 am Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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what is your propane source? you need 11" W.C., which is just what a propane grill regulator spits out from a 20lb tank. make sure it doesn't have a red knob aka high pressure.
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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sbaird
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2007
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 9:56 am Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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| DanHoug wrote: |
| what is your propane source? you need 11" W.C., which is just what a propane grill regulator spits out from a 20lb tank. make sure it doesn't have a red knob aka high pressure. |
I am using the tank out of my (former) '73 Adventure Camper. I was sure it was a full tank but it's been off the camper for some time. I will verify it has fuel.
Thanks!
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85 Vanagon |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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| sbaird wrote: |
| DanHoug wrote: |
| what is your propane source? you need 11" W.C., which is just what a propane grill regulator spits out from a 20lb tank. make sure it doesn't have a red knob aka high pressure. |
I am using the tank out of my (former) '73 Adventure Camper. I was sure it was a full tank but it's been off the camper for some time. I will verify it has fuel.
Thanks! |
Check the regulator pressure too.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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sbaird
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2007
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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First thanks to all for the troubleshooting help.
I am using a balloon to test gas flow. Outflow from the tank filled the balloon but I got nothing on the outflow from the valve. Gas regulator in the Fridge is set to MAX and I am holding the primer button down. Sad balloon  .
Thoughts?
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85 Vanagon |
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9935
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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What about the fridge gas on/off valve at the very right of your photo?
Have you tried it turned all the way in both directions?
Some fridges have clearly labeled On and Off positions but others not so much.
Here is an example of not well labeled.
ON is the flame valve pointed UP while the flame icon is next to the OFF position.
Positions are labeled 1 for on and O for off.
To make it even more confusing the rocker switch also has a flame icon but it means ON while the valve switch has the flame next to the OFF position.
As if that isn't bad enough, it gets worse.
Often when the fridge is installed the 1 is often obscured by the cabinet edge so it can be overlooked and then the operator assumes pointing at the flame is ON when it really is OFF.
Look at this photo showing how the top of the control panel was blocked when the fridge was installed.
Mark |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4790
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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in Mark's picture, the gas valve is on and the bar on the very end of the gas valve stem is pointing up. in your picture, the gas valve bar is horizontal, indicating it is off.
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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sbaird
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2007
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 3:13 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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| crazyvwvanman wrote: |
What about the fridge gas on/off valve at the very right of your photo?
Have you tried it turned all the way in both directions?
Some fridges have clearly labeled On and Off positions but others not so much.
Here is an example of not well labeled.
ON is the flame valve pointed UP while the flame icon is next to the OFF position.
Positions are labeled 1 for on and O for off. |
"forehead slap" Yes that is confusing. I will try the "ON" position... sheesh
~S
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85 Vanagon |
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sbaird
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2007
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2023 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| sbaird wrote: |
| DanHoug wrote: |
| what is your propane source? you need 11" W.C., which is just what a propane grill regulator spits out from a 20lb tank. make sure it doesn't have a red knob aka high pressure. |
I am using the tank out of my (former) '73 Adventure Camper. I was sure it was a full tank but it's been off the camper for some time. I will verify it has fuel.
Thanks! |
Check the regulator pressure too. |
I don't have a pressure gauge but it was finally apparent the tank I was using was empty when it could not fully blow up my trusty balloon. I switched to the Vanagon tank and we have ignition! Thanks everyone!
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85 Vanagon |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4790
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2023 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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this has been handy.... cheap eBay purchase
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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sbaird
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2007
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:16 pm Post subject: Epilogue: Dometic RM182 need 12 volts to run propane? |
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Just a quick note on how this ended. I successfully bench tested the fridge - lighting several times w/o issue. Great! Put it but in the car all the best I could get was an occasional POOF. 
So yes, I could replace the ignitor and thermocouple and hope for a better result. Bit what this experience proves to me is that this Dometic is too finicky and unreliable.
Truck Fridge is on it's ways. Anyone need Dometic parts?
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85 Vanagon |
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