pvstoy
Senior Member
Tech Tip: Auto-Relighter for Propane Refrigerators
I have been thinking of writing up a post on this subject for a long time now. Thanks to Russell Jones asking me about it, I’ve gotten off my duff. So here we go…
I have installed this unit in the three refrigerator units that FWC have installed since 2001: Dometic, and NorCold with and without freezer models. Below will be a write up and pictures for all three models.
The unit is an Atwood Pilot Relighter Kit for Water Heater, #MPD 93212 sold on a 5” x 11” blister pack card; it costs around $65.00 without 9-volt battery.
What is it?
It is a thermo coupler that, when cool, will use the juice from the 9-volt battery and repeat a spark over and over to a ground nearby until the probe heats up. Just like a spark plug.
Why would I want one?
They are not needed by everyone but can save your food or keep your beer cold while running on propane. The refrigerator flame is shrouded pretty well, but in a wind event the wind could blow out the flame. Once the flame is out, your gas valve thermo coupler will cool off and close the gas valve. Installing the relighter just gives some added insurance that the refrigerator will continue operating if the flame blows out.
I have been running just the propane and not on battery while driving. It is important that the refrigerator be fairly level, both front-to-back and side-to-side, when you park your vehicle; front-to-back is more critical. Damage can be done to the refrigerator unit if you are too far off bubble.
I first learned about this from one of my many phone conversations with Mike Duncan. Mike was a salesperson for Ben Burnett at FWC. Mike gave me a general idea as to what to do, but installation was by trail and error.
First set up was on my Ranger FWC with the Dometic refrigerator.
For this I removed the Pizzo push button lighter. I placed the probe in the grooved clamp where the Pizzo starter was. You might have to bend the metal electrode bracket that attaches to the probe for a good fit. As you can see in the pictures, there was a lot of shaping of the tip. This was my first one so there was the trial and error part. Just get the tip in the flame without it being in the way. Make sure the tip is close enough to a ground to produce a good healthy spark toward the flame area. This is where the propane is.
Second set up was on a 2004 Eagle FWC with the Nor-Cold refrigerator.
On this one I also removed the Pizzo push button lighter. Somehow I was able to detach the metal electrode bracket and flip it around and reattach it using a screw to tighten the probe back to the bracket (if memory serves me?). In the picture you can see that I bent the bracket and attached it to the top of the metal frame. I was able to slide the probe forward and position the probe on the edge of the flame. It should have been more into the flame because at altitude the flame has a much smaller diameter. The spark here jumps to the burner tube.
The third setup was on a 2007 Kestrel FWC with the Nor-Cold refrigerator freezer combo.
On this unit they put the burner way in the back corner with a good wind shroud around it. This may not need a relighter, but if you were backpacking for a few days, this will give you some added insurance.
I left everything alone on this one (I left the Pizzo starter in place). You light and adjust the temperature settings, along with the source switching, inside the camper. So really you don’t do anything on the outside. I found a good spot to mount the electrode bracket. I bent up the bracket and mounted it on the back wall of the shroud. Like the last ones, put the probe into the flame and cause the spark to jump toward the propane.
These were just three examples of how I installed the Atwood Relighter Kit. Be creative, there is always other ways to mount, screw, bolt and bend to achieve the same results.
***** For this application, the relighter is being used differently than its intended use. Use sound judgment if you use this information to modify your unit. Know what you are doing and how things interact. If you don’t have the aptitude for doing this kind of work, then please seek professional help to assist you with this modification. These refrigerator units are not cheap so please don’t cause damage.*****
How would I use them?
On the FWC Ranger and Eagle, I will purge the air in the propane pipe to the burner. You light it just like you did with the Pizzo push button but now just slide the switch to on. You will hear the spark and if the propane is there it will light. To turn it off just turn the source selector off or to another source and when the flame goes out you will hear the spark. Slide the unit switch to “OFF”.
For the Nor-Cold refrigerator freezer combo, light just as you would from the inside of the camper using the Pizzo push button. While on propane, go outside and turn on the Atwood unit and turn it off when done using propane. I guess you could light it with the Atwood unit if the Pizzo fails.
