We're 12 days from the end of my winter trip; then I will have all the time in the world to deal with the fridge. I'm just trying to make it last the next 12 days.About a week ago, the fridge stopped completely freezing my ice cubes. BooHoo! A couple of pieces of meat at the bottom of the fridge went bad.The unit is 7 years old and has performed like a champ except in 107 degree weather. It's mid-80s here and that's never been a problem before. We've been sitting in the same spot for 4 weeks now.No error codes are displayed. Tried both electric and propane - no difference.I'm doing the thermister test now. The fridge is cooling, just not enough.If the ammonia system is low, would there be an error code? Can it be topped up? Just has to last 12 days.Maybe I'll replace it with a residential fridge (though I doubt I can find one to fit past the kitchen island), but that's for doing at home, not in a campground.

No way for a top up , no.fittings, not designed that way, it's pull flush rebuild, or pull and replace

You can't just "top off" the ammonia, no. It's actually a mixture of a few different things in the cooling unit: water, ammonia, hydrogen gas, and a corrosion inhibitor (which isn't directly involved in the cooling cycle). The whole works is under rather high pressure.It's doubtful that just some of the refrigerant has escaped; more likely in my opinion is some other sort of problem, maybe debris blocking the ventilation airflow, or some control problem, or the door not sealing properly, or frost and ice buildup, or the cooling unit getting clogged (which isn't really repairable).If you had an ammonia leak and were around at the time, you'd be well aware of it! You could usually also see the chromate residue left behind.

Agree with Drew, if any ammonia leaked, you'd smell it, see it, and cooling unit would be done.Jerry

One tell tale sign of lost coolant in an RV fridge is a gurgling sound when it's running. Loss of ammonia may or may not be smelled as the loss of coolant will be outside of the living space. Once it has dropped to a certain level it won't necessarily have enough pressure to leak anymore.So if you can hear a gurgling sound then it needs a new cooling unit or replacement.I am a retired HVAC/R technician and familiar with their operation.

One way to fix it, if this is possible, is to "burp" the unit. There are better directions elsewhere, but basically one removes it, stands it upside down for 24-48 hours. Then stand it right side up for another 24 hours. Then, reinstall it. This oftentime will work for a long while.

Norcold 1200 ammonia top up? | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

ctilsie242
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2018
One way to fix it, if this is possible, is to "burp" the unit. There are better directions elsewhere, but basically one removes it, stands it upside down for 24-48 hours. Then stand it right side up for another 24 hours. Then, reinstall it. This oftentime will work for a long while.
jerryjay11
Explorer
Apr 03, 2018
One tell tale sign of lost coolant in an RV fridge is a gurgling sound when it's running. Loss of ammonia may or may not be smelled as the loss of coolant will be outside of the living space. Once it has dropped to a certain level it won't necessarily have enough pressure to leak anymore.

So if you can hear a gurgling sound then it needs a new cooling unit or replacement.

I am a retired HVAC/R technician and familiar with their operation.
MFL
Nomad II
Apr 03, 2018
Agree with Drew, if any ammonia leaked, you'd smell it, see it, and cooling unit would be done.

Jerry
DrewE
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2018
You can't just "top off" the ammonia, no. It's actually a mixture of a few different things in the cooling unit: water, ammonia, hydrogen gas, and a corrosion inhibitor (which isn't directly involved in the cooling cycle). The whole works is under rather high pressure.

It's doubtful that just some of the refrigerant has escaped; more likely in my opinion is some other sort of problem, maybe debris blocking the ventilation airflow, or some control problem, or the door not sealing properly, or frost and ice buildup, or the cooling unit getting clogged (which isn't really repairable).

If you had an ammonia leak and were around at the time, you'd be well aware of it! You could usually also see the chromate residue left behind.
MrWizard
Moderator
Apr 03, 2018
No way for a top up , no.fittings, not designed that way, it's pull flush rebuild, or pull and replace

Forum Discussion

Norcold 1200 ammonia top up?

15 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Norcold 1200

norcold 1200

Norcold 1200 RIM

Norcold 1200 won't turn on ??

Norcold Model 611 Fridge problem