Norcold Fridge replacement

Topic: Norcold Fridge replacement (Read 1020 times) previous topic - next topic - Topic derived from HWH... well NUTZ!

Norcold Fridge replacement

March 06, 2017, 06:05:52 pm

Our Norcold 1210 four-door fridge bit the dust. It quit and reports an overheat situation as well as emitting an ammonia odor. If replacing this with a residential unit, what has anyone found that comes closest to the same physical size. Basically, a drop-in unit?

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #1 – March 06, 2017, 06:26:07 pm

Here is what many of us have put in our coaches(Model # RF18HFENBSR) Good fit; but not a drop-in. You can PM me if you have any questions.

John
Shop Samsung 17.51-cu ft Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator with Single...

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #2 – March 06, 2017, 06:52:11 pm

When we get to Nac in April hope to be changing out a Dometic 1492 and replacing with a Norcold 2118 IM (RV fridge)
Just too much time spent in the Puckerbrush for a residential one.(and too cheap for solar installs)

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #3 – March 06, 2017, 07:06:26 pm

Larry, it is the height that is going to be hard for a slide in replacement.

Shop Whirlpool 14.3-cu ft Top-Freezer Refrigerator (Black) at Lowes.com

This one will fit in the hole with some room left over on the side for a nice storage cabinet. Under $500.

Added...
Larry, I tried to find one that would fit into the hole for a 1210. I found dimensions for today's models (32.2" x 63.4") but yours might be different. If you don't want to do any modification to the cabinet then it has to fit in the hole. Any extra space can be covered with trim or an infill cabinet. Maybe you could add the dimensions of the actual hole where the Norcold is, it would help those who were looking.

Door configuration maybe the critical thing, a single door may not open.

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #4 – March 07, 2017, 01:47:13 am

Roger's recommendation is 28 x 63". Some have found that 'downsizing to a common 24 x 60" slips in. Our coach had a smaller propane fridge that was 24 x 60 so only the smaller residential size would fit.

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #5 – March 07, 2017, 11:01:00 am

I would definitly consider what you REALLY need to keep cool/frozen and how the size fits those needs. We do not Full time but are on the road about 4 months a year so do need to store a good quantity of food and for the 2 of us the whirlpool 11 cubic model works fine.
After removing the old 2 door rv one it was way cheaper to buy this and make a sliding storage unit than buy a new RV type fridge. You do not need solar to make it work if you travel from one rv park to another and will work better while travelling during the day if a smaller inverter is installed and using a DTDP switch (selects between large inv/shore power and smaller new inverter). Never any worries about fires or fluctuating cooling issues.
JohnH

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #6 – March 07, 2017, 12:25:29 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – March 07, 2017, 11:01:00 am

Never any worries about fires or fluctuating cooling issues.

I don't know of any Amish fires or recalls but I'm only on my second one (separate coaches).

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #7 – March 07, 2017, 03:07:04 pm

Quote from: Travelin' Man – March 07, 2017, 12:25:29 pm

I don't know of any Amish fires or recalls but I'm only on my second one (separate coaches).

The fluctuating was meant to refer to the many years of postings on 'how to get my fridge colder/warmer, etc etc. That is a very true recurring issue in summer etc. Read the past posts on it. many of them have gone up in flames due to ammonia etc leaks, all makes it seems. Never heard of a residential one doing these things.
JohnH

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #8 – March 08, 2017, 01:34:14 pm

From me to David Force just now;
Have there been any fires associated with the Amish units?

From David Force;
The answer is zero. Also there are no recalls of any type needed or used on any of the Amish built cooling units of either the Norcold or Dometic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am not affiliated with the Amish cooling unit manufacturer, but I have been sitting here in SW Florida for the past 2-1/2 months
with my new (10-15) cooling unit keeping the box at 37F with the OAT 85-90F daily. My beer is real cold and I have some peace of mind,
all the while keeping the coach original in appearance.

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #9 – March 08, 2017, 01:48:11 pm

Quote from: Travelin' Man – March 08, 2017, 01:34:14 pm

From me to David Force just now;

Have there been any fires associated with the Amish units?

From David Force;

The answer is zero. Also there are no recalls of any type needed or used on any of the Amish built cooling units of either the Norcold or Dometic.

We had ours (Dometic) replaced by the Amish almost four years ago and have had no problemsuch of any type.

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #10 – March 08, 2017, 02:09:46 pm

I should have also added that the cost of even me doing a refit of cooling unit (ours had packed up) was 3 times more expensive than the res'd we put in. I did not put solar on coach for that reason but it came in handy on replacement of fridge. We also gained more storage alongside the new one courtesy of me, so minimal costs incurred, not like CB city costs!
My comments on fires etc was not specific on makes of cooling units ,just a general one and this has been proven correct many times (fires & cooling issues)

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #11 – March 08, 2017, 02:28:40 pm

Agree with John H - put in a residential for less cost than replacing the Propane RV Dometic - plus piece of mind - my OEM width was 36" so the only cabinet mod was to take out the lower storage space and install new lower follow for refrigerator to sit on - was actually less cabinet mods than if I had replied with RV refrigerator because at that time there were no 36" wide replacement unit available.

Seems like those who have residential love them, but there are those (wmostly those who don't have them) that swear by Propane -

No need to re-start that religious was here.....

:-)

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #12 – March 08, 2017, 02:36:08 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – March 08, 2017, 02:09:46 pm

I did not put solar on coach for that reason but it came in handy on replacement of fridge.

John obviously draw from fridge can vary by model/size - but what's the approximate AH power draw of your fridge given normal every day use? Just looking for a ballpark value here - I have no frame of reference.

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #13 – March 08, 2017, 04:36:12 pm

Thanks for all the input. We have decided to replace cooling unit with original Norcold. Couldn't find anyone who wanted to install an Amish one here in Vero Beach. I just don't have the time to do it since I'm in charge of a group of ten doing construction maintenance volunteer work. Problem if replacing with hosehold is removing and replacing the window. Again, just don't have the time. Thanks for the suggestions, as always they are well thought out and helpful in making the decision.

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #14 – March 08, 2017, 06:03:30 pm

Larry,

Website says he'll travel to Vero; Father & Son Mobile RV Service - RV Repairs | Stuart FL

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #15 – March 08, 2017, 08:20:38 pm

Yes, Father and Son will come to Vero but don't want to put in anything but a Norcold.

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #16 – March 08, 2017, 11:38:28 pm

Larry, I carried our res' one thru the doorway after taking the doors off, never took out window.
JohnH

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #17 – March 08, 2017, 11:43:08 pm

James, to be totally honest I have never even bothered with checking the AH draw of fridge. All I know is the fridge all day along with evening dinner and lights etc by morning after making coffee and breakfast our 3 8D agms are registering around 82% on Trimetic. So 28% used which get charged up by lunch in sun.
JohnH

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #18 – March 08, 2017, 11:49:16 pm

Quote from: Blinded04 – March 08, 2017, 02:36:08 pm

John obviously draw from fridge can vary by model/size - but what's the approximate AH power draw of your fridge given normal every day use? Just looking for a ballpark value here - I have no frame of reference.

Roger did a detailed draw of residential refrigerator do a search for it.

Re: Norcold Fridge replacement

Reply #19 – March 09, 2017, 06:22:27 am

John H., Our 24 in door and the size of this current Norcold just didn't make it through when it was installed. Happy with my decision. Again, thanks for the input.

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