Pictures for first set up was on my Ranger FWC with the Dometic refrigerator
I have been thinking of writing up a post on this subject for a long time now. Thanks to Russell Jones asking me about it, I’ve gotten off my duff. So here we go…
I have installed this unit in the three refrigerator units that FWC have installed since 2001: Dometic, and NorCold with and without freezer models. Below will be a write up and pictures for all three models.
The unit is an Atwood Pilot Relighter Kit for Water Heater, #MPD 93212 sold on a 5” x 11” blister pack card; it costs around $65.00 without 9-volt battery.
What is it?
It is a thermo coupler that, when cool, will use the juice from the 9-volt battery and repeat a spark over and over to a ground nearby until the probe heats up. Just like a spark plug.
Why would I want one?
They are not needed by everyone but can save your food or keep your beer cold while running on propane. The refrigerator flame is shrouded pretty well, but in a wind event the wind could blow out the flame. Once the flame is out, your gas valve thermo coupler will cool off and close the gas valve. Installing the relighter just gives some added insurance that the refrigerator will continue operating if the flame blows out.
I have been running just the propane and not on battery while driving. It is important that the refrigerator be fairly level, both front-to-back and side-to-side, when you park your vehicle; front-to-back is more critical. Damage can be done to the refrigerator unit if you are too far off bubble.
I first learned about this from one of my many phone conversations with Mike Duncan. Mike was a salesperson for Ben Burnett at FWC. Mike gave me a general idea as to what to do, but installation was by trail and error.
First set up was on my Ranger FWC with the Dometic refrigerator.
For this I removed the Pizzo push button lighter. I placed the probe in the grooved clamp where the Pizzo starter was. You might have to bend the metal electrode bracket that attaches to the probe for a good fit. As you can see in the pictures, there was a lot of shaping of the tip. This was my first one so there was the trial and error part. Just get the tip in the flame without it being in the way. Make sure the tip is close enough to a ground to produce a good healthy spark toward the flame area. This is where the propane is.
Second set up was on a 2004 Eagle FWC with the Nor-Cold refrigerator.
On this one I also removed the Pizzo push button lighter. Somehow I was able to detach the metal electrode bracket and flip it around and reattach it using a screw to tighten the probe back to the bracket (if memory serves me?). In the picture you can see that I bent the bracket and attached it to the top of the metal frame. I was able to slide the probe forward and position the probe on the edge of the flame. It should have been more into the flame because at altitude the flame has a much smaller diameter. The spark here jumps to the burner tube.
The third setup was on a 2007 Kestrel FWC with the Nor-Cold refrigerator freezer combo.
On this unit they put the burner way in the back corner with a good wind shroud around it. This may not need a relighter, but if you were backpacking for a few days, this will give you some added insurance.
I left everything alone on this one (I left the Pizzo starter in place). You light and adjust the temperature settings, along with the source switching, inside the camper. So really you don’t do anything on the outside. I found a good spot to mount the electrode bracket. I bent up the bracket and mounted it on the back wall of the shroud. Like the last ones, put the probe into the flame and cause the spark to jump toward the propane.
These were just three examples of how I installed the Atwood Relighter Kit. Be creative, there is always other ways to mount, screw, bolt and bend to achieve the same results.
***** For this application, the relighter is being used differently than its intended use. Use sound judgment if you use this information to modify your unit. Know what you are doing and how things interact. If you don’t have the aptitude for doing this kind of work, then please seek professional help to assist you with this modification. These refrigerator units are not cheap so please don’t cause damage.*****
How would I use them?
On the FWC Ranger and Eagle, I will purge the air in the propane pipe to the burner. You light it just like you did with the Pizzo push button but now just slide the switch to on. You will hear the spark and if the propane is there it will light. To turn it off just turn the source selector off or to another source and when the flame goes out you will hear the spark. Slide the unit switch to “OFF”.
For the Nor-Cold refrigerator freezer combo, light just as you would from the inside of the camper using the Pizzo push button. While on propane, go outside and turn on the Atwood unit and turn it off when done using propane. I guess you could light it with the Atwood unit if the Pizzo fails.
Pictures for first set up was on my Ranger FWC with the Dometic refrigerator
