Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

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Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

August 10, 2014, 02:53:32 pm

It's been about a week since the cooling unit on our fridge failed last Saturday night so I thought I'd start a narrative on our progress at getting a working fridge back in the coach. I've been following all the threads on this forum (and others) since we bought our coach last year and am familiar with all the various options available when the original fridge fails. Here's what we decided.

We are currently near Fairbanks, AK having left home in early May. That limits our options some since we are a long way/delivery time/shipping cost from many parts or replacement fridges--and all my tools in the shop at home for doing cabinet mods, etc. We considered residential, helium, new rv fridge and replacement of the cooling unit. Even thought about buying a small dorm room fridge just to get us home. For many reasons including the large capacity and ice maker of our current fridge, we decided to rebuild and rebuild better than original.

We could not have been in a better place on this trip when the failure occurred. Fortunately we are parked in a friends front yard and so lost no food--we moved it all into her fridge/freezer and we've been operating out of a cooler in the rv for breakfast and doing lunch/dinner in her kitchen. It looks like all of this will only put us about 3-5 days later than planned leaving here for the continuation of our trip. A minor inconvenience in our overall trip.

I ordered an Amish cooling unit by UPS ground (I'm pretty sure they fly it to Alaska and then put it back on a truck). Shipping Delivery time is 4 days not counting weekends. We had a delay when the first shipment made it from Shipshawanna to Lexington and was turned back for a "Hazardous Materials Irregularity." Turns out that the ammonia, hydrogen and sodium chromate in the unit are just fine, you can't ship the included can of standard window and door spray foam. Second shipment is back in Lexington waiting for Monday to move on toward Fairbanks.

I am adding an ARPrv control unit to improve the safety of the rv fridge. I'm also adding a set of external fans to help the efficiency of the unit once it is installed. I should be able to pick them up at General Delivery tomorrow.

I have already partially removed the fridge from the cabinet and there is no room to add even 1/4" of Hardi-backer board to help cut down on the fire risk. Not having the tools, etc here, I will wait until we get home and then try to do a poor-mans version of the magnificent metal lining that acousticart (Don--good luck with the air dryer) did on his fridge.

I will also add an internal fan on the fins when we get home. We're currently using two of the Camco D-cell fans to circulate air inside the fridge.

There are several you-tube videos showing how to do a cooling unit replacement and the dealer also supplies a good set of written instructions. The cooling unit is scheduled to be delivered on Thursday and I'll post an update on my success on the install.

Rich

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #1 – August 10, 2014, 07:01:22 pm

Rich, I did the "RV Cooling Unit Warehouse" repair on our NDR1062 about 2 1/2 years ago. Our refrigerator has worked well since then.

I added a fan from Smart RV Products and have been pleased with the results.

I think it was in Whitehorse were we met at a campground. Best wishes for good results on the 'fridge and safe travels.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #2 – August 10, 2014, 07:20:20 pm

I am glad it happened at a place where you can work, just too bad it happened on a trip. Good luck on the cooling unit replacement! I think you made the best choice given the circumstances... I think it is a wise move to include the ARPrv control unit. Do you also having a fire suppressing system as well? Thanks for the good wishes!
Don & Tys

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #3 – August 10, 2014, 09:58:06 pm

JD--Yes, we were in Whitehorse in June. Did you do the changeout or was it done by an RV place?

Don--Not sure yet on the fire suppression system but probably yes. It will have to wait until we get home when I do the interior of the cabinet.

Rich

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #4 – August 11, 2014, 12:52:01 am

Quote from: richb3125 – August 10, 2014, 09:58:06 pm

JD--Yes, we were in Whitehorse in June. Did you do the changeout or was it done by an RV place?

I did the replacement of the cooling unit by myself at home. I took the refrigerator out, laid it in the aisle of the coach, replaced the cooling unit, and put the refrigerator back in place. It took some supports and ramps to remove and replace the refrigerator because I was working by myself. It took me a couple of days working part time.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #5 – August 11, 2014, 12:56:29 am

If you have been following my posts, you know I have become an advocate for the ARPrv device and fire suppression on absorption refrigerator ever since my refrigerator fire. If not for insurance paying for a marine compressor driven refrigerator, I would have bought both the ARPrv device and this fire suppression device:

Halon SS 30 Fire Fight Automatically Deploy 90 Degree Head | eBay

Installation is simply placing it on the shelf/floor behind the refrigerator and securing it with screws.

