I want hard ice cream!

[CJ7ole]

I had the Norcold fridge in my 02 Adventurer (I have had it one year now) serviced last August as it wouldn't work on propane. They cleaned the chimney and got it going. I have been sitting in a Park in Cortez FL for 8 days now on electric, fridge on auto, and even with the unit turned up to 9, the ice cream is still almost too soft to enjoy. Freezer reading 11 F, not been opened for an hour. Fridge is far from full and I haven't been using the ice maker. Is it unrealistic for me to expect zero F in the freezer? Zero is the perfect temp for most ice cream at home, -8 is too hard.

[Thudman]

Two or Four door fridge?
Have you had the recall done?
Which fin is the sensor clipped to? Is the clip hi or lo on the fin?
Have you done the dollar bill test on the door seals?
Do you have a lot of frost on the fins?

My ice cream occasionally is somewhat soft, but I attribute that to the normal defrost cycle. Also, I accumulate a lot of frost in my freezer compartments (I've got a four door; and live in Fla---hi humidity), so periodically I have to remove it by turning OFF the fridge, then using the hair dryer to help along the melting of the frost. Then I dry out the freezers w/towels. Messy, but quick.

Maybe some RV Techs on this forum can advise if you appear to have a bad control board

Thudman

[CJ7ole]

Thanks for the reply. I have the 2 door fridge. Don't know about the recall as I am the 3rd owner. Sensor is on the 10th fin from the right, 1/3 of the way down. Not too much frost on the fins considering it has been running 9 days now. I would think that I would have a lot more frost if the door seals weren't tight, but I will try the dollar bill test when I land in my next spot.

[Izzyblueye]

There are ice creams brands on the market that will not freeze hard at any temp. These same brands will not melt away over night on the counter in ambient temps.Unless you always buy a known brand, it may be your ice cream.

[rjf7g]

I like my ice cream a little soft. Have you cleaned the seals around the door? Is the ice cream sitting on the bottom of the freezer compartment.

[John-D]

One problem that causes soft ice cream is NOT the freezer, but the ice cream

If you could step in a time machine (And in a way you can, I will tell you how in a few minutes) and go back tosay 1970 You could then pick up a half gallon of Ice Cream and place it on a scale, measure the weight, and then come forward int time to today, with the weight in hand and do the same thing.. Amazing.. You'd be amazed, the Ice Cream today, Does not weigh as much.. There are two reasons for this, a 1970 half gallon was 64 ounces, today it is closer to 59 but even if you divide out and do the math it's not as dense. They have increased the amount of AIR in the ice cream, this makes it softer (And less expensive to make) and we the people are supposed to be so dumb we don't notice.

So, I said there was a way to step into that time machine:

The reason is ... There are folks who still make ice cream the old way, less air, Schwan's for example has not, far as I know, changed the way they make it.

[TXiceman]

Chcek your door seals using a dollar bill. Close the door on the bill and pull it out (long wise). It should have some definite resistance and not pull easily. Pull it through on all sides and cover all of the side.

It does not take much of a door not closing tightly to really put a load on the little frig.

Ken

[CJ7ole]

My gauge for ice cream is Ben and Jerrys Pistachio-Pistachio. At zero, you can just peel off a layer to get to the nuts. At 15 you can easily push a spoon to the bottom.

So this morning it was at 9 degrees before we unhooked shore power, and after being on the road for 8 hours, it was -5 when I pulled into the KOA at Sugarloaf Key. So it either works better on propane or the extra air circulation at 60 MPH helps it work better.

Did the dollar bill test and it seems to pull out with a light (very subjective by the way) resistance, so I don't think that is the problem.

Thudman mentioned a recall. What did that involve and would it affect the freezer issue?

Some threads mention installing a fan in the outside compartment, maybe that would mimic the airflow of driving at 60.

[ruppr]

Another thing about your fridge, they respond very slowly to hot things being put in them or fanning the door to get things. Kinda sums up your temperature drop inside after driving all day. Fridge wasn't being used as much.

Just based on experience-----

Best,

["007"]

Here is a thread that maybe of interest to you. FREEZER TEMPS

[RV Wizard]

Another thing to consider, I have found that if ice cream starts to get soft; say from the travel time from the store, it takes a very cold (below 0) to get it to harden back. You may want to try putting a small fan on the outside coils to help disipate the heat better. There are a lot of things to consider and it could be a combination of several little things to give you soft ice cream.

[CJ7ole]

Quote:

This is what the stock fans with Norcold refer look like:

I looked up from the bottom and see that I have no such fans on mine (model N842IM). Would it be worthwile to add them? Are they available as a kit?

[Thudman]

Call Norcold re recall on your fridge (800-543-1219 or 800-444-7210). Give them your Model & SN (on inside of fridge on door or a placard). Ask them if recall is applicable to your unit, and if it has been complied with. And you can ask them about fans.

Thudman

[RV Wizard]

The photo of the Norcold with the fans looks like a 1200 series model and do come with the fans installed. You can add a fan and even a thermostat if you like. I have bought replacement and add on fans from the electronic stores. They come in 12 volt DC as well as 120 VAC. You will probably want the 12 volt and a thermostat that closes at about 135 degrees. Mount it on the top condenser coil fin and put in series with the fan and the 12 volt terminal block feeding the refrigerator.