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RonWSl's avatar
RonWSl
Explorer
Mar 31, 2014

Norcold 1210LR Heating Elements Failing

I installed a new amish cooling unit in my Norcold 1210 last August, purchased from http://rvcoolingunit.com/. In Nov., after 3 months, the unit failed, and true to their word and warranties, it was replaced very quickly at no cost (other then my time and labor to do the job twice). However, there is another problem. When I bought the replacement cooling unit, I also purchased two (2) new electric heating elements. Since then, both have failed. The vendor is also replacing them at no cost. But, my quesition and obviously my concern, is why are they failing - what would or could cause that. Danger? The failed ones are the shorter version with a 45 degree bend, and there is small hole near the lower end of the most recent one, almost like a burn thru hole. Anyone else had this problem? Soltions? Thanks.

13 Replies

  • hypoxia's avatar
    hypoxia
    Explorer
    Apr 02, 2014
    The elements may or may not be good quality or they may have gotten a bad batch. I have gotten lots of parts for various things that were bad out of the box. The pros here say Norcold elements are excellent so that is the way to go the next time.

    I have seen residentials fail in ways that are not repairable. They have their own set of problems. The higher the efficiency the higher chance for failure, IMHO.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Apr 02, 2014
    byronlj wrote:
    Doug wrote "Residential's fail also. Probably as much as RV refers. I have 2 in the shop(motorhomes) right now awaiting the Repair people to show up. Doug".

    Yes but those residential fridges are not known for starting hundreds of fires, recalls the manufacturer doesn't fix, have an added electric box to cover the manufacturer's ass, and provide limited cooling when the temperature rises. I prefer my new poison.
    Dave


    There is no REAL documentation that RV refers (Norcold 1200 series) have caused hundreds of fires from a FACTORY defect. There may be a few, but I have NEVER seen one from a Factory defect. Fires in the refer area are usually caused by lack of maintenance and rodent nests or LP connection problems. NOT from so called Ammonia leaks. It is extremely rare for an Ammonia leak to cause a fire. There was a thread just last week from an ill informed RV'er that Smelled Ammonia in his refer and continued to operate the refer. You cannot fix ignorance. The recalls were in response to possible fires and they do work to stop any possible fire or flame up. There are tens of millions of RV absorbsion refers out there and if they were a time bomb, you would see scores of reports every week. Doug
  • Chris_Bryant's avatar
    Chris_Bryant
    Explorer II
    Apr 02, 2014
    byronlj wrote:
    Doug wrote "Residential's fail also. Probably as much as RV refers. I have 2 in the shop(motorhomes) right now awaiting the Repair people to show up. Doug".

    Yes but those residential fridges are not known for starting hundreds of fires, recalls the manufacturer doesn't fix, have an added electric box to cover the manufacturer's ass, and provide limited cooling when the temperature rises. I prefer my new poison.
    Dave


    Actually, they are known for that. Far more residential models have been recalled for starting fires than RV models, and the temperature limits are basically the same.
  • byronlj's avatar
    byronlj
    Explorer
    Apr 02, 2014
    Doug wrote "Residential's fail also. Probably as much as RV refers. I have 2 in the shop(motorhomes) right now awaiting the Repair people to show up. Doug".

    Yes but those residential fridges are not known for starting hundreds of fires, recalls the manufacturer doesn't fix, have an added electric box to cover the manufacturer's ass, and provide limited cooling when the temperature rises. I prefer my new poison.
    Dave
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Apr 01, 2014
    RonWSl wrote:
    Re the OEM or not issue - please note this was an Amish rebuild, not OEM cooling unit - the dealer sells the heat elements with the cooling unit. The whose problem it is could be read either way - one of the downsides to posting and online chat. My apologies if I read it wrong. Be that as it may, issue remains, the heating elements failed, and shouldn't have and the problem and cause needs to be addressed and fixed. Also, I had an authorized Norcold rv dealer install the second cooling unit. Thanks.


    Norcold replacement (OEM) cooling units come with new Norcold heating Elements. The fact remains that to have 2 brand new go out would tell me that those are NOT as good as Norcold. I would have them install Norcold heating elements. They are installed separately and BOTH failed. That tells me they are not of good quality. Doug
  • RonWSl's avatar
    RonWSl
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2014
    Re the OEM or not issue - please note this was an Amish rebuild, not OEM cooling unit - the dealer sells the heat elements with the cooling unit. The whose problem it is could be read either way - one of the downsides to posting and online chat. My apologies if I read it wrong. Be that as it may, issue remains, the heating elements failed, and shouldn't have and the problem and cause needs to be addressed and fixed. Also, I had an authorized Norcold rv dealer install the second cooling unit. Thanks.
  • Chris_Bryant's avatar
    Chris_Bryant
    Explorer II
    Apr 01, 2014
    RonWSl wrote:
    No, they are not OEM. I understand its "MY" problem but that doesn't answer the question I posted and whose problem it might be isn't even close to relevant to what I asked. The reason I posted the question was to fix "my" problem. And, in hindsight, wish I had just trashed the Norcold and replaced it with a residential as well.


    Um- he said "THAT is your problem", not "that is YOUR problem"- big difference, and it inherently implies the answer.
  • JC2's avatar
    JC2
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2014
    RonWSl wrote:
    No, they are not OEM. I understand its "MY" problem but that doesn't answer the question I posted and whose problem it might be isn't even close to relevant to what I asked. The reason I posted the question was to fix "my" problem. And, in hindsight, wish I had just trashed the Norcold and replaced it with a residential as well.


    I believe what Doug was saying that, in his opinion, using non-oem parts could have contributed to their early demise as a result of possible poor material quality and that might be the problem.

    I've not ever had the "big" NoCold or Dometic fridges in any rv that we have owned or currently own because of so many people having cooling issues. I would suggest calling David Force at the Cooling Unit Warehouse where purchased and see if he has a "recommended installer" close to where you are staying. The "correct" installation of these fridges, proper install of the baffling, operation of the fans at the top of the outside rear if the unit, door seals, etc., is extremely important.
  • RonWSl's avatar
    RonWSl
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2014
    No, they are not OEM. I understand its "MY" problem but that doesn't answer the question I posted and whose problem it might be isn't even close to relevant to what I asked. The reason I posted the question was to fix "my" problem. And, in hindsight, wish I had just trashed the Norcold and replaced it with a residential as well.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Apr 01, 2014
    byronlj wrote:
    I pointed my 1200 Norcold out the door and gave it a push today. And I am not regretting it. I get a Samsung on Thursday.
    Dave


    Residential's fail also. Probably as much as RV refers. I have 2 in the shop(motorhomes) right now awaiting the Repair people to show up. Doug

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