My 'trick' for lighting the fridge is to pre-cool it just a bit before
trying to light it by running the fridge on A/C or +12V for a few minutes.
I don't know why this makes a difference, but it lights on the first
attempt if I do this.

On Thu, Aug 7, 2014 at 6:40 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:

> Leaving aside combustion box cleanliness and gas orifice problems, I find
> that most of the trouble in getting the fridge to light is establishing a
> draught, or draft for you vowel deprived yanks.
>
> I don't know if you have the later auto sparking type fridge or the old
> sparkler on here air pump version, but try pumping the air pump all the
> time during start up. Keep pumping as the self igniter clicks, or if the
> old type keep clicking the air pump and pumping.
>
> All this with the safety override button depressed.
>
> Sometimes you hear a whump as an accumulation of gas ignites. If you hear
> that, you know you are getting gas in the chamber.
>
> Absolutely the best mod for monitoring the flame in the chamber is
> soldering in a brighter led in the indicator panel. I have a bright blue in
> mine, but I recently put in a bright white I a friends van. With that you
> can see the led starting to glow, the intensity directly related to the
> heat in the chamber.
>
> I found that you can't blow the flame out with the air pump so keep
> pumping and holding the override button down when you see the led glowing.
> When you let go of the override button watch the led and if it dims depress
> the override button again and keep pumping.
>
> You should establish a draught with is approach.
>
> Alistair
>
>
>
> > On Aug 7, 2014, at 6:11 PM, Mike Miller <mwmiller6@att.net> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks, good ideas. I have a spare fan for the blowing into the living
> area idea.
> >
> > Now to get that [highly censored stream of thought] frig working! One
> time it lights no problem, next time can't get it to light. Arrgh!
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> > On Thursday, August 7, 2014 6:01 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Just make it blow out. On cool days don't turn it on and the fridge heat
> will stay in van via the vents behind sink/stove.
> >
> > If you want a fan blowing in, mount one behind the grill that faces the
> top loading cubbies , the rear face of the sink/fridge. That will push the
> hot air from the fridge into the living area.
> >
> > Alistair
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Aug 7, 2014, at 5:18 PM, Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET> wrote:
> > >
> > > I have a computer fan to install in place of the external water
> connection. Thought to hook it up so it could blow out [for hot days] or
> blow in [for cool days].
> > >
> > > Anyone see problems with this idea?
> > >
> > > Does anyone [read David B] have an idea of what kind of switch I'd
> need to hook this up [if this is the way I go]?
> > >
> > > Mike in Cotati
> >
> >
>