Inverter not running refrigerator

[RMD3819]

Asking for a friend:

2017 Ventana 3412 Freightliner

Norcold 1200 fridge stays on LP and won’t switch when inverting. Switches when on shore power or generator.

Inverter is on
Magnum screen shows “inv”
Inverter reset button pushed; didn’t click or appear to do anything.
GFCI outlets do not work/won’t reset
Microwave clock and interior lights are dimmer than when on shore/generator.

Isn’t it supposed to invert when driving down the road?

[Lt Dan]

On a lot of coaches with absorption fridges, the refrigerator outlet is not on the inverter. Some have a separate outlet that is on the inverter and some not at all.

[vsheetz]

The refrigerator is unlikely supposed to operate from inverter. So I think a non issue.

GFCI won't reset typically means no power to the GFCI.

Check for tripped breaker on the magnum unit itself.

Check if ALL air conditioners working on shore power. If air conditioners inop likely problem us upstream towards genny/shore power. Check if they work on genny.

[bentjm]

What Lt Dan said.

If it has an ice maker, then there may be two 120v outlets behind the fridge. One on the inverter for the ice maker, one not on the inverter for the fridge.

[Country Road]

Originally Posted by bentjm

What Lt Dan said.

If it has an ice maker, then there may be two 120v outlets behind the fridge. One on the inverter for the ice maker, one not on the inverter for the fridge.

That is very odd. What would be the purpose? Please educate me.

[96 Wideglide]

That's so you can still have ice for happy hour while boondocking with the fridge running on propane !

Heating element on an absorption fridge would drain your batteries quickly if running thru the inverter.

[Kid Gloves]

Originally Posted by Country Road

That is very odd. What would be the purpose? Please educate me.

Ice maker runs on 120V, but has low power demand. Absorption refrigerator on 120V has higher power demand. Minimizes load on batteries while keeping refrigerator fully functional.

[dbike199]

Norcold 1200 runs on Propane and the 12-volt system. Ice maker runs on 120v.
Most refrigerators and ice makers in that year range were not wired for inverter.
Can you manually move it from LP to 12-volt with the front control panel on the Refrigerator?

[Kid Gloves]

Originally Posted by dbike199

Norcold 1200 runs on Propane and the 12-volt system. Ice maker runs on 120v.
Most refrigerators and ice makers in that year range were not wired for inverter.
Can you manually move it from LP to 12-volt with the front control panel on the Refrigerator?

Is that a typo? The refrigerator will not run on 12V alone. It requires 12V power to the circuit board, in addition to either 120VAC or propane.

[dbike199]

Kid Gloves,
Good eye. It is a typo. You are correct it also requires 120v.

[WILDEBILL308]

Originally Posted by RMD3819

Asking for a friend:

2017 Ventana 3412 Freightliner

Norcold 1200 fridge stays on LP and won’t switch when inverting. Switches when on shore power or generator.

Inverter is on
Magnum screen shows “inv”
Inverter reset button pushed; didn’t click or appear to do anything.
GFCI outlets do not work/won’t reset
Microwave clock and interior lights are dimmer than when on shore/generator.

Isn’t it supposed to invert when driving down the road?

Sounds like the house battery's are low. Have you checked the voltage? Have you checked the grounds?
Yes it should invert when driving down the road but if the battery's are not charging or are to low. Check to see what the voltage is and if they are charging.
Let us know.
Bill

[Fridge Defend]

Originally Posted by RMD3819

Asking for a friend:

2017 Ventana 3412 Freightliner

Norcold 1200 fridge stays on LP and won’t switch when inverting. Switches when on shore power or generator.

Inverter is on
Magnum screen shows “inv”
Inverter reset button pushed; didn’t click or appear to do anything.
GFCI outlets do not work/won’t reset
Microwave clock and interior lights are dimmer than when on shore/generator.

Isn’t it supposed to invert when driving down the road?

As a suggestion, we use a Pure Sine inverter dedicated for our fridge to run on 120VAC when not plugged into shore power.

This has the advantage of using less power and having only one 120VAC inverter running while driving.

Let us know if we can be of further help

[Kid Gloves]

Here’s some pertinent data as pertains to the original post.

1) OP’s friend has an RV refrigerator.
2) RV refrigerators are typically not plugged in to an inverted circuit.
3) #2 explains why RV refrigerator does not switch to AC power while inverting.
4) RV owners with RV refrigerators, generally do not add a second inverter to run the RV refrigerator.

[WILDEBILL308]

Originally Posted by Kid Gloves

Here’s some pertinent data as pertains to the original post.

1) OP’s friend has an RV refrigerator.
2) RV refrigerators are typically not plugged in to an inverted circuit.
3) #2 explains why RV refrigerator does not switch to AC power while inverting.
4) RV owners with RV refrigerators, generally do not add a second inverter to run the RV refrigerator.

1) Yes I hope the friend gets a RV to go with the refrigerator they are fun.
2) What confuses people is the RV refrigerator is pugged in to a receptacle behind the RV refrigerator with 2 cords(if you have a ice maker). One powers the refrigerator when 120V power is available. the outher one powers the icemaker and is on the inverted circuit so you can make ice when on propane.
4) I have no idea why someone would need a extra Pure Sine inverter dedicated to a fridge to run on 120VAC when not plugged into shore power when you can run on propane. All you are doing is powering a heating element if you were wanting to run on 120V and that element use a large amount of power so you would run the battery's down quickly.
Bill