Norcold fridge "cycling"

Thanks to all who posted on this, and especially you Old-Biscuit for your technical advice. Problem was a bad thermal switch for cooling fans.

That plywood WAS a baffle..........it was there to direct air out upper vent.

It was attached somewhere and has fallen down/out of place.

As shown here it would be the 'sheet metal deflector' and installed at an angle.




Could have been installed by rv mfg./fridge installer
OR

DIY project by previous owner (or at an rv shop) due to previous cooling issues.......lack of proper air flow/draft.

Fans cycling.......
thermodisc on condenser fins should turn them on when fin temp is 130*F and off at 115*F. (15*F difference)
So fans are working and temps change.....but only 10 seconds for temps to increase could be because of that baffle fallen down/dislodged and now missing.

Some installers place a baffle to direct the hot air out the upper vent. It is installed at about a 45 degree angle.
I would not think your current operation is normal

Y'all ain't gonna believe this one..or maybe you will. I got a ladder and removed the upper vent door and found a piece of wood panelling about the same size as the cutout wedged in the door opening. It was not attached in any way but had a few old rusty nails stuck through it. I removed the "cutout" piece to clear the opening but fans still cycle about 10 seconds off and 60 seconds on. Temp here has been in the 60's but it is low 80's today (Astor, Florida). Unit seems to be cooling well and no error codes on display. Could this just be normal operation? I plan to call Norcold customer service on Friday. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

You have 2 DC fans..mounted on top of absorber coils (large bank of coils seen from lower vent access).
Thy are automatically controlled by a thermostatic switch....mounted on right hand side of condenser fins (fin pack seen from upper vent access.

DC power is supplied by control board. RED (+) wire goes up to t-stat then back down to fans. Black (-) wire from fans to board.

Probably can SEE fans better from upper vent looking down.

The thermostat should turn fans ON when 130*F fin temp is sensed and turn them back off when 115F fin temp is sensed.

What are outside temps?
Fans kicking ON/OFF.......moderate to low outside temps.......poor air circulation. This time of year normal draft should be sufficient for cooling.
Check for blockage (fallen down insulation etc)
There should be very little clearance between backside of fridge and outside wall. Otherwise baffles should be installed below fan area and at upper vent area to direct air flow and eliminate dead air space

Look at page 36 for location of fans. Thanks to Chris Bryant for having these documents available.
Norcold 1200
You could have ventilation issue causing fans to operate more then usual.

Old -Biscuit
Unit is operating on AC. It is in a slide out. Sounds like a cooling fan but I haven't found a fan yet. Unit is in a new to us 2006 Escalade we just got yesterday. It has two external covers and I've only looked in the lower on so far. Model number 1200LRIMD. Seems to be cooling ok. I've had 4 truck campers and 1 other 5er and never knew any of them had a fan.

I would expect there are cooling fans or someone has installed one and that is what you hear. Last 5 trailers have never heard a fridge cycling ever.

What do you HEAR?

What source are you ON......electric---propane?

What Model number?

Is fridge in a slide-out?
Does it have fan(s) installed in outside compartment?

In 7 yrs. of FT (living in 5th wheel) I NEVER could Hear it running..electric or propane hence the above questions.

Or is it the cooling fans, mine cycle alot.