Dynasty Norcold 2117 fix or replace?

[chuck49]

Hoping to find out what other Monaco owners have done in this situation. We have an 08' Dynasty with the bigger Norcold unit and the coiling coil has gone bad. Looking at the options. The Amish don't make a replacement for this unit, so that's not an option. A new cooling coil from Norcold is $2,000 and takes two weeks to get plus installation. We could go with a residential unit and one should fit in this location just fine. I should find out tomorrow if my inverter will handle one ok. We don't boondock really, just over night parking without hook ups. Don't want to have to run the gen all the time. I like the idea of being able to park and let the frig change over to gas when it needs to but the dependability of a residential unit is appealing too. What have other done and are you happy with your choice?

[jacwjames]

No doubt in my mind that I would go to a residential unit. You can add a smaller inverter and transfer switch just for your refrigerator so the power consumption would be minimal. Your total cost would probably be less then repairing the Norcold.

I have a 2002 Windsor and looking at options once my Norcold goes, I do not want another one and the residential seems the way to go.

Good luck & please keep us posted on your decision.

[Bob&AnnaMari]

Charlie,
I think if you do a search you will find that the predominant areas of thought are to replace the cooling unit with the Amish or go residential. As you mentioned, the Amish suppliers do not seem to make a replacement for your larger Norcold.

While many have chosen many residential alternatives, the one that seems to be mentioned most frequently is the Samsung RF197xxx (which has now been replaced with the Samsung RF18xxx). This new unit may just be what you need since Samsung claims it uses less electricity than the previous model. The only thing about this one is whether or not it will work with a MSW inverter. (The previous model would.)

The good thing about the Samsung is that folks with the standard 4 6-volt house batteries seem to get along just fine with this unit. So, your concerns about draining the batteries seems to be mitigated with this unit. (Some report running the generator an hour in the AM and an hour in the PM to keep things charged up. This seems to be adequate to keep things in order.)

I would certainly be leery of replacing a cooling unit that had only lasted 6 years.
Bob