Forum Discussion

pcoplin's avatar
pcoplin
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2017

Norcold N400 performance

2001 Lance 915 with a Norcold N400 fridge in it. No slide.

So we camp a lot, but hardly ever in July/Aug. The last trip we did was 95 and my wife saud the fridge had trouble recovering after using. Got into the 50s. The past couple days I took my daughter up to a lake, and it was 95 ish on the way up, and 85 when we got to the lake. The fridge got to 50 again and didnt recover for several hours.

This fridge has always been rock solid at 35-40, we just haven't had it much in the hot weather.

Is this normal for these fridges? Or should I think about getting a new cooling unit? Thanks!


edit: Unit has a new thermocouple and burner due to recent failures. I have a new vent cap to install, just haven't yet.
  • I did order a fridge vent fan. Hoping it helps. I also saw a little curved flashing people put to direct flow across the top coil fins. I may fab something up there.

    Kohldad, thanks for the ice tip. I'll do that on the warm trips.
  • I think how level the refreg has some impact on how well it cools when its real hot. I don't have the same model, but I notice the cooling fan runs more if I am off level.
  • Pretty normal it seems for the smaller Norcold. A fan in the rear is suppose to help, but I haven't really noticed the difference with a fan yet.

    I have the same problem any time the camper gets above low 80s. Solved the problem by putting 3 frozen water bottles in the freezer and 3 in the fridge. The ones in the fridge will last a couple of days but I change them out with the ones in the freezer each night when I go to bed. Since I started doing this in the summertime, I can usually hold the fridge about 37* when not going in it much and 40* with use.