Norcold Won't Trip From AC to LP

[dcellisesq]

I would appreciate advice on a new Norcold 1201 four-door problem. I have always kept the "mode" setting on "AU" so that when I unplug from shore power, the refer automatically continues operating on "LP." Recently, when I unplug, it does not trip to "LP" but, instead, beeps and shows "NO AC." Then, when I push the mode button to "LP," the refer works normally.

I have not had a chance to check if it will trip automatically from "LP" to "AC" (AC) when I plug in.

Do I have a "board" problem? Any ideas? Thanks for the help.

Daniel C. Ellis
2005 Winnebago Journey 39F
Portland, Oregon

["007"]

If you have it set to AUTO it should switch between AC or LP.
If you press MODE button what do you get for mode of operation?

[dcellisesq]

007 - I always keep the mode set to "AU" and it always automatically went from "AU - AC" to "LP." Now, when I unplug, it won't go the "LP," but just says "NO AC" and beeps. Am I answering your question?

Daniel C. Ellis

["007"]

Is this PDF the fridge that you have? In the trouble section there is a fault AC Relay stuck closed pg#21.
If you have the newer fridge they have many relays for funtions operations that we didn't have in the older 1200's.

[dcellisesq]

Thanks again "007" - My model is "1201" not "1210," and the 1210 manual is quite a bit different from the 1201. Since this problem seems to have stumped the forum group, I guess it is time to let the dealer have a go at it (probably at the same time as I take it in for the recall).

007 - I appreciate your efforts.

Daniel C. Ellis
2005 Winnebago Journey 39F
Portland, Oregon

["007"]

We have that one too, LINK.
Look at pages #42, #43 the notes #2 & #3 explains LP lockout.

[Vectrix]

That unit has been recalled by Norcold. Please turn it off and unplug it immediately. Do not let it burn down your coach as my Norcold Model 1200 did. the recall is for a high temp switch to be installed. the date on the recall letter is Nov 8, 2010. I received my letter while I was gone and opened it up after the fire on 11/21/2010. My 2006 Allegro Bus 40 QSP that we had built is a total loss.

All Norcold 1200, 1201, 1210, and 1211 have been recalled.

["007"]

Welcome Vectrix to irv2.
Thanks for your first post at the top of this forum is a sticky with recall information for both recalls with the second one taking precedent.
We have to use fridge maybe because of full timing or traveling most have had recalls done or are in the process.
Sorry to hear of your lost and glad that you are safe from it.
It being a 06 coach did you have other problems with it before your fire?
Were you aware of yellow leakage from cooling coils?
As of 2008 Norcold has change their supplier of cooling units, I have a 03 coach and never had problems with my 1200.
Now that Norcold has added all 1200-1211's makes you wonder if they have had a problem with their coil MFG prior to new vendor change in 2008.

[Dr4Film]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vectrix That unit has been recalled by Norcold. Please turn it off and unplug it immediately. Do not let it burn down your coach as my Norcold Model 1200 did. the recall is for a high temp switch to be installed. the date on the recall letter is Nov 8, 2010. I received my letter while I was gone and opened it up after the fire on 11/21/2010. My 2006 Allegro Bus 40 QSP that we had built is a total loss. All Norcold 1200, 1201, 1210, and 1211 have been recalled.

Vectrix,

I am really sorry about your Norcold fire and the total loss of your coach. Thankful that no one was hurt or killed.

Would you happen to have any photos or specifics as to the exact cause and location of the fire, ignition point, reasons or whatever you know about the fire?

I am not a fire investigator or a professional, however, I have been following the many fires that have occurred this past year and I am very worried about my Norcold. I have done all of the recalls and also have one Halon SS-30 fire extinguisher system installed in the Norcold cavity however, I am considering adding a second to an area closer to the top of the cavity.

I am a member of the Monacoers discussion forum and one of our members just a week ago had a Norcold fire and like you, it was a total loss. He had a Halon fire extinguisher tank installed in the cavity but it didn't go off as the fire had started too high in the cavity and all of the heat went up. The cavity acted like a chimney and cool air rushed in through the outside access cover where the tank was located, therefore the 165F nozzle never was activated.

Thanks for whatever information you an share.

Dr4Film ----- Richard.

["007"]

Richard, you make a good point in the placement of extinguisher when its placed in bottom of vent opening the fire will draw cool air up through back of fridge.
Placement at top through roof vent opening or vent opening on kitchen slide would work better and a quicker link release for extinguisher may work better also.
Take a look closely at this picture the link on extinguisher never melted during this fire.


Someone posted pictures of their failed cooling unit and pictures showed failure located where the heating elements welded tube joint failed and a hole was present through heat tube.

Would like to follow your tracing of fires and what years coach they have been happening.

Some TSB's take a while to upload be patient.

There is a TSB out that Norcold changed the cooling unit MFG in 2008, I would say for a reason.
1200-1210 cooling units serial#11231146 or greater received the new heaters, if thats the case Norcolds with that serial number we can assume have the NEW COOLING UNITS.

This same TSB states that the heating elements from old cooling unit will not fit their new cooling units and has to be replaced with smaller diameter electric elements.
Have read other cooling unit MFG sites who have no known knowledge of having cooling unit failures with theirs.

I have seen my same WEAK spot when I had my elements changed because of a defective element and installer from Norcold checked the location and it was clean at the same time they did the first recall.
I have a rusted cooling unit because of salt air around here, thought they might replace cooling unit, my unit passed inspection, no problem with weak point.

