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Topic: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold (Read 804 times) previous topic - next topic

refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Well most of you have seen my vintage 75/6 find. Most all is well so far.
Seems The AC/DC frig. will get down to 42 degrees at the lowest, which is just barely in the acceptable range- (set on 5-coldest). It does cycle on and off. The ice remains frozen, but the ice cream, which I shouldn't eat anyway, stays quite soft.  If the temp. in the coach gets higher (85) then it will creep up to 45ish. Is this acceptable for the age? It looks to have a T fitting behind the unit in a copper line with a threaded cap on it. Is this for a charge?
Thanks for any opinions or ideas:)
                                                      Geoff     
Geoff 1975 23'

Re: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Reply #1 –
Geoff, There is no charge port on an absorption reefer.  What you are probably seeing is a cap on a propane line.
Clean the burner rel well, do not disturb the metal spiral diffuser in the stack and make sure that there are no obstructions in the stack and that propane pressure is correct.
Try it on both gas and electric. Should work better on gas.
Gary B

Re: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Reply #2 –
You should also check the electric burners. There should be two electric elements. Turn off the gas and all electricity to the coach. Remove the cover plate on the back of the fridge to expose the gas burner and the electric elements. Unplug the electric elements from the control board and use a volt/ohm meter to check the ohms of resistance for each element. If the resistance is much greater on one element than the other, the element with the higher resistance is the bad one. New elements are not very expensive. If you have any more detailed questions, I suggest you call David Forece of RV Cooling Unit Warehouse, RV Cooling Unit Warehouse LLC About Us. It has been my experience that he will do his best to help you fix your refrigerator for the lowest cost available. He is the one that gave me the foregoing instructions rather than selling me a new cooling unit.

As long as the cooling unit doesn't leak and the refrigerant has not crystallized inside the system, the refrigerator should still work fine if the heat sources are functioning properly, even if the fridge is an oldie.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Reply #3 –
You could also check the sensor attached to the cooling fins inside the box.  Sometimes the sensor gets knocked loose or moved to the wrong position on the fins.  Not sure where the right position is, but you might try moving it around a bit.
Rodger
Rodger Riggs
1996 U270 36',  Build #4831, Jerry Whiteaker's old coach

Re: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Reply #4 –
LOL LOL you all have me thinking now. The guy who I bought it from told me it is ONLY electric. Now I'll have to look harder tomorrow. I had the bottom grill off and didn't see any indication it was gas. The top 6x12 grill only lets me see behind it a little.That is where I saw the cap.

Update..just remembered I had the owners manual.Looking through it... It's a model  #726DE. Definitely NOT gas. It is 12 and 115 volt only.
Geoff 1975 23'

Re: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Reply #5 –
Looks like a compressor refrigerator that runs on either AC or DC.
Felix and Gail Mathieu
99 U320
Jeep Liberty CRD
Build number 5522

Re: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Reply #6 –
Geoff, Did the previous owner cap off the propane and run it only on AC ? Stranger things have happened.
Gary B
Sorry, Now that I look at the diagram it appears to be a compressor type reefer.  I started my mouth before my brain was engaged.

Re: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Gary Bouland –
Geoff, Did the previous owner cap off the propane and run it only on AC ? Stranger things have happened.
Gary B
Sorry, Now that I look at the diagram it appears to be a compressor type reefer.  I started my mouth before my brain was engaged.

I do the same thing Gary :)  I guess it's easier not to have to deal with the propane anyway. I don't seem to be level very often.
Geoff 1975 23'

Re: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Reply #8 –
From the parts illustration that you provided, it appears that the condenser coil is on the back of the refrigerator.  It may have  dust on it that can reduce the efficiency.  Air has to be able to move over this part.  Also check that the door seal is not torn or defective in some way.  Close the door on some paper money and it should have some resistance to being pulled out.  Do that at several places around the door. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: refrigerate temperature on my old Norcold

Reply #9 –
On electric our fridge worked great. But on propane not so good. I checked the flame at the bruner and it looked good. Removed the orifice of the burner jet and soaked it in alcohol for an hour as per Dometic. Reinstalled orifice and adjusted air. All is good. There isn't a drip leg in the gas line at the burner so all the junk in the line can end up in the orifice and restrict the gas flow. Gam
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'