Refrigerator

[bjo]

I have a question on how should you run the Refrigerator while you are driving down the road, I no you can use the "LP" or the generator, I'm new at this and I wont my food to stay cold in the frig, so any help would be great. were going on our first long trip the first of June,
I have 04 Bounder it's new to us .
Thanks
Bj

[njs42]

03 Dolphin LX----Use LP ---it stays plenty cold and it was designed yo operate that way. Make it a habbit to turn it off when you fill up with gas-----I must admit I forget sometimes---about as often as I forget to turn it back on-----it is probably a good idea, however.

[DriVer]

bjo,

The refer in most cases if you leave it in auto will switch to the best power source whether that's electric or LP. LP works great when you're going down the road. Just know that if the refer is cold and you don't open it, it will stay cold for quite a while.

New rigs have homestyle refers (120V) and they run off of an inverter when the rig is going down the road.

Running on LP is the way to go if thats what you have. Just turn off the refer when you pull up to the gas pump.

[TXiceman]

If you are running the generator, let it run on A/C power, otherwise let it switch to propane and enjoy life. Most RVers use the propane on the road. A small group of RVers go to all extremes to justify why they do not run the frig on propane.

Ken

[The General]

BJO,

You've heard a unanimous vote for LP while on the road.
Any other way will cost you more in gen. usage because most RVs
don't have an inverter/refer connection.


Steve

[Route 66]

Yep. LP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The General BJO, You've heard a unanimous vote for LP while on the road. Any other way will cost you more in gen. usage because most RVs don't have an inverter/refer connection. Steve

[Campingman]

Yesterday while going north over the grapevine we smelled amonia. The road was real rough and jarring the MH badly. Guess it broke a line. We stopped and shut the fridge off. I don't know if this is related to the norcold recall problems or not but not taking a chance. We bought a small ac fridge at wally world. We are just starting a six day getaway in Three Rivers Seguoia RV Ranch. Will get it looked at when we get back home. The onan fuel pump quit as well, not related but still p's me off.

[The General]

Campingman,

Sounds like your refer is toast and not covered under Norcold warranty.
I'm sure you will have an authorized repair shop call NC and see what they say.
Onan is a great product and rarely has problems so soon.
Cross your fingers and hope it's low on oil or your fuel tank is below 1/4 full.


Steve

[paz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campingman Yesterday while going north over the grapevine we smelled amonia. The road was real rough and jarring the MH badly. Guess it broke a line. We stopped and shut the fridge off. I don't know if this is related to the norcold recall problems or not but not taking a chance...

Campingman, sorry for your problems. You seem to be coping, so I hope they don't ruin your trip.

The ammonia smell and the Norcold recall are related, although as I understand it, only the 4-door, 12XX-series refrigerators are involved in the recall. If the refrigerator looses coolant (either from a slow leak or a fast one like yours) and stops cooling, the circuit board is supposed to sense that and shut down the refrigerator. Apparently, that sometimes doesn't happen fast enough on the 4-door models, and the electric heater or the gas burner will continue to operate and overheat causing a fire. The latest recall is to install a high-temperature sensor on the 12XX models that will shut down the refrigerator quickly before a fire can start.

I'm sorry to say, if you smelled ammonia coming from the fridge, you will need a new cooling unit. We had the same problem and had to replace ours in March.

[RCtime]

Campingman
IF your amonia smell is caused by the failure of your cooling unit, definitly replace it with one of the Amish built cooling units, not another Norcold unit.

[Campingman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The General Campingman, Sounds like your refer is toast and not covered under Norcold warranty. I'm sure you will have an authorized repair shop call NC and see what they say. Onan is a great product and rarely has problems so soon. Cross your fingers and hope it's low on oil or your fuel tank is below 1/4 full. Steve

Hopefully my extended warrenty covers fridge and genset. I know it's the fuel pump.

[Campingman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCtime Campingman IF your amonia smell is caused by the failure of your cooling unit, definitly replace it with one of the Amish built cooling units, not another Norcold unit.

Exactly my thought also.

[paz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campingman Quote: Originally Posted by RCtime Campingman IF your amonia smell is caused by the failure of your cooling unit, definitly replace it with one of the Amish built cooling units, not another Norcold unit. Exactly my thought also.

But if covered by your extended warranty, they will probably only cover a replacement made by Norcold.

[The General]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz But if covered by your extended warranty, they will probably only cover a replacement made by Norcold.

Hopefully covered by Norcold because you don't want to buy the Amish for $1200 + shipping and installation.


Steve