Jim4455
Wherever I choose
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Joined: 11/22/2006
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Although I think this question would apply to all refirgerators mine ia a Norcold model 682 and I have no reason to think that it is anything other than OEM. My problem is that it doesn't stay as cool as I would like. I have installed an inside fan powered by two 'D' cells and an outside DC powered fan. The temperature control is set to 3 on a scale of 5. I have previously tried 5 of 5 but a technician informed me that it would cool better on a lower setting. At night the outside temperature drops to around 70 degrees and the refrigerator temperature will be around 36 degrees. This is just about right, however the daytime temperature climbs to about 95 degrees and the refrigerator temperature climbs to about 44 degrees. This is warmer than I would like. Throughout all this the freezing section seems to be fine with a temperature of 5-10 degrees. I had a new cooling unit installed less than a year ago. I tried the dollar bill test on the door seal and I am not sure how much tension I should feel on the bill when pulling it out.
- 1. Is this normal operation and I am expecting more from this unit than it is designed for?
- 2. Are there other tests that I should perform?
- 3. Does this require as a technician has advised a totally new refrigerator?
- 4. If a new refrigerator is required I have been quoted $1540 including tax and installation. This is a lot of money!
Sorry for the length of the post but I wanted to provide as much information as possible.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
1993 Winnebago Vectra 33' 454 Chevy
2002 Saturn LW200
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Do a search for refrigerator chimney fans. They help push the heat taken out of the refer box up the chimney.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
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maddog348
Bakersfield,CA
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As Jim4455 said. Same with my Norcold(modelN611FLT). Daytime temp 100+- (MH under awning). Just checked this a.m. 36 inside (last eve up to 45) This is on shore power. Did $1 test really tight on latch side fairly easy top-bottom and hinge side. Is this just the nature of the beast or is something wrong(wrong enough to be fixed)??????? THANKS, K
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RealtyRoy
NW Oregon
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Joined: 08/09/2006
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Sounds normal to me. My Norcold does exactly the same as your fridge. I do try to keep the sun off the outside grill for the fridge thinking it will keep the cooling unit a little cooler.
I wouldn't replace it if it were me.
Good Luck!
Roy
May the roads and skies always be clear, and the firewood nice and dry!!
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GizmosMom
Central Texas
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Joined: 02/18/2002
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Our refrigerator is a bit different---way smaller!
Ours is a three way and in the Texas heat we can only get it to run efficiently on propane.
But when on battery or electric I place frozen "blue ice" around the perishables. We sort of treat our little refrigerator like a little cooler.
There is just enough room on our little freezer for four rectangles of "Blue Ice" and they are about 6-7 inches by 4 inches. I also have larger sizes. We do not leave home without our "Blue Ice"
When we first purchased our van my husband took it for a weekend of fishing with the guys. He purchased some expensive steaks and ran the refrig on battery. When they were ready to grill the meat it had already gone bad. So we are constantly checking our refrigerator and the Blue Ice seems like the best way for us to keep things cool.
Just some thoughts as $1540 seems like too much money.
Marilyn w/ Joe, 2000 Xplorer Class B van, usually pulling a Ranger bass boat.
Smudge, (in photo) a Shih Tzu/Yorkie Mix and Gizmo is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge
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jetcare
Mission, TX
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Joined: 05/02/2008
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Jim,
I just finished a five day class at Camping World University on refrigerators and we spent lots of time on this issue. From what you tell me, the cooling unit is doing the very best job it can. The only way you can improve the cooling performance now is to move more air across the back of the cooling unit.
Check the installation of the refrigerator. There should be zero clearance on the sides and top. One inch the top is ok but you don't want more than that.
You don't want any airspace on the sides and you don't want a dead airspace on top of the refrigerator.
I would suggest you get on the roof and pull off the vent cap and take a close look. Can you improve the airflow by minimizing clearances? How much distance is there from the back of the cooling coils on the condenser (top part with lots of metal fins like a radiator) It would be ideal if this gap was one inch or less. You might consider taking the refrigerator part way out (about one foot) and seeing if you can clean and insulate. Make sure you don’t block airflow from the bottom to the top. You want that chimney draft effect.
Since your issue is during the day when it is hot, moving more air in through the bottom door vent and out the top vent is your answer. If all looks well, this is the best you can do. That's the biggest complaint with absorption type refrigerators.
You already indicated you have a fan for the inside to help move the air. Don't overload the refrigerator with food and don't put foil or trays on the shelves that block air flow. Do you defrost the unit so there is no or only a small amount of ice of the evaporator (fins) inside the refrigerator compartment. Don’t put leftover warm dinner food in the refrigerator. Let it cool first.
Hope this helps. Do not buy a new unit.
Matt Harris
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nosaint3
Sioux Falls,SD
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Joined: 02/06/2005
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I had the same problem and discovered both external fans were inoperative. Since my refrigerator is in the slide out, I also have two vents. The factory put the baffle all the way up past the top vent. The repair guy broke it out(1/4 inch wood) to get to the fans. He didn't want to pull out the refrigerator. He changed the fans, and I changed the thermostat. He said don't put the wood back in so I didn't. It seems that ventilation is everything, as it works great. I set it on 2 out of 9 and it is right on 33 inside. I also have the burns to prove that the back is extremely hot and you have to be real careful if you do the work before it cools off.
nosaint3
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JConatser
Smyrna, Tennessee, USA
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Joined: 05/04/2004
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nosaint3 wrote:... I also have the burns to prove that the back is extremely hot and you have to be real careful if you do the work before it cools off.
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