Cost of fridge engineer

Dunclair
Dunclair Forum Participant Posts: 127
edited August 17 in Caravans #1

Just over one year ago we bought a Unicorn Pamplona which was three years old. It had spent almost all of its life doing nothing so was absolutely like new except that we have had a couple of minor problems because of that lack of use.

For some reason and I really don't know what, I thought I would put the Dometic fridge/freezer onto the gas powered option It would't work. It works well on 240Volt and from the car. I have no sparking and no gas at the burner. I've done the obvious common sense checks like fuse and stuff, but nothing.

To be honest, I don't really need to run the fridge on gas but it irritates me that it doesn't. I've looked around the internet and can't find any idea of how much an engineer might charge. This is important for my cost/benefit choice.

Would someone please give me an idea of how much these guys charge please?

Comments

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 17 #2

    Don't Dometic have their own travelling engineers? If that is still the case I an sure a phone call to Dometic would give you the answer you require. I somehow doubt it will be cheap!

    David

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 18 #3

    Depends where you are . The Dometic website says their mobile engineer is 40 miles away,  and so would charge for travelling,  so I would also be talking to qualified independent gas technicians here in my own locality and asking for a price from them. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 18 #4

    Local gasman says his call out charge is £50 for first hour.

    Me. How long do you think?

    Gasman. Might be two hours 

    Me. Does that price include parts?  

    Gasman  Might need new jets as well

    Me. Does it include VAT

    Gasman.  Will it be cash?

     

  • Burgundy
    Burgundy Forum Participant Posts: 313
    100 Comments
    edited August 18 #5

    Have you checked if the gas isolating valve has been turned off? If the previous owner never used it on gas he may have turned off the gas.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Forum Participant Posts: 3,880
    1000 Comments
    edited August 18 #6

    There may be more than one gas isolator for the fridge.  Also check if the supply pipe pases along the underside of the floor that it has not been compressed shut somewhere. The flame-failure trickery may require something more than turning the knob to gas for the fridge to start on gas.  Good luck!

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 18 #7

    Many years ago I did have a similar problem to the OP on a unit of similar age. It turned out to be corrosion of the igniter/burner which is exposed to the elements despite being behind a grill. It was hardly ever used on gas which didn't help.

    David

  • footlooserv
    footlooserv Forum Participant Posts: 106
    edited August 19 #8

    Had this problem last year when offgrid in a CL cry

    Try the following -

    Try reset

    Disconnect the battery and connect again. Try a few times.

    Change over to mains and back and forth several times.

    My local service engineer said a common problem and when he checked it worked OK!! Then later failed again so I brought a new control panel at £200 and it was OK. Simple unplug and fit new. They supply new sensors as well which I did not change.

    I have since found a company that will check out all caravan electrical items

    this is one of them caravan pcb repairs

    and Apul Jack Electronics

     

    There is a wholesaler (not for public) for these items and I cannot understand why the club shop does not carry them at a discount for members.

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