Strange Norcold Problem

AFChap · 04-20-2010, 12:42 PM

I noticed a strange issue with my Norcold 1200 LRIM refrigerator today. There are two contacts on the left side that mate with spring-loaded contacts on the left door so that when it is closed, the heater on the door divider operates to keep condensation at bay. The top contact on the refrigerator has been hot enough to melt the plastic surround, and was very hot to the touch. I determined with some testing that the contact is getting hot only when the door is closed and there is contact between the paired contacts. That contact is actually sunk into the refrigerator wall a bit compared to the other. I disconnected the wiring at the divider for now. Curious to know if anyone has seen this happen before? Bad seal heater? ...short somewhere else? I'll insert a pic below of the two contacts, hot one obviously on top.

paz · 04-20-2010, 02:47 PM

I haven't seen that before, but my guess there is an internal short in the heater. The bottom button didn't get hot because it's probably the ground.

Clifftall · 04-20-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFChap

I noticed a strange issue with my Norcold 1200 LRIM refrigerator today. There are two contacts on the left side that mate with spring-loaded contacts on the left door so that when it is closed, the heater on the door divider operates to keep condensation at bay. The top contact on the refrigerator has been hot enough to melt the plastic surround, and was very hot to the touch. I determined with some testing that the contact is getting hot only when the door is closed and there is contact between the paired contacts. That contact is actually sunk into the refrigerator wall a bit compared to the other. I disconnected the wiring at the divider for now. Curious to know if anyone has seen this happen before? Bad seal heater? ...short somewhere else? I'll insert a pic below of the two contacts, hot one obviously on top.

I'd call norcold 800-543-1219. They have a great cs/tech dept.

Cliff

**RV Wizard** · 04-21-2010, 02:40 AM

Mine has done the same thing and there was some discussion about it sometime back. The heat is due to the amount of current the divider heater pulls and the surface area of contact made when the door gets closed on it. Call Norcold for what is needed.

AFChap · 04-21-2010, 11:35 AM

Thanks ...at least I know it has happened before! You don't recall any other details, or where I might find the discussion?

I'll try calling Norcold. In the past they have flat refused to give me ANY info whatsoever "about anything electrical" citing liability reasons ...I was asking for info on fuses/breakers relating to the ice maker. I'll give them another opportunity at customer service...

**RV Wizard** · 04-22-2010, 03:12 AM

The discussion was here on iRV2 but may have been before the server change and may have even been before the ownership change. I lost about 3500 posts of mine that were in archives, when the change was made to the new server.

AFChap · 04-22-2010, 04:12 PM

Well, I called Norcold and got the "we can't give you any info about anything electrical for liability reasons." I pressed him a bit about resistance readings for the heater and he told me what the readings should be for the AC heater which I already had from the service manual. I pointed out we were talking about a DC heater in this case rather than the ac heaters with the cooling unit ...he gave me an educational lecture about how my refrigerator actually uses 120v AC and when he finally stopped to listen again he said, "Oh, yeah, that one is 12v DC." Then he said the problem probably is that "the door needs to be adjusted ...if the contact doesn't touch in the center and is out of line that can cause the contact to overheat." I cannot see that the door is out of line with the other one, and don't find any manual info about adjusting the doors...

For those who don't think the "movable door heater" / aka "flapper heater" is necessary, we do have condensation on it today and a few drops of water on the door sill under it.

Roadking · 04-22-2010, 07:41 PM

Paul: A couple of years ago tHere was a discussion about this exact issue in the IRV2 forum. I was concerned about this so on my fridge I put tape over the connections, however, within just a few days mold and mildew built up on the door seal. I removed the tape and so far all has been good.

I've also read on this forum that the Norcold folks will not discuss anything with a owner. They will only talk to official Norcold service dealers. However, from your discussion it also sounds like the service support folks elevator's don't reach the top floors...