Norcold Model N841 refrigerator problem

My unit developed a leak in the boiler and there was no ammonia smell. I found the tell tale bright yellow powder in the burner section so I knew I had a leak inspect that area any yellow powder your unit is shot. Some times they will stop cooling because of being operated out of level which causes the solution to crystalize and stop circulating there is no fix for this replace the unit. the test like someone else said it to by pass the controls by plugging the heating element direct to 110V power I made a test cord out of an old extension core cut down with two spade connectors on the white and black wires that I plugged the heating element into and then plugged the cord into a 110V out inside the cabinet. good luck

I just replaced my 6182 Norcold with an amish unit I did the work myself and now have a great fridge.

There is no pump or other moving parts. It works like this (copy and paste):

Heat is applied to the ammonia and water solution in the generator. (The heat comes from burning gas, propane or kerosene.)

As the mixture reaches the boiling point of ammonia, it flows into the separator.

Ammonia gas flows upward into the condenser, dissipates heat and converts back to a liquid.

The liquid ammonia makes its way to the evaporator where it mixes with hydrogen gas and evaporates, producing cold temperatures inside the refrigerator's cold box.

The ammonia and hydrogen gases flow to the absorber where the water collected in the separator in step No. 2 mixes with the ammonia and hydrogen gases.

The ammonia forms a solution with the water and releases the hydrogen gas, which flows back to the evaporator.

The ammonia-and-water solution flows toward the generator to repeat the cycle.

Quick and easy way to test cooling unit.

Within 20 minutes of starting the refrigerator, touch the outside of the insulation sleeve.
- The outside of the insulation sleeve should be warm to the touch.
- If the outside of the insulation sleeve is not warm, the selected energy source may not be operating correctly

.
- Within one hour after starting up the refrigerator, touch the fins on the inside of the fresh food compartment.
- The fins should feel cold to the touch.
- If the fins do not feel cold to the touch after two hours, the cooling unit is not operating correctly


After running overnight..
If freezer section very cold but food section not cold......cooling unit blocked

Does the freezer get cold but the refrigerator part stay warm? How long do you keep it on before you check to see if it is cool. They way I tested mine was to plug the 120v heater element directly into a 120 volt circuit this will bypass the control board and eliminate any other electrical problems. The element has 2 wires attached to it you should wait 24 hrs to see if it cools. If it does your cooling unit works and the problem is in the electrical side.

We also had the normal LP Gas refrig. / DC voltage, with all the issues and fires from these units, we went with a household type, a Samsung 24 cuft, big, but Oh so nice.
Many folks are making the same type change from the LP Gas to the household type and all seem very happy.
Dave M

if you unplug the thermister it turns the fridge into a rreezer you might say see if it cools by unplugging it