Alternative to Norcold Recall Box

[Robin_M]

For those looking for an alternative option to the dreaded Norcold recall box that stops your refer from working every time it gets wet, this may be it.

The ARPrv Controller is made by the same people who make the Amish replacement cooling units. It not only monitors the boiler temperature (like the Norcold recall box does), but it also monitors unsafe non-level conditions that can tend to shorten the life of the cooling unit. You can also get a remote controller unit to mount inside the RV. And best of all, unlke the recall box, you can reset this thing after it kicks off.

It looks just as easy to install as the Norcold recall box, and I believe they are selling them for only around $115.

Here are two links I found for this unit...
ARPrv | RV Refrigerator | Controller | Installation by Cooling Unit | RV Fires
... and an older site by the same people here.

Disclaimer: I have upgraded to a residential refrigerator in my motor home, so I have not had occasion to personally use this unit or research it any further than noting the web pages above. Therefore I am not in a position to personally recommend this unit as a recall replacement. I am posting this only because it looks like an extremely interesting alternative to the troubled Norcold recall. Please do your own research.

[hes4all]

The ARP unit was developed by Paul Unmack for RV refrigerators. RV cooling is one of the distributor of it. Here is the web site for the unit.

ARPrv | RV Refrigerator | RV Fridge Control | Install by Cooling Unit | RV Fires

Great invention for those who want to keep the absorption type fridged.

[marcham]

I installed mine a few weeks ago. Of note is that it is not a replacement for the recall box but it should prevent it from activating.

The ARP monitors the boiler temp and cuts off heat (AC, DC or gas) to the boiler if it detects an overheat. Overheating apparently destroys boilers (off level operation, electronic malfunction, etc...).

Took me about 4 hrs to install taking my time. A neat feature is that you can get the data logging version where you hook up a laptop to monitor boiler temps to troubleshoot problems should they occur in the future.

Well worth it for the peace of mind.

[Cypressloser]

Sorry when I hijack this thread, but isn't the fridge itself the recall box

[Robin_M]

Originally Posted by marcham

I installed mine a few weeks ago. Of note is that it is not a replacement for the recall box but it should prevent it from activating.

The ARP monitors the boiler temp and cuts off heat (AC, DC or gas) to the boiler if it detects an overheat. Overheating apparently destroys boilers (off level operation, electronic malfunction, etc...).

Well worth it for the peace of mind.

Marcham,

Thanks for the feedback from an actual user. I'm glad to hear you like this unit. I think it's a great solution for the troublesome Norcold overheating problem.

But I don't know why anyone would still use that awful recall box with the ARP unit installed. If the boiler is not operating, the refrigerator is essentially not operating, and the threat of an immediate fire from overheating goes away. The recall box monitors heat at the boiler and shuts off power to the entire refrigerator if it gets too hot. So couldn't it be said that this unit offers essentially the same protection?

I would think that the reason Norcold chose to wire the recall box so as to cut power to the entire unit would be to call immediate attention to the owner that it's been triggered and to force the owner not to use the refer again until it's been inspected, so as to limit their liability to the maximum extent possible. But having the refer become totally inoperative every time the silly recall box gets a little wet is a real pain. After that happened to me twice, while on a road trip with a fully stocked refer, I threw out that recall box and the refrigerator along with it. If I'd have know about this ARP at the time, I may have just thrown away the recall box and kept the Norcold. (But then again, maybe not. We love our new residential refrigerator.)

[marcham]

My understanding is that if the Norcold recall box activates, the boiler has already been damaged. The ARP prevents any excess heat that could damage the boiler, since it activates at a much lower temperature. I installed mine and drove 500km. My boiler never activated the ARP shutdown, I think my highest temp was 185 deg C.

While the ARP suspends heat, the refrigeration cycle continues as the boiler takes a while to cool down. The delay timer is adjustable in the ARP settings.