Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Newmar Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-03-2025, 12:00 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
ippongachi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Meridian, Idaho
Posts: 27
Send a message via Yahoo to ippongachi
Norcold 121OIM Fridge

Hi all,
We have a 2023 Baystar 3014 with a Norcold 121OIM in the slide. We have had the coach since December 2023 with several trips on it. we have an RV garage to keep the coach in (where it has been for the last month). We use the rv fridge to store extra stuff from the house. A few days ago we noticed the freezer temp shot up to 27.5 F. New stuff would not freeze solid. Ice cream softened. Checked the rear of the unit but no yellow powder or signs of leakage. Today, the freezer temp dropped to 2.7F. Any insight on what is causing this?

Thanks,
Gordon
__________________
Gordon
2023 Baystar 3014
ippongachi is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 01-03-2025, 12:21 PM   #2
Senior Member


 
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Bohemia NY
Posts: 2,009
You have a 2023 RV with an absorption refrigerator? I'm impressed.
Are you running it on 110v power? Is propane available should the power go out. I would be concerned operating propane if the rig is inside a garage or building. Is it possible power went out for some time? Also, is this fridge self-defrosting? That control may have hung up.
__________________
Dennis
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
d23haynes57 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2025, 01:22 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Unplanned Tourist's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 8,048
Air flow? Slide mounted absorption fridges need good air flow. There should be a fan to move air in the back. It might have quit and then restarted.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
Unplanned Tourist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2025, 01:41 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Jzack's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Minnesnowta
Posts: 502
I'd bet it was just in defrost mode. They are programmed to do that every 48 hours or something. Look it up in the owner's manual if you have one.
__________________
Jeff & Kelly
2008 Damon Astoria 3776 PE
Jzack is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2025, 01:59 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Old-Biscuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 28,354
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jzack View Post
I'd bet it was just in defrost mode. They are programmed to do that every 48 hours or something. Look it up in the owner's manual if you have one.

Ding, ding, ding.....winner chicken dinner

Owners manual....pg 8
Temperature Control System
*doesn't spell out the intervals but it works out to 48 - 49 hrs after turning fridge on (turn fridge off at night so defrost mode comes on late in evening when ambient temps are lower)

https://techsupport.pdxrvwholesale.c...es-629510B.pdf



Here is a Service Manual for your perusal

https://rvrefrigeratorrepair.com/wp-...rvice-1210.pdf
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
Old-Biscuit is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2025, 03:21 PM   #6
NXR
Senior Member
 
NXR's Avatar


 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 6,906
Agreed. Our 1210 while in defrost mode would go to the low to mid 40's in the fridge and 20+ in the freezer.

The first night you're on a trip turn the fridge off for 30 seconds around 10 PM and turn it back on. That will reset the defrost timer to run overnight.

You actually can do that anytime to restart the cooling unit but then the timer starts from then.

As an aside, an ARP Fridge Defend is configured to run a self-test every 24 hours. That self-test interrupts the power and thus resets the defrost timer. Once I added their small internal blowers to circulate cold air in the fridge we can go five months with no frost buildup on the fins and no defrost cycle. Their blowers direct air on to the ends of the fins and that keeps them frost-free. Plus the fridge temp is far more stable and loading food no longer causes wide temperature swings.

Ray
NXR is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2025, 03:38 PM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by NXR View Post
Agreed. Our 1210 while in defrost mode would go to the low to mid 40's in the fridge and 20+ in the freezer.

The first night you're on a trip turn the fridge off for 30 seconds around 10 PM and turn it back on. That will reset the defrost timer to run overnight.

You actually can do that anytime to restart the cooling unit but then the timer starts from then.

As an aside, an ARP Fridge Defend is configured to run a self-test every 24 hours. That self-test interrupts the power and thus resets the defrost timer. Once I added their small internal blowers to circulate cold air in the fridge we can go five months with no frost buildup on the fins and no defrost cycle. Their blowers direct air on to the ends of the fins and that keeps them frost-free. Plus the fridge temp is far more stable and loading food no longer causes wide temperature swings.

