Forum Discussion
j-d
May 09, 2017Explorer II
Your call to Norcold may have been either 1. Fortuitous, or 2. Telling.
Fortuitous: You now know that the Fridge has to be dead level or very close to it. I've heard it said "If you're comfortable, the fridge will be comfortable too" but I don't accept that. When your RV is level, use a Carpenter's Level right on the Floor, then go to the Fridge. Open it and set a Level in there, too. Bulls Eye is OK, but Carpenter's or a smaller "Torpedo Level" gives a better picture of how far off level something is. What I want you to be sure of, is that the Fridge and the RV are level at the same time. If not, Adjust Fridge installation so it sits level when the RV is level. Or, Level the RV to what the FRIDGE needs to be level. Live with an off-level coach to get a functioning fridge.
Telling: If you have operated the Fridge IN an Off-Level condition, then it's possible the cooling unit is already damaged. I don't know how many hours/cycles it might take to cause that to happen, but others might. Basically, NEVER pre-cool, pack, park, or camp, with the Fridge off-level. I used to take the RV to work so I could head out at the end of the day. I left the Fridge on LPG but I leveled the coach. I run on the road in LPG mode. AND ALWAYS shut it off in gas stations! But if we park someplace, say for lunch, I either find a level spot, or I turn the Fridge OFF till we head out again.
So... The Flame could be lighting, and the Fridge NOT cooling, if off-level operation has compromised the Cooling Unit. The Flame isn't large. There's a view port on that little metal box on the lower right as you look at the back of the Fridge from the lower vent area. Should be bright blue, but probably only about 1/2" wide and about 1/2" high.
You won't feel "cold air." It takes the fridge a long time to cool down. Which is why you want to pack it with pre-cooled, pre-frozen foods. Still, it should keep both fresh and frozen foods well, for weeks at a time. Not quit like yours seems to have.
Be sure to understand, even to run on LPG, the Fridge MUST have a 12-VDC source (your House Battery if you're Dry Camping) to operate! It also won't run if the IS a Battery but it's below a certain Voltage. In summer, we could dry camp in Homer for several days at a time on one GP-24 House Battery. Little need for lights, no TV anyway, warm enough, so about all the Battery was doing was keep the Fridge going.
Fortuitous: You now know that the Fridge has to be dead level or very close to it. I've heard it said "If you're comfortable, the fridge will be comfortable too" but I don't accept that. When your RV is level, use a Carpenter's Level right on the Floor, then go to the Fridge. Open it and set a Level in there, too. Bulls Eye is OK, but Carpenter's or a smaller "Torpedo Level" gives a better picture of how far off level something is. What I want you to be sure of, is that the Fridge and the RV are level at the same time. If not, Adjust Fridge installation so it sits level when the RV is level. Or, Level the RV to what the FRIDGE needs to be level. Live with an off-level coach to get a functioning fridge.
Telling: If you have operated the Fridge IN an Off-Level condition, then it's possible the cooling unit is already damaged. I don't know how many hours/cycles it might take to cause that to happen, but others might. Basically, NEVER pre-cool, pack, park, or camp, with the Fridge off-level. I used to take the RV to work so I could head out at the end of the day. I left the Fridge on LPG but I leveled the coach. I run on the road in LPG mode. AND ALWAYS shut it off in gas stations! But if we park someplace, say for lunch, I either find a level spot, or I turn the Fridge OFF till we head out again.
So... The Flame could be lighting, and the Fridge NOT cooling, if off-level operation has compromised the Cooling Unit. The Flame isn't large. There's a view port on that little metal box on the lower right as you look at the back of the Fridge from the lower vent area. Should be bright blue, but probably only about 1/2" wide and about 1/2" high.
You won't feel "cold air." It takes the fridge a long time to cool down. Which is why you want to pack it with pre-cooled, pre-frozen foods. Still, it should keep both fresh and frozen foods well, for weeks at a time. Not quit like yours seems to have.
Be sure to understand, even to run on LPG, the Fridge MUST have a 12-VDC source (your House Battery if you're Dry Camping) to operate! It also won't run if the IS a Battery but it's below a certain Voltage. In summer, we could dry camp in Homer for several days at a time on one GP-24 House Battery. Little need for lights, no TV anyway, warm enough, so about all the Battery was doing was keep the Fridge going.
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