I would do it sooner rather than later.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #6 – August 11, 2014, 08:13:22 am

One of the reasons I changed mine over to residential before it failed was to prevent failure on a trip. I figured it was a matter of time. I think you are doing what I would have done on a trip ny replacing the cooling unit. The sad part us I doubt it will last as long as the original.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #7 – August 11, 2014, 09:02:12 pm

The fire extinguisher looks like what I was considering. But if it's on the floor of the fridge compartment and most of the heat from a fire goes up, how bad will the fire need to get before the extinguisher goes off? Also, there isn't a lot of room behind my fridge to mount it. I'm not sure I could get it to fit.

I think if the fridge had failed at home, I would have still gone with the cooling unit replacement on the existing fridge. I really like the storage volume and the ice maker. Can't find that on any replacement that will fit in the existing cabinet and there is just and inch or so vertical room on mine to expand. My propane furnace and built-in vacuum are under the fridge.

Rich

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #8 – August 11, 2014, 09:42:45 pm

Go with a Sea Freeze custom built to fit your opening.

Sea Freeze of America - Custom Refrigeration

We did. Love it. We have the AC/DC version but just run it on DC all the time.

best, paul

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #9 – August 11, 2014, 09:44:03 pm

Have you considered getting an ARP (absorption refrigerator protection) control to prevent refrigerator fires? Â Very easy to install, especially whe you are installing a new cooling unit.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #10 – August 11, 2014, 11:09:05 pm

Quote from: Paul Smith – August 11, 2014, 09:42:45 pm

Go with a Sea Freeze custom built to fit your opening.

Sea Freeze of America - Custom Refrigeration

We did. Love it. We have the AC/DC version but just run it on DC all the time.

best, paul

My Sea Freeze custom is finished, and on it's way to the shop in Temecula where it will be installed this week. I'll post photos when it's done. Mine is DC only with separate compressors for the refrigerator and freezer.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #11 – August 12, 2014, 02:06:48 am

Yes--In my first post I said I was adding an ARPrv.

Sea Freeze does not allow 10 cf of volume (in the space of my current fridge and I can't modify my cabinets) or an ice maker. Plus I'm in Alaska and don't want to wait while they make me a fridge and pay the shipping to get it here. Just shipping the cooling unit is $265.

Rich

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #12 – August 12, 2014, 02:31:30 am

My Sea Freeze is about 14 cf of interior volume, so anything (size wise) is possible. It is fitting exactly in the space formerly occupied by my Dometic, no cabinet mods. I asked about an ice maker, and the answer was no. So I'll be going back to trays.

I have attached the build sheet, just in case anyone wants to see the specifics.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #13 – August 12, 2014, 11:28:04 am

My cabinet is only 24" wide so I'd have about 9 cf. Lose 10% of my current capacity and my ice maker. Maybe sometime in the future.

Rich

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #14 – August 12, 2014, 11:57:16 am

The dimensions of your fridge seem almost identical to our old one. I installed the automatic fire suppression system behind it, though perhaps your cabinet isn't as deep (I believe yours is on the curb side where ours is on the street side). I had the same questions about the effectiveness of that location, though I definitely felt better after I put it in. Here are a couple of pictures... It was pretty tight and I ended up adding an aluminum spacer block because there wasn't a lot of substance to secure the clamp on the end closest to the fridge and to raise it up for clearance.
Don

Quote from: richb3125 – August 11, 2014, 09:02:12 pm

The fire extinguisher looks like what I was considering. But if it's on the floor of the fridge compartment and most of the heat from a fire goes up, how bad will the fire need to get before the extinguisher goes off? Also, there isn't a lot of room behind my fridge to mount it. I'm not sure I could get it to fit.

Rich

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #15 – August 12, 2014, 02:31:39 pm

My understanding is that your installation on the cabinet floor is correct.

The halon will flood the entire cabinet, around the burner and also the boiler, where my fire was located.

This suppression system is also made in a straight model, as opposed to the 90 degree model. You could use that one, placing the head higher in the cabinet.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #16 – August 12, 2014, 03:25:23 pm

Don,

Your fridge cabinet is certainly a lot cleaner and less cluttered than mine. After I get the new cooling unit in, we'll see how much space I have on the floor of the compartment.

I guess there is plenty of Halon in the can. I'm sure some will be forced out the vents at the bottom but I assume that enough will stay in the cabinet to put out the fire.

We have had a house fire so we're both very careful about fire safety.

Rich

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #17 – August 13, 2014, 01:19:14 am

When a friend of our lost their coach to a fridge fire, it kind of lit a fire under me to do something about it... With the compressor based fridge we have now, it is no longer an issue, but both of us definitely felt better after putting the system in while we still had the Dometic, and that was worth it all by itself. I have read that the Amish cooling units are much more robust than the originals. That and the precautions you are taking should insure that you sleep better at night

.
Don

Quote from: richb3125 – August 12, 2014, 03:25:23 pm

Don,

Your fridge cabinet is certainly a lot cleaner and less cluttered than mine. After I get the new cooling unit in, we'll see how much space I have on the floor of the compartment.