Ray
my norcold went out couple years ago
over priced
ended up with dometic dc only and it fit with 1/8" to spare(ie exact fit norcold)
now I get FROZEN ice cream/etc.
and the extra 3 CU
building shop that may not have electric - have 30amp solar + lithium battery to run it
__________________
2016 F350 SRW CC SB Platinum lifted
20" Nitto Grapplers
2008 Newmar Cyprus - my mobile office
fischer76 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2025, 03:40 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Unplanned Tourist's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 8,048
Quote:
Originally Posted by NXR View Post
Agreed. Our 1210 while in defrost mode would go to the low to mid 40's in the fridge and 20+ in the freezer.



As an aside, an ARP Fridge Defend is configured to run a self-test every 24 hours. That self-test interrupts the power and thus resets the defrost timer. Once I added their small internal blowers to circulate cold air in the fridge we can go five months with no frost buildup on the fins and no defrost cycle. Their blowers direct air on to the ends of the fins and that keeps them frost-free. Plus the fridge temp is far more stable and loading food no longer causes wide temperature swings.

Ray
Ahah! It's been so long since I installed the Fridge Defend in ours that I forgot all about the defrost! Really love our 1210 with the FD and internal and extra external fans.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
Unplanned Tourist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2025, 09:32 PM   #9
NXR
Senior Member
 
NXR's Avatar


 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 6,906
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unplanned Tourist View Post
Ahah! It's been so long since I installed the Fridge Defend in ours that I forgot all about the defrost! Really love our 1210 with the FD and internal and extra external fans.
We have an old v4.1 and there was a setup option to disable the self-test. I imagine the newer v5 is the same.

I first tried turning the fridge off and back on once a day but it iced up after a week. Then I installed the Fridge Defend with the fan controller and later installed the inside fans. Wow, what a difference those made in maintaining stable temps. Should have installed the inside blowers when I installed the outside one. And the fins never frost up.

Ray
__________________
2020 Forest River Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
NXR is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2025, 12:10 AM   #10
Senior Member


 
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Bohemia NY
Posts: 2,009
One of the reasons I choose the current rig is that it still had the Dometic Absorption Fridge. It works well. A previous owner upgraded it with the Fridge Defend. If I long term need to keep food really cold for an extended period, I'll use the compressor freezer in the basement. So far, I have not been able to travel long enough that the fridge has had performance or room issue. It makes ice cubes and keeps ice cream just fine. I leave it on all the time.
__________________
Dennis
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
d23haynes57 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2025, 09:23 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Fridge Defend's Avatar


Commercial Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Montana
Posts: 828
Blog Entries: 1
Fridge Defend

Quote:
Originally Posted by ippongachi View Post
Hi all,
We have a 2023 Baystar 3014 with a Norcold 121OIM in the slide. We have had the coach since December 2023 with several trips on it. we have an RV garage to keep the coach in (where it has been for the last month). We use the rv fridge to store extra stuff from the house. A few days ago we noticed the freezer temp shot up to 27.5 F. New stuff would not freeze solid. Ice cream softened. Checked the rear of the unit but no yellow powder or signs of leakage. Today, the freezer temp dropped to 2.7F. Any insight on what is causing this?

Thanks,
Gordon

As mentioned previous by NXR, our product will fix this issue with the benefit of protecting your fridge from failure and resulting fire danger.


Happy New Year, Paul and Mao
__________________
Click for Fridge DefendŽ: A safety and troubleshooting device that helps prevent fridge failure and resulting fires.
Featured articles: Will My RV Refrigerator Catch Fire, And Can I Prevent It? | How Heat Makes Cold | RV Refrigerator In Cold Weather: What Happens?
Fridge Defend is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2025, 09:44 AM   #12
Senior Member


 
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Bohemia NY
Posts: 2,009
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fridge Defend View Post
As mentioned previous by NXR, our product will fix this issue with the benefit of protecting your fridge from failure and resulting fire danger.


