Installing Amish-built cooling unit

[MSHappyCampers]

Have any of you replaced your old Dometic or Norcold cooling unit with the Amish-built units from RV Cooling Unit Warehouse? If so, did you do the changeout yourself or hire a technician to do it? The guy I talked with at the Warehouse said that anyone could do this themselves if they were good "do-it-yourselfers". I watched the videos on his website and it looks like it's dooable. Can anyone share their experiences here?

[Clifftall]

Here's some good info that may be of interest to you. The Only Real Cure for an Norcold RV Refrigerator "Problem"

[Mr_D]

Did it myself, took pictures of the wiring before I started. No problems other than one wire connected wrong but the pictures took car of that.

[336muffin]

We did our own. We are VERY pleased with the results. If any Qs, PM me your cell # and I'll be glad to help.

[Sammie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers Have any of you replaced your old Dometic or Norcold cooling unit with the Amish-built units from RV Cooling Unit Warehouse? If so, did you do the changeout yourself or hire a technician to do it? The guy I talked with at the Warehouse said that anyone could do this themselves if they were good "do-it-yourselfers". I watched the videos on his website and it looks like it's dooable. Can anyone share their experiences here?

I replaced my Norcold 1201 LRIM cooling unit with the Amish Built cooling unit back in June of 2011. The cooling unit by itself isn't that heavy but when reinstalling it you should have help when lowering it back into the cavity on the fridge. Also it is VERY important to use the instant foam in a can supplied with the unit to have a complete seal.

While you have the refrigerator out you should upgrade the fans that are there to help with the cooling of the absorber coils and condensor fins. You can buy new fans here RS Electronics Catalog | Fans/Blowers | DC Tubeaxial Fans | 4.69' sq. x 1.5' deep (120mm x 38mm) | F1238M12B-FSR (Mechatronics Fans)

My Norcold now works great on setting # 5. The fridge stays at about 32 to 36 degrees and the freezer stays between 0 to 10 degrees in normal weather.

Here is the video I made that shows my installation.

Good Luck,
Sammie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgjDl5nwPMo

[MSHappyCampers]

Thanks for your replies folks! If I decide to do it myself I'll be back in touch with you.

[bldr11]

I just replaced my nocold 1200 with a samsung house fridge. Couldn't be happier

[FreeByrd]

I hesitated doing it myself too. I got a good friend of ours to help especially with anything heavy and it went really well. Installing an additional fan behind the fridge (above the twin Absorbor Coils) is a good idea.
Your Amish Cooling unit does twice the job of pulling heat out of the freezer & fridge and dumping it into the area behind the fridge as the old Norcold did.

If the fridge is in a slide-out (with an upper vent), adding 2 - 3 fans to the upper vent (on a switch in the lower vent or inside the RV) also helps during those warmer months.

Give yourself more time that you think you'll need, take your time, follow the directions and it will go fine. . . . and in 6 months, you will be writing new folks about to give it a try.

[Arch Hoagland]

How do you keep it running when you are driving down the road?

["007"]

The fridge is usually on LP gas mode while traveling down the road.
If you had your Gen on and if your fridge is set on AUTO it would switch over to 110 off the Gen.

[Arch Hoagland]

I didn't know they were LP gas.

I've seen where people put regular house refrigerators in their RV and thought that would be a little inconvenient.

["007"]

Arch, here is a Norcold conversion to a residential fridge and what the owner will do to use this type of fridge.
Once the fridge is cooled down it will hold cool until you make it to the next camp ground, its if you dry camp you may run into a problem but remember you have a Gen to supply the 110 to cool it down also.

[Arch Hoagland]

Thanks for the link....however I'm probably the only person on here who loves his Norcold 1200. I've always had Norcolds and like them better than the Dometic brand.

I've not had a problem with the 5 that I've had in various RV's.

I'm a happy camper when it come to Norcold.

[steelheadbluesman]

Couple things --

Arch - Did you do the recalls, or have you been happy with your Norcolds without the recall repairs?

Sammie - Thanks for the link, I've been looking for a quality fan to upgrade my fridge, one with ballbearings.

Thanks to all, a very informative thread