Norcold won't stay lit

Brettster

Hi all. Question. I have a new Max Q and am having trouble igniting the fridge. I'll hold the red button down for 30 seconds-the limit says the manual- and green flame light goes out right away upon release. Any tips? BTW great info all of you!

Verna

Brettster, try holding the button for a minute.  That's what I was told last week and there was a discussion recently about that.  Do a search on fridge or Norcold or propane and you'll find a number of discussions about it.

Nomad

75% of the time mine goes out on the first attempt but stays on the second try.

Brettster

Thanks for the advice! I'll try the minute hold. (Heading out on our first camp Saturday! Really pumped.)

Brettster

Hey Verna, I held the button down for 45 s. It stayed lit! And, I did not blow my self up! Thanks!

Verna

Brettster said:

Hey Verna, I held the button down for 45 s. It stayed lit! And, I did not blow my self up! Thanks!

Oh, Cool!!!  I love when it works!

I'll tell you the best thing.....I've not used mine on propane yet   It's not that I'm afraid of blowing myself up.....I've only camped in my T@B for one night since I just picked it up last Wednesday afternoon.  I'll try it on propane in the next 3 weeks of camping

Nomad

Don't have my manual handy but boy, 45 seems way, way over what I recall the upper limit to be. Above a certain limit, I think you can burn out or damage the igniter. I've always used 10 sec and if it doesn't stay lit, hit another 10. I thought that was the eventual advice of the referenced discussions.

Cyclonic

I agree with PXLated.  I actually usually get lucky on the first try, but I only try ten to fifteen seconds at a time so as not to burn out the ignition switch.

Dalehelman

Holding the red button in has no effect on the igniter. Once the green light comes on the burner is lit. Holding the red button in allows gas to flow long enough to allow thermocouple to heat up which allows gas to continue to flow once the button is released. Holding the button in for an extended period once the burner lights creates no danger. If the light goes out after button is released it means the thermocouple did not get hot enough to open the gas valve.  Hope this helps.

Brettster

Thank you. Good to know. Don't know if it mattered but I first fired up the stove for a bit to get a good gas flow. The fridge fired right up. Stuff is brand new too.   

Dalehelman

Purging air from gas lines always a good place to start.

Nomad

dalehelman - Why does the manual warn not to hold it in too long.

Dalehelman

The warning is if the burner does not light ie no green light. Once it lights the igniter deactivates, and the button allows the gas to continue to flow. If it does not light the igniter continues to spark even if the button is not depressed. The button only controls gas flow.

Nomad

Ahhhhhh - Thanks.

Dalehelman

Your welcome. I do not mean to sound like a know it all. Just trying to help.

Nomad

That was helpful...
We need all the knowledge and help we can find :-)

Verna

Dale, thank you for your information and the willingness to help here.  That's what is so great about these two forums.  We all help each other.  Keep it up !

Rad

Cool!  No pun intended.  Great info.  

Cyclonic

dalehelman said:

Holding the red button in has no effect on the igniter. Once the green light comes on the burner is lit. Holding the red button in allows gas to flow long enough to allow thermocouple to heat up which allows gas to continue to flow once the button is released. Holding the button in for an extended period once the burner lights creates no danger. If the light goes out after button is released it means the thermocouple did not get hot enough to open the gas valve.  Hope this helps.

Great information, totally different then how I understood it worked.

I guess I have always simply been lucky that it starts with little trouble, though I don't use it on propane too often.