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azbohunter's avatar
azbohunter
Explorer
Aug 12, 2018

Norcold N821 not cooling

My unit (Norcold N 821) is original equipment (2002) and we spend 5-6 months a year in our 5th wheel.
With coldest setting we are seeing temps in low 40's. Doesn't matter if it is on gas or electric.
I have bypassed the control board and wired the electric element direct and left it over night and it got down to 30.4 with outside temp in mid 60's. I have removed the cover off the roof and there is no blockage.
If I am correct, by bypassing the control board I have eliminated that as the problem?
I am now assuming that it must be the cooling component so then options would be a new refer or replacing the cooling system. Both require pulling the refer out.
We are in a State Park in Oregon and will be here for two weeks so I can order parts and make repairs.
Question is: Is there something else that I could/should check? (am I missing anything?) I should add that the 30.4 is with 2- 1/2 gallon milk bottles of ice in refer over night and I have tried both gas and electric with same results.
A rebuilt cooling unit is $500-$600, a new refer is pushing $2000. I am leaning towards repairing, what are the thoughts of those with more knowledge than myself.

6 Replies

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  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 13, 2018
    YES,......running element directly bypasses the circuit board/thermistor/thermostat...all controls

    Continuous cooling cycle until you unplug the element
    And the 30*F temp indicates that it DID cool down (that 30*F is FOOD Compartment temp right??)


    SO you know cooling unit works

    Now is circuit bd bad or is thermistor the issue

    That is why I suggested with everything back to normal....unpklug the thermistor and run fridge test again...temp setting on 9 (max cool)
    Then tomorrow check temps
    Low temp.....thermistor is bad
    Temps not cold.....bad circuit bd



    YEP......Verde Valley area of AZ
  • Joe417's avatar
    Joe417
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2018
    I connected my 641 electric element directly to AC and it was near 0 the next day, but it may have been more than 24 hours, maybe a day and a half.
  • azbohunter's avatar
    azbohunter
    Explorer
    Aug 13, 2018
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    First off.......
    Bypassing the circuit bd and running fridge DIRECTLY on element with a 30.4*F temp MEANS cooling unit IS functioning

    Bypassing circuit bd and fridge functioning means circuit bd is problem OR thermistor is bad

    Unplug thermistor from circuit bd.....fridge goes in Back Up Operation....TEMP button controls cooling cycles.....1/short cycle 9/longest cycle
    Run fridge over night with everything normal except for the unplugged thermistor. Use 9 temp setting

    Fridge cold....thermistor is bad
    Fridge doesn't stay cold..circuit bd problem


    Old Biscuit, glad to see you have responded, you have bailed me out before, when I installed a digital thermostat if you remember. Just a question, I had to travel a few miles today so I put the cover back on the circuit board and put everything back to factory.
    Maybe I need to add a little more information before asking my question. We are traveling so the refer is full and the freezer compartment also is full and frozen. I have put two 1/2 gallon jugs of ice in the fridge to help keep temperature down.
    I know that the cooling unit is working but it is only cooling slightly.
    I am only asking this next question because I don't have this clear in my own mind. Not questioning you, just trying to clarify the issue.
    When I bypassed the circuit board by unplugging it, then making a jumper and plugging the AC heater directly into 110..am I not bypassing the thermister and all controls. I had read else where that doing the above should bring the fridge down to its maximum low overnight as there is nothing to stop the cooling process. Is this not the case?
    Are you still in Arizona?
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 12, 2018
    First off.......
    Bypassing the circuit bd and running fridge DIRECTLY on element with a 30.4*F temp MEANS cooling unit IS functioning

    Bypassing circuit bd and fridge functioning means circuit bd is problem OR thermistor is bad

    Unplug thermistor from circuit bd.....fridge goes in Back Up Operation....TEMP button controls cooling cycles.....1/short cycle 9/longest cycle
    Run fridge over night with everything normal except for the unplugged thermistor. Use 9 temp setting

    Fridge cold....thermistor is bad
    Fridge doesn't stay cold..circuit bd problem
  • J_E's avatar
    J_E
    Explorer
    Aug 12, 2018
    I had this problem in FL last year on the same model refrigerator. I found that the switch on the vent fan outside behind the refrigerator had failed. Had a new switch from Amazon in two days and everything is good now.

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