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Topic: 6 month old norcold stopped working? (Read 919 times) previous topic - next topic

6 month old norcold stopped working?

I had Mot install a brand new norcold refrigerator last fall. Left it in Nov. running on electric, returning today to find all it's contents ruined. I shut it off and restarted it still on electric as FT has 50amp electric and 200 gal. Propane tank through the entire time. Everything else survived the winter fine.
My question is it possible the -20 stopped the norcold, or should I check something else.
If I had a 3 battery bank I probably would have Gone with a residential unit.
Since I arrived the freezer temperature has decreased from 55 to 35 so I think it is okay.
However, what would cause it to stop cooling when it was on 50amp electric the entire time. Thank you for all your advice and suggestions john
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #1 –
Might have had a temporary power outage and the fridge did not come back on. What did the display indicate when you found the bad food? I replaced the Dometic in ours when we bought it also with a Norcold. Four years old now and works great. Suggest you contact Norcold and see what the possibilities are

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #2 –
THere have been cooling unit failures on new units in other brands.  I wonder if you got a clog that worked itself loose.  The fault light should have been on but running on electric should have worked.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #3 –
Several years ago we installed a new fridge in a previous MH.
Don't remember if it was Norcold or Dometic ?
About 3 months and it started getting a yellow sulphur looking substance around one of the fittings in back.  It was still working.
Called the mfg.
They said, yes it has a problem.  They sent me to a MH dealer and got it changed out at no charge.
Not quite your situation, but.............
Good Luck.....~JL~
1994-GV-U225
5.9 Cummings
Build #4503
Near Springer Oklahoma

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #4 –
Can't help on why fridge stopped cooling . But wanted to share that we have 2 8D Gel batteries and installed a Whirlpool home fridge two years ago. It is probably not the number of house batteries, as much it is how long one dry camps, runs generator, etc. We did fine for our 14 day Quartzsite Lemon's Last Stand get together out in the desert. Just no defrosting again makes the electric a positive experience.

Sounds like your fridge is running ok. It just had a glitch. Which is a good reason to empty fridge if leaving coach unattended for an extended time. Propane tank is more likely 40-60 gal, which is the largest Foretravel used?

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #5 –
FWIW
I have a dometic and it has the same issues.  It works fine but for whatever reason (including on 50A service) will just go to not cooling as well as it should and the "check" light will come on.  It may work fine for a week or two then just will quit.  I just reset it all and it works as it should again.  I agree that you probably should not leave anything in it if it is not going to be attended to on a regular basis.  I do keep mine on all the time as I keep a few beers and sodas (but not ice cream) in there as it encourages me to get out there and work on some project.  And, it is always ready to load for a trip.  I do keep it on a lower setting. 
Best of Travels

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #6 –
I switched it to propane and it worked perfect. Now I have it on electricity and it is still ok. Maybe it does not like electricity when the outside temperature is 0 -20 below.
The temperature today was in the 60's. Thank you for all your assistance.
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #7 –
John,

Was the interior heated during this time?  Even residential fridges will stop cooling if interior ambient falls before about 55 degrees.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: drcscruggs –
FWIW
I have a dometic and it has the same issues.  It works fine but for whatever reason (including on 50A service) will just go to not cooling as well as it should and the "check" light will come on.  It may work fine for a week or two then just will quit.  I just reset it all and it works as it should again.  I agree that you probably should not leave anything in it if it is not going to be attended to on a regular basis.  I do keep mine on all the time as I keep a few beers and sodas (but not ice cream) in there as it encourages me to get out there and work on some project.  And, it is always ready to load for a trip.  I do keep it on a lower setting.
Not to hijack the thread, but might try replacing the control board (in the back) with a Dinosaur board they help eliminate a lot of those grimlens, also might clean and check all of the grounds in back of the fridge. just be sure to order the right part number.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #9 –
I too just replace my control board on my 98 model RM7832.  I would wake to find it off in the AM after cold nights.  Sometimes I could regain control and it would work all day.  Finally lights would not come on with the control buttons.  With it "dead" the service tech was able to test my board, and replaced it with another.  Tests then showed everything working as it should again.

We too leave ours on all the time.  The problem developed on a month long trip on the nights below freezing.  Since that repair, the new control board has worked with nights below freezing, and down to 10 degrees.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #10 –
Thanks Bruce,
Took your advice, ordered a new control board for mine today.  Plan to install to address those "check" lights.  It works fine when it works, just a pain if I'm not there.  Thanks!
Best of Travels

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #11 –
On our dometic refer there is a switch to turn on if the outside temps are real cold which helps to keep it from freezing up and stop working and I know it works as we have on 2 different times have spent weeks at below freezing temps and quite a few nights below 0
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #12 –
Bruce,
Probably should put this under "what did you do to your coach today".  Well, put in the dinosaur board and seems that all is working fine.  The paperwork for the dino board says that this should fix that "check" light.  It did not take that long to change it out and there is a little variation on the wires (have to add one additional ground wire) and I'm not sure why.  Put it in yesterday and checked about noon today and cooling just fine.  Just gotta love this forum. 
Best of Travels
 

Re: 6 month old norcold stopped working?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: drcscruggs –
Bruce,
Probably should put this under "what did you do to your coach today".  Well, put in the dinosaur board and seems that all is working fine.  The paperwork for the dino board says that this should fix that "check" light.  It did not take that long to change it out and there is a little variation on the wires (have to add one additional ground wire) and I'm not sure why.  Put it in yesterday and checked about noon today and cooling just fine.  Just gotta love this forum.
I have used Dinosaur boards in all of my gas appliances, they seem to take care of all the little "gremlins", never had a problem with any of them. The extra ground wire they say is the take care of "floating grounds", with any 12V circuit good ground is essential. I clean and check all connections on my appliances as part of my annual maintenance, especially the refrigerator and water heater as they some what exposed to the elements.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country