Norcold 1200 series RV fridge


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Old 08-08-16, 06:51 PM
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Norcold 1200 series RV fridge

Have a 1200 series Norcold fridge in a 2006 HR Endeavor RV that cools well when parked but heats up 10 - 20 degrees when traveling. Have taken it to several RV places for service but they have no idea what's going on because it cools when sitting? Getting tired of food going bad. Freezer stays really cold but lower box looses it's coldness. Might have to install a residential unit.
 
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Old 08-08-16, 07:36 PM
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Welcome to the forums.

Might have to install a residential unit.
Quite a job.

When you're traveling..... are you running on propane ?
When you park... is it still on propane or do you switch to AC ?
Have you tried traveling with the generator running and the fridge set to AC ?
It's hard to tell if it's a heating unit problem or a problem in the ammonia system.
 
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Old 08-09-16, 05:03 AM
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When parked we use ac, on the road its propane.
 
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Old 08-09-16, 05:39 AM
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RV fridges are not meant to be mobile while propane is in use and is why many fridges have the 12 volt setting.
The propane flame is likely blowing out from air turbulence when driving.

Our fridge has to be manually reset if it fails to light on propane but yours might try to light an unlimited number of times is why it will work when you stop.
 
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Old 08-09-16, 07:20 AM
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Norcold 1200 series

Running the generator for 6 or 7 hrs seems like a lot on the road. I have thought of using the inverter. Don't know how much it will pull the batteries down?
 
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Old 08-10-16, 06:23 AM
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Ok......you must have a 120 volt only electric operation?

The 120 volt element in my small RV fridge draws 1.5 amps @120 volts.....a bigger fridge will be more.
An inverter supplying 1.5 amps at 120v ac will draw about 17 amps or 200 watts on DC.
A 400 watt inverter would easily supply 200 watts.
If you know the wattage of your heating element here is a calculator.

Your vehicle alternator should supply this but you would have to unlug the fridge in the outdoor compartment and plug it into the inverter.

Another option if your flame is indeed blowing out is an aftermarket baffle.



Image courtesy of adventurervdotnet

One other thing is to make sure you have a good clean flame and the burner area and flame tube is clean.

Many do operate RV fridges on propane while driving but it is not recommended or allowed in many areas.
 
 

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