Community Forums

Doug427 · 12-24-2019, 04:26 PM

I just put this thread up in the Winnebago forum, but figured it might be helpful to the community at large regardless of make to bring the topic up to date and in one place here in the general forum as well, since this mod seems to be becoming more and more popular. Hopefully it helps those about to do this mod to their coach.

There's many threads on replacing the Norcold 1200, however in most cases the refrigerators mentioned as being used as replacement fridges are no longer available, and in most cases no model numbers for the fridges used are given. Most seem to be using a Samsung, however many say they're not all that good. I have seen mention of GE's being used, Whirlpool, Fisher Paykel, and others. What models are current and being used now with good results? Also, if you could mention what coach and floor plan you have and what cabinet and other mods you needed to do to get it in there. Comments on before and after cabinet dimensions, new fridge dimensions, what mods needed to be made to the cabinets and how it was done would be helpful too. Also, how did you get the old fridge out of the coach and the new one in? Did you remove the passenger seat and go through there or did you have to remove a windshield and pass them through, or other method?

Mention has also been made about the need (or not) for a pure sine wave inverter. Have you converted to one? What did you use, and what other mods did you make? If you left the original inverter in place, has it affected the way the refrigerator runs or lasts?

I'm hoping that this can become a comprehensive, up to date thread on current replacement models and procedures for the seemingly popular Norcold 1200 replacement. This hopefully won't become a thread on debate over whether Norcold is good or bad, and whether to replace or not. Rather than that hopefully it will be a resource for those who have already made the decision to replace and need only to learn how to do it.

Hopefully this can become a valuable resource for those about to do this modification.

Bigd9 · 12-24-2019, 05:10 PM

I replaced our Norcold 1200 with a Frigidaire 20.4 top freezer for $600. We have had it running on a Modified Sine Wave inverter for 6 months now without any problems. I removed a living room window and Lowes bought 3 guys and together we inserted the Frigidaire into the coach, and hauled the old Norcold out. I believe the old Norcold was much heavier than the almost twice the size Frigidaire is!

The old Norcold sat on a 6 inch high platform in a slide out , and I cut it down to a 3 inch high platform to accommodate the Frigidaire.

I also used the QDOS door lock to hold the doors closed. $15 on Amazon.

All in all, it was a easier job than I thought it would be. And that is saying something for this 70 year old geezer!

https://www.amazon.com/QDOS-Adhesive...34&sr=8-4&th=1

Tajfish · 01-11-2020, 05:51 PM

Pulling the plug on the Norcold.
We have decided to change out the Norcold 1210 in our 2007 Bounder 38s. We ordered the new fridge today. Went with the Samsung RF18 because of the low profile french doors and the fact that this unit minus the doors and hinges should fit through our entry door, barely.
Will begin removal tomorrow, hope to take a few pictures and log my journey. Will likely be calling on the accumulative knowledge on this forum. We ordered the black stainless because the other kitchen appliances are black. We actually have the same style fridge in a larger size in our home kitchen and it serves us well.
Any suggestions from those who have done this before are welcome.
My first question is on power supply. I have 4 six volt coach batteries and a 2000 watt inverter. We really don’t boon dock and our traveling days are 6 hours */- an hour. So initially I thought just 120 volt shore power would be fine and back it up with the generator when needed. Lately I say a you tube that should the guy just moved the fridge outlet from the 120 volt breaker to a breaker on the inverter. Can someone help me understand this better ?
Thanks,
Tom

Sbrownstein · 01-11-2020, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tajfish

... Lately I saw a you tube that showed the guy just moved the fridge outlet from the 120 volt breaker to a breaker on the inverter. Can someone help me understand this better ?
Thanks,
Tom

That is what I would do. Based on your usage, you will never know it's there and the inverter power during drive times doesn't load your batteries at all.

Heck, you have 4 batteries and a 2000 watt inverter, all you need is to move the reefer outlet over to the inverter. Simple and painless.

Bigd9 · 01-11-2020, 06:41 PM

Tom, there should be TWO outlets behind the Norcold. One outlet will be for the refrigerator when on shore power(or generator) and the other in a inverter outlet that the ice maker is plugged into. It's easy to figure out which is which. Mine were marked with a magic marker. If yours is not, then one of the outlets will be dead when shore power is disconnected, and the other one (inverter) will still be live when shore power is removed.

I had to move my inverter outlet a little to fit the new refrigerator size. Good luck, and ask any questions that come to mind.

**Spdracr39** · 01-11-2020, 06:45 PM

GE GWE19JWSS. Almost the same dimensions just a little deeper. Samsung RF18 has the same dimentions but the GE got better reviews. Unfortunately it is also more expensive.

docj · 01-11-2020, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tajfish

Pulling the plug on the Norcold.
We have decided to change out the Norcold 1210 in our 2007 Bounder 38s. We ordered the new fridge today. Went with the Samsung RF18 because of the low profile french doors and the fact that this unit minus the doors and hinges should fit through our entry door, barely.
Will begin removal tomorrow, hope to take a few pictures and log my journey. Will likely be calling on the accumulative knowledge on this forum. We ordered the black stainless because the other kitchen appliances are black. We actually have the same style fridge in a larger size in our home kitchen and it serves us well.
Any suggestions from those who have done this before are welcome.
My first question is on power supply. I have 4 six volt coach batteries and a 2000 watt inverter. We really don’t boon dock and our traveling days are 6 hours */- an hour. So initially I thought just 120 volt shore power would be fine and back it up with the generator when needed. Lately I say a you tube that should the guy just moved the fridge outlet from the 120 volt breaker to a breaker on the inverter. Can someone help me understand this better ?
Thanks,
Tom

We've been using a Samsung RF197 (predecessor to the RF18) for ~8+ years and have been very pleased with it. I know there have been unhappy customer posts about the RF18 and if I had to replace it I would also consider the GE GWE19J which is also counter depth and 33" wide. It's also 1 inch shorter than the Samsung which should help from an installation perspective. The only downside is that it is more expensive.

Although our Samsung was brought in through the windshield, since my new 24" wide Splendide came in through the front door I assume that, with the doors off, the fridge would come through also.

As for power, it's already been suggested to you that the ice maker outlet is probably already wired into the inverter so you could use that approach. However, I wanted to have a separate circuit for the fridge so what I did was to swap the microwave (which did have its own circuit coming from the inverter) and the fridge (which wasn't on the inverter) so now my fridge is powered by the inverter on its own 15A circuit. (We have a 2.8kW Magnum inverter).

As for battery power, we also have 4-six volt batteries and they have been fine while we travel even when we stop for meals or sightseeing. This summer it was so hot much of the time we traveled with the generator on while we drove, anyway.

Joel (AKA docj)

CoachC · 01-11-2020, 08:35 PM

We went with a Maytag 18MSTFA which is 2 door no frills top freezer. Ours goes in a kitchen slide so not quite enough room for the popular 18F French door-bottom freezer which we preferred. No issues and happy with the Maytag. Don't miss the Nevercold 1200 at all.

Cheers

**CountryFit** · 01-11-2020, 09:02 PM

We bought a Magic Chef bottom freezer from HD for $300 out of door and DIYed. Later we bought a stainless steel door for $100 to cover the space on the right. That's total cost. For 3 years now, 0 complaints. (Note, this unit runs on PSW only).

saddlesore · 01-11-2020, 09:10 PM

With a Sammy (and others).. Don't forget to order a "Fridge Fixer" to keep the doors (and freezer drawer) closed when traveling..

https://www.recubed.solutions/

astrocamper · 01-13-2020, 03:29 PM

I have a smaller Norcold 6 cubic foot model. I just ordered a Unique DC powered fridge from Home Depot. I will pick it up from my local Home Depot so I don't have to pay for shipping.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Unique-6...0L-W/306705246

I have 1405 watts of roof top solar and four 100 amp-hour BattleBornBatteries so I wanted a DC only power fridge without the issues of a propane burner.

Piper23t · 01-13-2020, 04:22 PM

I kept the Nor Cold and bought replacement cooling unit from JC refrigeration. My son and I gutted the NoCold and replaced with JC unit. Fit like a glove. I opted for the AC unit. This thing is great, what a difference. I run it on 2-3 and it keeps ice cream solid even in our Florida heat.

Ray,IN · 01-14-2020, 10:43 AM

Anyone removing a working Norcold 1200 series? Send me a PM if you're in the midwest and I'll haul it away for you, i'd like to find a spare JIC.
Residential refrigerators have been in use long enough now for problems to begin being talked about. No thanks, my Norcold is 20, with no problems encountered, I figure it's about time to prepare.
IMO the majority of Norcold problems are user errors, operating out of level, etc.

Tajfish · 01-19-2020, 10:36 PM

Well finally got the crew together and took the Norcold out and brought the new rf18 Samsung in today. Still have a little cabinet work to do but the new fridge in sitting on a furniture dollie I made to match the opening height off the floor. We ended up taking the booth window out to swap fridges. Much easier than weaving our way around the entry door with the dash and cabinet. We did not have to take the doors off the new fridge coming in the window [emoji4]