Happy New Year, Paul and Mao
As a thought, as these RV's are often passed from owner to owner, worse through resale dealers there should be some labeling that goes on the front or inside. When I first looked at the unit, I now have I saw the fans inside the fridge and thought "who did this". Later I saw the unit outside. The dealer also had no idea what it was. I even thought of tearing out as I am not a fan of add on gadgets. Luckily, thanks to this forum I now understand what it is and the value. Thankful to have it.
__________________
Dennis
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
d23haynes57 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2025, 06:10 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Fridge Defend's Avatar


Commercial Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Montana
Posts: 828
Blog Entries: 1
Staying Safe Even Though It Costs Sales - 200% more Horsepower

Quote:
Originally Posted by d23haynes57 View Post
As a thought, as these RV's are often passed from owner to owner, worse through resale dealers there should be some labeling that goes on the front or inside. When I first looked at the unit, I now have I saw the fans inside the fridge and thought "who did this". Later I saw the unit outside. The dealer also had no idea what it was. I even thought of tearing out as I am not a fan of add on gadgets. Luckily, thanks to this forum I now understand what it is and the value. Thankful to have it.
"I even thought of tearing out as I am not a fan of add on gadgets."

In the 60s when transistor radios became popular, there were a lot of advertisements that appealed to us as kids. We loved cars & motorcycles and everything to do with them. I wanted aftermarket carburetors, cherry bomb headers, and all that other stuff that increased horsepower by some claimed percent. My father pointed out to us that if we add up the claimed horsepower increase we will have about 200% more horsepower!

Thus I fully agree with the above statement based on marketing practices.

"I now understand what it is and the value."

Along comes the 70s and the Chevy Vega and the Toyota Corolla. GM attempted to make a mockery of imported Japanese cars, but in the end they cost the consumer a lot of money by making a product that should be trusted into a POS (piece of waste material) that in the long run helped the consumer choose the Toyota Corolla. Thus, the hard lesson is that not all large companies make decisions with the consumers' best interest at heart.

"resale dealers there should be some labeling that goes on the front or inside"

There were naysayers regarding the Toyota Corolla, as a child I talked like a child and thought like a child, when I became a man I put childish ways behind me. Partially due to buying stuff that gave me less horsepower

Clearly large manufactures want to increase sales of new product and the spare parts to keep things alive in their service departments. When working at a Porsche dealer, I was told that "the only reason I was there was to have folks bring their old stuff in to get fixed, and then sell them a new Porsche". Stop and think, does keeping a product from failing help manufactures and dealers sell stuff?

An RV tech reported back to me after attending a factory training session on RV refrigerators. When he asked the factory rep about the Fridge Defend, the factory rep told him that the Fridge Defend is no different than the factory recalls , is this true? This is a lie as has been proved over and over. Also, the tech was told to just tell folks:

"You have never heard of the Fridge Defend, and it is not needed."

Well, what would motivate someone to lie , greed and the fact that absorption refrigerators have a built in mode of failure (kind of like the Chevy Vega) that is described by the manufactures:

"The whole unit [refrigerator] operates by the heat applied to the boiler system and, for a good operation, it is of paramount importance that this heat is kept within the necessary limits and is properly applied."

Above is a quote from a Dometic document that is posted at ARPRV dot COM. It also defines US Patent 8,056,360, the Fridge Defend.

If you want to protect your fridge, you cannot get it from the manufactures. If you want to follow the manufactures advice, you should install the patented product that adds the paramount importance controller that Dometic is talking about in the above document posted on our website.

I believe in fair play and logic, not everyone thinks this way, fair play and logic does not sell stuff. But, I am not a sales person, I am an engineer and consumer that knows that the absorption fridge can last over 80 years, this is because we have two 1937 absorption LP refrigerators that are working to this day.

Please tell your friends about how to protect your investment, a life style that brings us to iRV2. Your fridge should last the life of your RV.

Paul and Mao
__________________
Click for Fridge DefendŽ: A safety and troubleshooting device that helps prevent fridge failure and resulting fires.
Featured articles: Will My RV Refrigerator Catch Fire, And Can I Prevent It? | How Heat Makes Cold | RV Refrigerator In Cold Weather: What Happens?
Fridge Defend is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
fridge, norcold



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
"NORCOLD & DOMETIC RECALLS" & Service Manuals Norcold & Dometic "007" RV Systems & Appliances 89 07-18-2019 05:41 PM
In-slide Norcold/Dometic fridge vs residential fridge abi2001 5th Wheel Discussion 13 05-22-2016 07:53 PM
Norcold not running well on AC, have link to Norcold service manual John_Canfield Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 28 08-09-2006 04:49 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:43 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.