NORCOLD refrigerator not getting cold?
I have a new 2014 Bighorn 3685RL with the 12 cubic foot double sided RV refrigerator (NORCOLD series 121X). The first trip out the ambient temperature was about 70 degrees F. The frig worked perfectly...
Forum Discussion
I have a new 2014 Bighorn 3010RE with the same big fridge as you and it's in a slide-out. Used it for a solid week while picking up the rig and towing it back to my home.
The fridge had been running for only about 5 hours before I picked it up (electric). I then bought groceries including warm drinks and stocked it. I also added water to 4 full size ice cube trays and set 2 of them in each of the freezer compartments along with the frozen foods I had also added.
I started out with the setting on 9 and left it there until the liquids were cold and the first batch of ice was made. After about 2 days I started decreasing the setting. Over the course of that week I kept turning it down until finally it was at 5 when I put the unit in storage. I might add that I was towing between Cincinnati and Orlando so the outside temps were getting hotter each day. It ran on propane during the day when I was traveling and electric after I was in a campground. It took a full 2 days to make the first batch of ice but then I think it took less then a day for subsequent batches. Beer and other drinks were ice cold and the foods in the fridge were cold too. The frozen foods in the freezer were rock hard as were the ice cubes.
All in all I was really impressed with this fridge. It performed really well in my opinion. I did not have a thermometer to check temps, but I'm adding that to my list.
I understand that these type of fridges need time to get going and the longer they run the better they perform. So a longer trip is a better judge of their capability. I do intend to add some sort of fan system in the fridge just to even out the temps.
Based on my one experience, I believe there is something wrong with yours. The only question I have is how close to level is your rig when you set up at night ?
I do have the Lippert 6-point leveling system so the rig is level when I set up for night.
I hope this helps a little.
Tim B.
The fridge had been running for only about 5 hours before I picked it up (electric). I then bought groceries including warm drinks and stocked it. I also added water to 4 full size ice cube trays and set 2 of them in each of the freezer compartments along with the frozen foods I had also added.
I started out with the setting on 9 and left it there until the liquids were cold and the first batch of ice was made. After about 2 days I started decreasing the setting. Over the course of that week I kept turning it down until finally it was at 5 when I put the unit in storage. I might add that I was towing between Cincinnati and Orlando so the outside temps were getting hotter each day. It ran on propane during the day when I was traveling and electric after I was in a campground. It took a full 2 days to make the first batch of ice but then I think it took less then a day for subsequent batches. Beer and other drinks were ice cold and the foods in the fridge were cold too. The frozen foods in the freezer were rock hard as were the ice cubes.
All in all I was really impressed with this fridge. It performed really well in my opinion. I did not have a thermometer to check temps, but I'm adding that to my list.
I understand that these type of fridges need time to get going and the longer they run the better they perform. So a longer trip is a better judge of their capability. I do intend to add some sort of fan system in the fridge just to even out the temps.
Based on my one experience, I believe there is something wrong with yours. The only question I have is how close to level is your rig when you set up at night ?
I do have the Lippert 6-point leveling system so the rig is level when I set up for night.
I hope this helps a little.
Tim B.