If there was a weak point, as shown in first recall , you would have to have cooling unit changed "this inspection" page #3 item #4 after insulation removal paragraph, was part of the TSB first recall LINK.

I'M afraid that if installers never do this inspection as required in first recall you will not know if the NEW recall # 2 is going to protect you.

I am still using my fridge.

While we are at it lets throw in the DOMETIC TBS recall from Newmar.
Norcold isn't the only one with cooling unit fatigue problems.

I was not aware of the 2nd Norcold recall until , akadeadeye &---Dr4Film--Richard brought it to my attention in fact I have just sent my card for $50 refund into Norcold this pass week for the first recall.
The past 5 weeks I have been dealing with my wife who has been in the Hospital so I have not been on this forum irv2 so much.
The threads I have interconnected the past day will make up for not time spent here.
I hope its not confused everyone but you need to read every link on them to make sure your two recalls have been done correctly.

I have not found a TSB for 2nd recall if someone has it would you please post it.
I for one would like to see what is covered in it.

If someone has a picture of their 2nd recall on heat stack could you post that also.

If your Norcold was inspected as first one and 2nd heat thermistor installed its going to take more than 3/4 to 1 1/2 hours to complete.
IF not some people have some back tracking to do.

You have the first TSB that you can print when you may return for explanations from dealer, the 2nd TSB may cover the 1st inspection we just do not know at this point.

[akadeadeye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007";742020]Richard, you make a good point in the placement of extinguisher when its placed in bottom of vent opening the fire will draw cool air up through back of fridge. Placement at top through roof vent opening or vent opening on kitchen slide would work better and a quicker link release for extinguisher may work better also. Take a look closely at this picture the link on extinguisher never melted during this fire. Someone posted pictures of their failed cooling unit and pictures showed failure located where the heating elements welded tube joint failed and a hole was present through heat tube. Would like to follow your tracing of fires and what years coach they have been happening. Some TSB's take a while to upload be patient. [B][URL="http://comnet2.newmarcorp.com/instance1Env77NEWMAR/html/images/TSB344.pdf There is a TSB[/URL][/B] out that Norcold changed the cooling unit MFG in 2008, I would say for a reason. 1200-1210 cooling units serial#11231146 or greater received the new heaters, if thats the case Norcolds with that serial number we can assume have the NEW COOLING UNITS. This same TSB states that the heating elements from old cooling unit will not fit their new cooling units and has to be replaced with smaller diameter electric elements. Have read other cooling unit MFG sites who have no known knowledge of having cooling unit failures with theirs. I have seen my same WEAK spot when I had my elements changed because of a defective element and installer from Norcold checked the location and it was clean at the same time they did the first recall. I have a rusted cooling unit because of salt air around here, thought they might replace cooling unit, my unit passed inspection, no problem with weak point. If there was a weak point, as shown in first recall , you would have to have cooling unit changed "this inspection" page #3 item #4 after insulation removal paragraph, was part of the TSB first recall LINK. I'M afraid that if installers never do this inspection as required in first recall you will not know if the NEW recall # 2 is going to protect you. I am still using my fridge. While we are at it lets throw in the DOMETIC TBS recall from Newmar. Norcold isn't the only one with cooling unit fatigue problems. I was not aware of the 2nd Norcold recall until , akadeadeye &---Dr4Film--Richard brought it to my attention in fact I have just sent my card for $50 refund into Norcold this pass week for the first recall. The past 5 weeks I have been dealing with my wife who has been in the Hospital so I have not been on this forum irv2 so much. The threads I have interconnected the past day will make up for not time spent here. I hope its not confused everyone but you need to read every link on them to make sure your two recalls have been done correctly. I have not found a TSB for 2nd recall if someone has it would you please post it. I for one would like to see what is covered in it. If someone has a picture of their 2nd recall on heat stack could you post that also. If your Norcold was inspected as first one and 2nd heat thermistor installed its going to take more than 3/4 to 1 1/2 hours to complete. IF not some people have some back tracking to do. You have the first TSB that you can print when you may return for explanations from dealer, the 2nd TSB may cover the 1st inspection we just do not know at this point.

So, 007, if our serial number is one where the cooling unit has been replaced or already upgraded at the factory, is this latest recall even necessary to get done?

Sorry to hear of your wife's troubles.

Don

[akadeadeye]

Here is a TSB I found on the Newmar site. How does this figure in?

http://comnet2.newmarcorp.com/instan...ges/TSB375.pdf

Don

["007"]

I think both recalls are to cover their butts. Reading through all these threads of recall being 1/2 done is not going to stop fires if they already have the leaking burner pipe near electric elements. With a inspection not done as the first recall required.

Don, they can't seem to get their newest refrigerators to work right.
Has nothing to do with cooling coil recalls with the fires that are now accruing in their newest Norcold 1200 series.
A cooling problem it says and which most of us have added cooling fans in the back of fridge for better cooling which have worked.
This TSB is for defrosting the inside fins???

Don if your not having a problem with the normal defrost I wouldn't bother with this one.
Its allot of work to do with what we did with the fans.
You do know a thread has been posted on Newmar forum of fires in a 05 coach and one he mentioned of a DP with a 1200.

Wife's doing OK, weak and was in isolation for 4 weeks, by state CDC, with what they thought was TB, it wasn't and they do not know what she had from lung sample.
Doctors thought it may have been Cancer, it wasn't thank God.

["007"]

This post is one I have posted in the Newmar forum that does some more explaining.