Dometic Refer

I have a Dometic 3662 refer. When we dry camp it will start on the Gas button but will not start on the AUTO button. Any ideas.

I might be wrong on this, but I believe that the reefer only works on 120VAC not 12VDC. So, it would not work on AUTO, but on gas only when dry camping.

I believe that on the auto setting and when there is no 120VAC it should automatically run on propane.

kcnielsen wrote:I believe that on the auto setting and when there is no 120VAC it should automatically run on propane.

Ours stays on auto all the time and we do our fair share of dry camping.

Dry camped this week and refer worked on AUTO the whole time. Maybe there was air in the line when I tried to lite it before as it would not lite on AUTO just the GAS setting. Thanks for your quick reply.

Running the stove or heater can help purge the air out of the gas lines. I know it takes a few tries when I first fire the refer up in the spring.

kcnielsen wrote:I believe that on the auto setting and when there is no 120VAC it should automatically run on propane.

Correct; mine stays on auto all the time.

Ours stays on Auto all of the time, with no issues, UNTIL we go above about 7000 feet, then it may or may not work, usually resetting (turning off then on) a couple times gets it going again. Seems to have problems lighting. Keep an eye on it in the mountians.

Welcome to the forum Griz,

Grizwilson To the forum

Frank wrote:Grizwilson To the forum

Thanks, acutally been watching since March, matter of fact this is where I got the info to repack my bearings. Great forum, love our Wildcat.

DOMETIC has told me the Auto setting is used when you are plugged into 110V. Propane is a back up for any possible loss of power. When you go dry camping you take it off AUTO. AUTO drains the battery to fast. You have a circuit board that is power by 12v's. The circuit board does not need to be powered when you are dry camping. Unless you plan to run the refrigerator on the generator there is no need for the AUTO setting. So when I go dry camping the gas button goes out, circuit board is not powered, and it runs on propane only. Saves my batteries.

I was told that it needs 12v to run. There is a safety that has to have power [ 12v ] I was dry camping last year and had to make a MD. appt. so went came home and left the WC on the coast and I forgot and left the heater on and it killed my 4 6v. batters the Refer was OFF. Had to wait till the next day to charge the Batters to get thing going

Really no need for AUTO when dry camping, is there? Gas is the only option as there is no 110v available. If the gas goes out it can't switch it to electric. . . .

I leave mine on AUTO when hooked to shore power, but turn it to GAS when dry camping. This is because, for some reason, I have bad luck in the AUTO mode. The GAS never lights on the first attempt and locks out requiring me to manually reset. So, if leaving the WC for a day trip I turn it off AUTO and onto GAS to make sure it's running before I leave. (in a sense I don't even use AUTO!!

as I've been burnt by this feature before)

Timflood wrote:I was told that it needs 12v to run. There is a safety that has to have power [ 12v ] I was dry camping last year and had to make a MD. appt. so went came home and left the WC on the coast and I forgot and left the heater on and it killed my 4 6v. batters the Refer was OFF. Had to wait till the next day to charge the Batters to get thing going

12v is still applied to the valve but the circuit board is not powered. There by saving power.

OK, if your on auto, and as long as 12v and either gas or 120v's, your fridge should work. If there's no 120v then it should automatically change to gas as long as the 12v and gas are still there. You should not have to touch anything. Mine stays on auto the whole season and I never touch the controls.

ScottandGrace wrote:OK, if your on auto, and as long as 12v and either gas or 120v's, your fridge should work. If there's no 120v then it should automatically change to gas as long as the 12v and gas are still there. You should not have to touch anything. Mine stays on auto the whole season and I never touch the controls.

Unless you go dry camping. To make your batteries last longer, according to all the people more smarter than me, you take it off auto.

You learn somthing new every day, never too old to learn.
Off auto when no shore power from now on.
Sean

ribbs65 wrote:I have a Dometic 3662 refer. When we dry camp it will start on the Gas button but will not start on the AUTO button. Any ideas.

Kind sir one more comment. What you have found by accident is a safety feature. When you have possible board problems on the refer you save the food by putting it on gas. No electronic gadgets to run the refer in this mode. Just the old fashion sensor, gas valve and 12 volts. What I would suggest is find a dealer for a repair. If it works on gas something in the fancy electronic gadgetry is not working when on Auto. You may need the gas back up someday if the electricity goes out at your favorite RV spot. This systems works like the big rigs and the diesel gen. When the power goes out the gen automatically starts. Same thing here electric go out gas comes on. All automatic. You are not suppose to come home from that shopping trip to spoiled food. Also does your Refer need a mod as prescribed by Dometic.