Thetford N51 Series 06/05 - 4/13/06 - Manual (Page 6)

Owner’s Manual 6
Control panel:
Thermostat ........................................................................... 1
Selector switch ..................................................................... 2
Gas safety valve ................................................................... 3
Flame indicator .................................................................... 4
The thermostat [1] (See Art01281) changes the amount of
propane gas that goes to the burner. This acts as the tempera-
ture control of the refrigerator. Number 5 is the coldest tem-
perature setting.
NOTE: This is not an automatic gas control. It does not change
the flame from high fire to low fire as do some RV
refrigerators. If the cooling load changes, you must
manually change the gas control to maintain the same
temperature inside the refrigerator.
When the outside air temperature is below 50° F, the refrigera-
tor may have a tendency to freeze food at the colder temperature
settings. To reduce the tendency to freeze food:
- Turn the thermostat to a warmer temperature setting.
- Keep the refrigerator full.
- Put foods that are more likely to freeze on the upper shelf.
Operating the Refrigerator Controls
(N500 models)
2. After the flame is extinguished, you should hear a sharp
“click” sound within three minutes.
NOTE: The gas safety valve should close with a sharp “click“
sound.
3. Open the manual gas shutoff valve of the refrigerator.
4. Without pushing in the gas control, push the igniter several
times rapidly in succession. The burner flame should not
ignite. This means that the gas safety valve is working
correctly.
Start up - AC operation:
- Make sure that 120 volts AC is available.
- Turn the selector switch to the AC position ( ).
- Turn the thermostat to the temperature setting that you
wish.
Start up - DC operation (3-way model N400.3):
- Make sure that 12 volts DC is available.
- Turn the selector switch to the DC position ( ).
Shut down:
- Turn the selector switch to the OFF position ( ).
The selector switch [2] changes the energy source of the
refrigerator between propane gas ( ), AC electric ( ), DC
electric ( ), and OFF ( ).
The gas safety valve [3] is built into the control panel. As long as
a flame is present, the valve is open and allows propane gas to
flow into the burner. Any loss of flame (empty propane gas tank,
blow out, etc.) closes the safety valve and stops the flow of
propane gas.
The flame indicator [4] shows if a flame is present in the burner.
Ignition - propane gas operation:
1. Open the valve at the propane gas storage tank.
2. Turn the thermostat [1] to the 5 position.
3. Turn the selector switch [2] to the propane gas position ( ).
4. Push and hold in the safety valve [3] for about five seconds:
- The refrigerator automatically ignites the gas at the burner.
WARNING: Do not hold in the safety valve for more than
30 seconds. If there is no flame in this time, wait at least
five minutes before you try ignition again. If you continue
to hold in the safety valve, gas will collect in the burner
area. This could cause a fire or explosion and result in
dangerous personal injury or death.
- When a flame is present and the flame indicator [4]
illuminates, release the safety valve.
- If the flame indicator does not illuminate, do this step again.
5. Turn the thermostat to the temperature setting that you wish.
Do a test of the gas safety valve:
With an established flame in GAS mode:
1. Close the manual gas shutoff valve [2] of the refrigerator
(See Art00975].
2. After the flame is extinguished, you should hear a sharp
“click” sound within three minutes.
NOTE: The gas safety valve should close with a sharp “click“
sound.
3. Open the manual gas shutoff valve of the refrigerator.
4. Without pushing in the gas control, push the igniter several
times rapidly in succession. The burner flame should not
ignite. This means that the gas safety valve is working
correctly.