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Topic: Bay freezer disaster - fixed! (Read 757 times) previous topic - next topic

Bay freezer disaster - fixed!

Just lost a freezer full of chicken, pork, beef, and Razor Clams! I obviously don't know how it's supposed to work. We have the Norcold Tek ii bay freezer, have no manual. Found one online but it didn't provide much detail.

Two power cords are plugged in, assumed one is 120v and one 12v. Also assumed there is an internal inverter with a transfer relay to switch to 12v when 120v not available. After cleaning up the defrosted mess, found the 120v outlet is dead. Used an extension cord to connect the freezer to the 120v outlet in the next bay, worked fine.

None of the 120v breakers at the foot of the bed are tripped. Dry camping in Death Valley right now, tested the 120v outlet on gen power, worked fine. Assume this leaves the 12v as the problem. Anyone know where the breaker or fuse is for the bay freezer?

Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #1 –
Humm a lot of the 12 volt breakers are under the white cover in the main bay and you have some fuses either under the fridge or the rear of the bed.
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: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #2 –
Sorry you lost a freezer full. that is never a good feeling.  Of course you could always come to Virginia and have a freezer outside your door today but it is suppose to warm up and tease us and then get cold again.
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: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #3 –
two different colored 110 outlets in bays and behind refrigerator.- brown and white - I think white ones run off the inverter, brown ones run off shore power or generator. Anyway, my point is not all 110 outlets in my coach run off inverter - some only work on shore power or generator by design (definitely the ones behind the refrigerator work this way.

At least that is how I remember it in my coach
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
Anyway, my point is not all 110 outlets in my coach run off inverter - some only work on shore power or generator by design (definitely the ones behind the refrigerator work this way.)

At least that is how I remember it in my coach

That's the same as our coach.  We happen to have 2 duplex outlets near our bay freezer; one off inverter and one not.  I'm also vaguely recalling a switch on our freezer to select between AC and DC modes, but I don't know if we have the same model as Mike and Molly.  We have 2 power cords but have only used the AC one.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #5 –
This is a bay freezer though and there is a 110 and a 12 volt outlet in my bay and the 110 is  on the inverter.  In the refrigerator compartment there are two outlets and only one runs on the inverter.
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: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #6 –
Quote from: John S –
This is a bay freezer though and there is a 110 and a 12 volt outlet in my bay and the 110 is  on the inverter.  In the refrigerator compartment there are two outlets and only one runs on the inverter.

We have 2 outlets, 1 inverted and one not, by our bay freezer.  That's in addition to the 12V one.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #7 –
ok have one outlet with two plugs and the second outlet is 12 volt
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: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #8 –

Every coach has several 120-volt outlets that do NOT work on inverter, but do work on shore power or generator. In fact there are several items that do not work on inverter. These items, like propane refrigerator, vacuum, roof air, washer/dryer and it looks like it includes your bay freezer are wired to the main breaker panel with the cover, in front of bed, which is dead when inverter is in use. The assumption is these items draw too much power and drain inverter batteries, so they are setup to only work on shore & gen.

Anything or outlet that works on inverter (and also shore & gen) are wired to smaller inverter 120-volt breaker panel in front of bed.

We have noted on every outlet if it does not work on inverter. And we used these outlets to plug in our space heaters.

With such an important freezer, monitoring temps is quite important. The wireless Chaney 00985 thermometer will alarm if temps get higher than your set point.
http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrument-00985-Refrigerator-Thermometer/dp/B0 00P55SN4

120-volt / 12-volt freezers do not usually have an internal inverter or transfer relay, and don't have compressors.

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Re: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #9 –
Bummer about the food, especially in Death Valley. We just camped there last week (#113) at the Furnace Creek Campground. Food is super expensive in the store and the restaurant equally so with poor service on top of that. 

The outlets behind the fridge are tricky. You almost need to label all the outlets in the coach so you know what works with the inverter vs. shore/generator power. Easy to miss the brown buttons on the bathroom GFI too.

PM if you are going over to 395 and up toward Bishop. Have a couple of good spots there. We called a closed for winter campground and she let us stay and use the BBQ/fireplace and AC for the block heater.

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

Re: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #10 –
This is a crazy thought but could it be that your power is connected to your plug in the bathroom by the sink which has the two buttons that you can push if tripped.  Forgot what that thing is called.  I know my inside lights work through this plug.  One time I know my bay freezer/refrigerator was not working going down the road.  Worked great when plugged in at shore power.  Checked the 12 volt part and found a loose wire.  Good Luck DAN
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: Bay freezer disaster - fixed!

Reply #11 –
Checked the 12v breaker behind the panel in the bay. Good, so checked continuity from coach wiring to the freezer. No 12v through the pigtail to the freezer. FOT had put split loom over part of the pigtail, buried in the split loom was an 8 amp in line fuse. Fuse was blown.

Talked to James Triana, he said the fuse was left in to protect the freezer warranty, said the 15 amp breaker was good to protect the line. Said there is still the issue of why the fuse blew. Cut out the fuse, reconnected all, has been running fine for three hours. Hope the fuse blew because it was 13 years old and getting tired.

Won't put food back in the freezer until we get a freezer alarm.

Thanks all.
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: Bay freezer disaster - fixed!

Reply #12 –
It always seems to be a fuse somewhere hidden..... I am glad you found it.
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: Bay freezer disaster

Reply #13 –
Hi Barry,

In my bricks and sticks home I have noted that using two these Chaney refrigerator/freezer thermometer systems results in great confusion for the display units because of cross reception. Consequently the manufacturer's tech department told me they are not designed to be operated in the same vicinity as they have only two frequencies available for use. No amount of relocating the devices could resolve this problem.  Used separately they work quite well. My guess is they never thought anyone would try to use two systems in close proximity.

Jim
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'
 

Re: Bay freezer disaster - fixed!

Reply #14 –
Jim
Thanks for the heads up on the Chaney. The Ambient Weather WS09 has 8 channels so should be able to use with the Chaney we have. The bay freezer has a metal shell so the Ambient with probe in the freezer, transmitter outside, might work better anyway.
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester