Why won't Norcold fridge run on Genset power?

[HuBee]

This is a recent issue for the last two weekends while tailgating. It has never been a problem before since new. The coach is on shore power while at home and the fridge works fine. With the front door switch on automatic(while running the genset)the green power switch stays on and the gas light blinks once every 5 seconds but the fridge does not cool. Switched to gas and the propane does power the fridge. Everything else (tv,elect heater,micro,coffee make etc.)works fine.

[HuBee]

This is a recent issue for the last two weekends while tailgating. It has never been a problem before since new. The coach is on shore power while at home and the fridge works fine. With the front door switch on automatic(while running the genset)the green power switch stays on and the gas light blinks once every 5 seconds but the fridge does not cool. Switched to gas and the propane does power the fridge. Everything else (tv,elect heater,micro,coffee make etc.)works fine.

[paz]

Our generator has 2 circuit breakers on the generator itself near the start switch. One trips every so often, usually the one with the highest load (air conditioner) in hot weather. Is it possible one of your breakers (the one the fridge is on) has tripped?

[RV Wizard]

Hugh, what model of Norcold do you have? Have you checked the generator output voltage and frequency? Let us know.

[HuBee]

Thanks - Model N611 (2 DOOR) Don't own a voltometer.
Also genset is a Onan 4000 Microquiet with 1 circuit breaker.

[RV Wizard]

Make sure the power cord is plugged into the receptacle in the electrical compartment. If you are still having an issue it will be from the generator as the unit woks on shore power with no problem.

[Gary RVRoamer]

The fridge doesn't know the source of the 120 VAC power - it just plugs into a wall outlet - so it is not the fridge itself.

Apparently the fridge is sensing something it doesn't like about the power from the genset. You might have a friend or service tech check the power available at the wall outlet inside the rear access panel to the fridge to be sure that the power arriving there is the proper voltage and frequency when the generator is running.

The blinking gas light may be a code of some kind - have you checked your fridge manual for troubleshooting tips? If you don't have the manual, you can get both owner and service manuals for most Norcold and Dometic fridges online at Fridge manuals

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

When running on the generator did you check the AC plug the refrig is plugged into?

Is this fridge a brand new one? Although I would think Norcold would test their equipment thoroughly, maybe the new electronics doesn't like the unclean power coming from the generator.

Generator power is not clean. And many of the newest electronic components don't like the saw-tooth sign wave that comes off of generators.

I bought a new Satellite Receiver recently that would not work on generator power. It actually fried the inards. Had same problem with my Inverter. The newest electronics devices require Pure-Sign Wave inverters, not Modified-Sign Wave. Had to take it back and trade it for last years model.

[hamguy]

Bob, I think you are totally wrong. I have used generators both cheapie construction and RV Onan types and they have all put out clean sine waves. At least within acceptable limits.

[HuBee]

Thanks again for responses. Same thing happened this past weekend. Fellow tailgater tested the AC outlet the fridge plugs into and everything appears as it should bee. This fridge is original to the coach and has worked fine on all three sources until recently. One other thing,the fridge did operate on genset power for the first hour or so beefore the one gas light flashes for approx 5 seconds once every 30 seconds. I'm thinking it's the control board. Oh well,tailgating is over this year and unless the fridge quits on shore power,we have plenty of time until Georgia Tech's first football game next season.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

hamguy<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Bob, I think you are totally wrong. I have used generators both cheapie construction and RV Onan types and they have all put out clean sine waves. At least within acceptable limits. </div></BLOCKQUOTE> Well then maybe I have something wrong with my generator because three brand new satellite receivers failed exactly the same way on my generator. Two others I tried failed the same way on my Modified Sine Wave Inverter. When I switched back to the older style satellite receiver everything was just fine. So needless to say I made sure I don't use the newest sat receiver unless I'm on good power. I also tried one of the newest satellite receivers on a friends Pure Sine Wave Inverter and it worked just fine.

Somewhere, I'm sorry to say I can't remember where but it was on a technical paper on generators and it showed the 60 cycle sine-wave and it wasn't all that great, not even close to commercial power. Granted clean enough to power most equipment, but maybe not all. Since retiring I don't have access to an O-scope or I'd check mine and see.