Forum Discussion

olenmain's avatar
olenmain
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014

Fridge doesn't work?? 1993 Winnebago Warrior

I just purchased a 1993 Winnebago Warrior 22ft. It's my first RV and I'm still figuring out how everything works.

The problem is the fridge is not coming on. I checked to see if there is power at the plug, sure enough there is. So it seems that the power is going to the fridge but its not lighting up or making any noise, nor is it getting cold. I tried operating it in the "GAS" setting too. NOTHING!

If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you.
  • OK I did a quick search and as I am unsur of your exact model I will let you choose make and model for your Winnebago wiring diagram and maybe you could explore this some and find more info to help you along as well as the people here.
    Good Luck
  • First off, Welcome to the forums! A couple of hints to keep the curt remarks down and help the folks on here answer questions are to include the make and model of the appliance or whatever part of your rig that is giving you problems. Almost every appliance is connected to the house batteries. There are house battery(ies) and a chassis battery. State if you checked your batteries and the SOC or state of charge. Most common is to buy a digital multimeter and learn how to use it. Your fridge as you now know is controlled by a 12DC board. The heater can be either 120VAC or propane. Need to check that. Most of us when we turn the propane on, bleed the air out of the lines by turning on the stovetop burners and using a match to light it. Turn that off and then follow the instructions on lighting the frige. It may take awhile to bleed the rest of the air out of the line. If you can't get the fridge lit, check to make sure that there is 12VDC to the board. Mine has a terminal strip where the DC and the AC from the R connects to wires going to the edge connector for the control board. If you have DC check on the board there is usually a glass fuse, there should be power on both sides of the fuse.

    Follow the same procedure to see if you have AC power. As mentioned if you don't have the RV hooked up to a !20 DAC outlet in your home, you won't have any in your rig.

    Grounds can be a problem but living here in So Cal, we usually don't have as many as folks from rainy or snowy areas.

    If you do this and it still doesn't work, check back and note what you have checked and that you have both AC and DC power and gas and the stove works. The more info you give us the faster and better the suggestions will be.

    Once again, Welcome to the Forums and to our little Family.
  • It is a Norcold. there are no lights coming on at the switch panel. I looked under the hood and under the dash for fuses and found nothing. There is a panel in a compartment on on the out side of the rv and this is where I found what I think is the plug for the fridge. In this compartment there are some electrical boards and one say Norcold #61655622. I will keep looking for some fuses and or breakers tho.. Thank you both for your help!
  • Fridge needs 12V DC to operate the control circuit.
    12V DC comes from battery and/or converter (when on shore power--120V AC)

    Fridge uses 120V AC for electric heater element
    Fridge uses LP propane for 'GAS' ..........propane has to be valved in and flowing.

    Do you have panel lights on fridge that work?
    Check AC Dist. Panel for tripped breaker.
    Check DC Dist. Panel for blown fuse

    RV fridge is an absorption refrigerator and doesn't make noise when running (no compressor)

    They also need to be level to operate correctly...off level operation will cause damage (accumulative damage until it dies)
    They do not get cold quickly.....need to be operating several hours before freezer section will begin cooling down and then a few more hours for food section to cool.

    What Brand/Model? Dometic-Norcold etc.
  • The fridge probably has an electronic board that requires 12 volts to operate even when on 120 VAC.