ice maker install

[anotherone]

Looking at a serrano and the so found out it has no ice maker in the norcold. Anybody added an ice maker to the fridge like a kit. Gotta keep the piece and I know about the portable ones available. Our present unit has one and its her thing.

[RV Wizard]

It can be done but it is a major undertaking as the refrigerator will have to be completely pulled out and wiring harness added up the back and through the back wall. You would need to purchase a Whirlpool aftermarket ice maker kit complete with water valve, plumbing parts and wiring harness. If you plan on using it during freezing weather you will need a heated water line and thermostat kit added from the water valve to nozzle instead of the one in the kit. Estimated labor time - 3 - 4 hrs. depending on model of refrigerator.

[anotherone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Wizard It can be done but it is a major undertaking as the refrigerator will have to be completely pulled out and wiring harness added up the back and through the back wall. You would need to purchase a Whirlpool aftermarket ice maker kit complete with water valve, plumbing parts and wiring harness. If you plan on using it during freezing weather you will need a heated water line and thermostat kit added from the water valve to nozzle instead of the one in the kit. Estimated labor time - 3 - 4 hrs. depending on model of refrigerator.

why not a used ice maker from an rv salvage yard. Maybe the portable one makes more sense.

[JimM68]

The RV fridge uses exactly the same ice maker as any residential fridge, and the kits to install them are readily available.

To run, they need a water supply and 115ac power.

There will be 115 ac power there all ready, but only on when plugged in or genny running.
Once I put a 400 watt inverter in the cavity behind the fridge and ties it to the 12 volts that was there for the fridge. This let the icemaker run any time the fridge was on, that was nice and helped it keep up.

Hard part installing is going to be running the water tube down the back of the fridge.
I replaced one once, and was able to do it without removing the fridge from the RV. I used a string and a metal nut that was small enough to fit thru the hole in the freezer, pushed it thru, and wiggled and fed string til it came out the bottom. Then I duct taped the water tube to it and pulled it up and thru the hole, then caulked it in place. It was tricky, but way easier than pulling the fridge.

If the ice maker was an option on your coach, you may have a water line there all ready. If not, the ones I've seen are run off the cold water line on the kitchen sink, and often have a filter under the sink just for the ice maker.

Open the outside vent behind your fridge and check around and see what is there.

[paz]

The Norcold uses the same type of icemaker as residential refrigerators, BUT - the original equipment icemaker has a heat tape attached to the water supply tube to prevent freezing of the water line in cold weather. This is not available in a residential kit.

If you decide you can live without the heat tape, you will still need to pull the Norcold out to run the water line and wiring harness up to the back of the fridge, and you possibly will have to run a water line to the outside access compartment as others have said.

[anotherone]

thanks for the replies. Still researching and if turns out to much trouble I will go the portable. I read some units have an inverter 110 and reg 110 behind refer so more scouting is coming.