Rich

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #18 – August 13, 2014, 01:46:41 am

One additional measure I would take if I had decided to keep the Dometic is to add some sheet metal,

My (now removed) refrigerator was not included in the recall because it came with the piece of galvanized steel sheet metal designed to direct the flame upwards, away from the (typically luan) wood lining the outer wall of the coach. I would add metal like that (which I do not see in the photos of the fire suppression system). I would extend it much higher, as the flame that was visible when I experienced my fire was right at the top of that piece of sheet metal.

I was talking to the owner of Temecula Valley RV, where my Sea Freeze refrigerator is being installed, and he says standard practice in his shop is to line the entire refrigerator compartment with galvanized steel when replacing an RV refrigerator. Cheap insurance. On other than Foretravel RVs, luan wood lines the entire refrigerator cabinet and is very close to the burner and boiler.

By the way, I expect the work to be finished this weekend, and I plan to post some photos.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #19 – August 13, 2014, 12:01:08 pm

Tom, looking forward to the pics!

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #20 – August 20, 2014, 09:14:26 pm

Here's the update I promised on the Dometic cooling unit replacement. It's been an adventure.

The replacement cooling unit for the fridge arrived on last Thursday afternoon. Three days later than originally planned. I was checking regularly on the UPS site for shipping status. Noticed it was rerouted when it got to Louisville. I immediately called to check on the problem.

It was delayed 3 days because it was shipped from Shipshawanna to Louisville, where UPS turned it back for "Possible Hazardous Material" problems. It turns out that the ammonia and sodium chromate in the cooling unit were not a problem. It was the can of window and door spray foam that was not acceptable. The company was very good and immediately shipped a replacement unit without waiting for the original package to be returned to the factory. I bought the foam locally at Home Depot.

We paid for UPS ground—4 day shipping to Alaska not counting weekends ($265 vice $65 if we were in the lower 48). In order to get it here, it of course had to fly. They don't actually run any trucks up the Alaska highway. But to make sure it didn't get here any faster than if they did drive it all the way. They drove it around KY for 2 days before putting it on the airplane and then left it for over 24 hrs in Anchorage before driving it to Fairbanks. Ticked me off!!

When I knew it would be arriving on last Thursday, I started that morning to remove the fridge from the cabinet, pull all the accessories off, including the ice maker and remove the old cooling unit. Removing the cooling unit was the most difficult part of the job. By the time you are done with that, the back of the fridge is completely bare. Got all that done by the time UPS got there at 1630. I did get the cooling unit installed that afternoon but did not get the PC board, ice maker, etc back on until late morning on Friday.

Got the power back on the fridge on Friday about mid-day and it wouldn't work. Electric blew a fuse and the gas would turn on but not light automatically. By Saturday morning, I had found a loose electrical connection to solve the gas problem and we had cold in the freezer and fridge. Still couldn't get the electric option to work (blew 3 fuses and decided not to waste any more fuses). I did isolate the problem by unplugging the heater element so it stopped blowing fuses and the ice maker started putting out cubes on 120V.

Made an appointment for Monday morning at the local RV repair shop and took it in. After 1/2 an hour of trouble shooting, the tech told me they could not find any problem, the 120V electric was working fine. Decided not to spend time and money chasing a "Cannot Duplicate" problem. I'll just keep a eye on the fridge for awhile to make sure it operates OK. We'll be without electric hookups for the next week anyway. Went back to our friends place, finished buttoning up the fridge and loaded all our food back into it from our friend's fridge/freezer. We're happy with the results.

So, we're off on our adventures again—arrived at Denali NP Tuesday about noon for a 6 night stay. We ended up spending 6 more days in Fairbanks than we originally planned but we were with a good friend and it could have been much worse. Six days out of a 5 month trip is not too bad.

While working on the fridge, I also added some additional cooling fans to the rear of the unit and an ARPrv monitor/control. It's now better than new. I've got a couple more upgrades planned for when we get home—fire extinguisher in the back of the cabinet, sheet metal lining and internal fans to circulate the air inside the fridge.

Rich

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #21 – August 20, 2014, 10:02:48 pm

Rich, I put in the Fridge-Fix fan from http://smartrvproducts.com. I've been pleased with the results.

Re: Dometic NDR 1062 Cooling Unit Replacement

Reply #22 – August 21, 2014, 01:17:59 pm

That's the one I intend to use.

Rich

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