Since my main concern with my Norcold is fire..........would running it on electricity only minimize the fire danger? My understanding is, that ammonia leaks out and if it's running on gas, the gas flame ignites the amonia resulting in fire. So, why not elimante the flame, and run it like a residential refrigerator. When dry camping or going down the road, run it on the invertor and shore power when available. Would this work, or I'm I missing something. ThanksBrian

It all depends on which model you have. Here is the recall info: Norcold recallOn some units they say to disconnect and DO NOT use, until repaired. At the bottom of the page, under smaller absorption models built from 1987-1995 they do say that you should NOT use them on LP but you can use them on AC. So, depending on which Norcold you have, AC operation may be OK or it may not help at all to prevent a fire.

Is a new recall or the old recall

Mine runs fine, no problems, it's in a 2004 motorhome. I'm just looking for a possible way to minimize the fire danger with these units.

supercub,In alot of ways, minimizing fire damage starts with a good maint. regime. Clean the flue and vent cover area at least once a year and all the comnponents located behind the fridge cover on the outside of the rv with compressed air (wear safety goggles). If you use your fridge on a/c, you'll create less soot and use less propane...thus making maint. easier.

In the failure of an absorption refrigerator, the leaking ammonia and/or hydrogen are not enough to cause a fire outside of the containment. A messed up propane burner or a mouse nest is a different deal all together. Even a unit running on electric could conceivably start a mouse nest burning. None the less, if you are going to use an absorption refrigeration unit in an RV, fire suppression is a good thing to have. Matt

Reducing Norcold Fire Hazard???? | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

DonP
Explorer
May 03, 2014
Mine was a 1200 4 door model

Don
cseidel
Explorer
May 01, 2014
I just installed an ARP unit on my Norcold an was very pleased with the operation of it. It constantly monitors the boiler temperature and shuts down the refrigerator before it gets hot enough to burn or damage the refrigerator. The unit will reset and resume operation after cool down. After several attempts the unit will shut down and need inspection and a manual reset to resume operation. This type of unit should be installed on all absorbustion refrigerators before they leave the factory.
Crabbypatty
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
I did the Norcold recall and dry camped for 10 yrs on lip never an issue. Been up and down the east coast running lp while over the road and never a problem.
Pirate1
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
DonP wrote:
About the Norcold fires! This is not info from a friend of somebody, I am one who lost a 2005 diesel pusher to a Norcold fire in 2010. We had been full timers for 6 years. Don't believe that a unit will not catch fire while on electric, mine was on electric at the time the fire started. A investigation by insurance and the manufacture concluded the the coolant coil split and leakage on the heating element caused the fire. I checked on unit recalls frequently and my cooling unit was not on the recall list until November 2010, (4 months after the fire).
Just think about these so call safeties (recall fixes),their purpose is to shut down the unit if it gets too hot. Suppose the heat that shuts down the fridge comes from a already active fire, that safety is useless. I would think that a fire suppression system would offer some sense of security. Myself, I don't think the I would own another RV without a residential refrigerator.

Don
Exactly which model did you have?
cseidel
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
I just installed an ARP unit on my Norcold an was very pleased with the operation of it. It constantly monitors the boiler temperature and shuts down the refrigerator before it gets hot enough to burn or damage the refrigerator. The unit will reset and resume operation after cool down. After several attempts the unit will shut down and need inspection and a manual reset to resume operation. This type of unit should be installed on all absorbustion refrigerators before they leave the factory.
cableguy574
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
Call Norcold and I have the correct recall
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Apr 30, 2014
Your understanding is essentially correct. There are a couple of systems (3 I know of) that reduce the danger.

Two of them monitor the temps in the boiler area and if they start to climb,, Shut it down.. I BELIEVE Norcold installs one of these under Recall on models that need it. The other one is a bit more sensitive and alas, I have not the links for it.. I also have not a norcold (I have a dometic).

Google Mac The Fire Guy.. Mac McCoy's add-on will not affect the operation of the Fridge, it will not prevent a fire either.

But it will extinguish one before it does major harm. Mac is a Firefighter.

I have met Mac,, I've listened to his talks, attended one of his demonstrations, AM LOOKING at one of his fire extinguishers as I type..

He impressed me.. Man knows what he talks about.
MeanderMan
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
I installed a temperature-activated halon extinguisher in the Norcold bay; they're available on the internet for about $125. The Norcold failed and filled the MH with ammonia fumes, but no fire (I had the latest recall done). That was the opportunity I was waiting for, to junk the Norcold and replace it with a residential refer. Recalls, extinguishers, whatever - the Norcold WILL fail and you'll be lucky if you don't have a fire.
DonP
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
About the Norcold fires! This is not info from a friend of somebody, I am one who lost a 2005 diesel pusher to a Norcold fire in 2010. We had been full timers for 6 years. Don't believe that a unit will not catch fire while on electric, mine was on electric at the time the fire started. A investigation by insurance and the manufacture concluded the the coolant coil split and leakage on the heating element caused the fire. I checked on unit recalls frequently and my cooling unit was not on the recall list until November 2010, (4 months after the fire).
Just think about these so call safeties (recall fixes),their purpose is to shut down the unit if it gets too hot. Suppose the heat that shuts down the fridge comes from a already active fire, that safety is useless. I would think that a fire suppression system would offer some sense of security. Myself, I don't think the I would own another RV without a residential refrigerator.

Don
dons2346
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
eheading wrote:
As far as I'm concerned, call Norcold and find out the latest "fix". Make sure that has been done on your refrigerator, and you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Ed

Like I said, my friend had the recalls done and he lost the coach and it was an '06 model year