Refrigerator doesn't work

[cmawendy]

Just got back from being away from our 5th wheel for 4 days and our refrigerator quit working sometime while we were gone. We did have heat on it here the whole time we were gone....4 heaters. It will not work on electric or gas....when we left it was -11 here but warmed up to the 30's and now back in the 20's. Any suggestions from anyone??

[cmawendy]

Now it works on gas but not the electric

[H. John Kohl]

Ok with it working on propane that means you also have 12vdc to the fridge. Check your 120VAC breaker at the panel. Actually turn it off and back on for the fridge.
Also check for other 120 VAC items or outlets not working in and around the kitchen/fridge.
Open the outside panel, unplug the fridge and see if that outlet has power. If not and the panel breaker seems good check for a ground fault outlet that might be tripped.

[cmawendy]

Actually it isn't working on gas either...has been on gas for about 1 hr and nothing. Switched back to electic to see if maybe it started working. Everything works around the frig....checked all the outlets, breakers etc....nothing. Thanks for the suggestions though

[H. John Kohl]

Ok check the 12VDC circuit and see if you have 12v. It will not work on 120VAC or propane without 12vdc.

[cmawendy]

Where is that located?

[SlickWillie]

John is right on with the troubleshooting tips....check the DC fuses in the distribution panel for one marked "kitchen". At least that's how ours is labeled. Of course, they could have been using different labels the day yours came off the line.

[NCFischers]

If a fuse is blown, the indicator light above the fuse should be lit.

[cmawendy]

All the fuses are good.....Don't know how to check the 12VDC circuit???

[H. John Kohl]

Mark,
You did not mention which fridge you have. However, based on the current replies I would get a service tech there because my guess it is a control board. You might call the manufacture service desk and see if they can help you trouble shoot it.
Let us know what you find.

[cmawendy]

So what happened with our frig was it got cold here -30 and I guess if it gets too cold it shuts off. So we had to have a repair guy come here and he took the frig out of the wall and had to tip it from side to side to mix the ammonia up. It actually gurgles when you do it....after about 8 tips he put it back in the hole hooked it up and it was working. He said that if it gets too cold they shut off because they run off of heat. So if it gets below 0 again we are suppose to shut it off for a day or so and then turn it back on for short amounts of time until the temp goes back up. our frig is a Dometic, the repair guy said he has spoken with Dometic and they claim they aren't made to work in those temps....so anyway.....hope this helps anyone if you ever have this happen to you.

[H. John Kohl]

Glad you got it working.

[wingerphil]

just curious if providing heat to it would keep it working in the bitter cold? Maybe a light bulb in the outer compartment to provide some heat? Shutting it off and on like the tech suggested doesn't seem like a viable alternative but if it's the only way .....

[dustinc02]

I had this happen to me last year in -15 degree temps in Southern Idaho. Had to replace the cooling unit. I have heard suggestions of putting some insulation in the lower vent and running the refer on propane to build a little heat in the outer compartment. I have not tried it yet, but I am hoping that I will not see -15 degrees in the Montana again.

[cmawendy]

What we are going to do is put a 40 watt light bulb in the back compartment......thanks for all of your help.......I just hope it doesn't get that cold again here. But from what we have heard it tends to get that cold here a lot.