MeanderMan wrote: I took a different approach and assumed that regardless of recall modifications, I was going to have a fire. To prevent that, I installed an auto-discharge halon extinguisher in the refrigerator bay, a smoke detector in the vent above, and carry an extra fire extinguisher in the bay close to, but not adjacent, to the refer. Foolproof? Nope, but it's pretty close, and it's a stopgap to the time that the Norcold fails and I install a residential refer.
That's a real good idea!
If you don't mind my asking, how much did the Halon set up cost you?
Also, is this something I can install myself?
I'd love to do the same thing. At least we may be able to sleep a little better having it.
Pardon my ignorance, but has the Consumer Product Safety Commission been involved with the Norcold problems in RVs? If not, why not? When I searched their site all I came up with was this:
CPSC, Norcold Inc. Announce Recall of Refrigerators
WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Norcold Inc., of Sidney, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling 360 free-standing, combination gas and electric refrigerators. Tubing in the cooling unit can crack and leak flammable gas, presenting a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Norcold has not received any reports of incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.
The recalled refrigerators are white, with black trim on the front, and have the Norcold logo on the bottom left corner of the control panel. The refrigerators have cooling unit serial numbers within the range of 1038000 to 1099000, which can be found on the black canister at the bottom right of the back of the refrigerator.
Specialty retailers nationwide sold the refrigerators from May 1999 through January 2000 for about $900.
Consumers should disconnect the electricity to these refrigerators and call Norcold toll-free at (800) 767-9101 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to schedule a free, in-home repair.
MeanderMan wrote: I took a different approach and assumed that regardless of recall modifications, I was going to have a fire. To prevent that, I installed an auto-discharge halon extinguisher in the refrigerator bay, a smoke detector in the vent above, and carry an extra fire extinguisher in the bay close to, but not adjacent, to the refer. Foolproof? Nope, but it's pretty close, and it's a stopgap to the time that the Norcold fails and I install a residential refer.
That's a real good idea!
If you don't mind my asking, how much did the Halon set up cost you?
Also, is this something I can install myself?
I'd love to do the same thing. At least we may be able to sleep a little better having it.
Vic
Here is a link to one supplier of the halon fire suppression devices that can be installed in the refer carpartment.
MeanderMan wrote: I took a different approach and assumed that regardless of recall modifications, I was going to have a fire. To prevent that, I installed an auto-discharge halon extinguisher in the refrigerator bay, a smoke detector in the vent above, and carry an extra fire extinguisher in the bay close to, but not adjacent, to the refer. Foolproof? Nope, but it's pretty close, and it's a stopgap to the time that the Norcold fails and I install a residential refer.
That's a real good idea!
If you don't mind my asking, how much did the Halon set up cost you?
Also, is this something I can install myself?
I'd love to do the same thing. At least we may be able to sleep a little better having it.
Vic
Here is a link to one supplier of the halon fire suppression devices that can be installed in the refer carpartment.
Well guys for $165.00 I plan on ordering one, just for piece of mind if nothing else. I sure as heck spend that on much worse things. Personally, I don't care what the people at Norcold are saying or not saying. It's 3 peoples lives in our MH we're talking about here, and I'm not willing to take a chance.
I can't afford to switch out the fridge to a domestic at the moment, so this is the best I can do to protect my family.
Had a class with Mac the fire guy and if I remember right the problem on both refrigerators is where the heat tube is welded to the gas expansion chamber. As this area heats and cools it flexes the metal at the weld ( like bending wire hanger to get it to break) over time a break occurs letting the gas out which catches fire.
I guess some welds are better then others so it varies in time. His solution was to install and Amish cooling unit on the back of his frig.
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John Wayne wrote: Had a class with Mac the fire guy and if I remember right the problem on both refrigerators is where the heat tube is welded to the gas expansion chamber. As this area heats and cools it flexes the metal at the weld ( like bending wire hanger to get it to break) over time a break occurs letting the gas out which catches fire.
I guess some welds are better then others so it varies in time. His solution was to install and Amish cooling unit on the back of his frig.
Thats not what the NORCOLD problem is all about at all.The 1200/10 series in a few of the many units produced have thin cooling tubes.They can crack and loose the cooling fluid.The fridge keeps running and gets extremely hot because its trying overtime to cool and this can cause a fire.
The recall overheat sensor is now being installed to automatically shut down the fridge when the heat flue gets over a certain temperature
So allow me to play this out a little. The fridge starts to heat up, the halon extinguisher is triggered and puts the fire out. The halon supply is exhausted now, the fridge is still running and starts another fire. What now?
Is there some way to add an after-market device other than Norcold or Dometic to disable the fridge? Dometic also has this or a similar problem. I have one of those.
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