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Delman's avatar
Delman
Explorer
Jan 15, 2016

Refrigerator heat sensor tripping

Have a Norcold model 1210 refrigerator with a heat sensor. When we get a driving rain the sensor trips and gives error code F1 oP. At this point we shut the unit off and when the driving rain stops check the sensor. If the heat sensor light is on we turn the frig on and reset the sensor with a magnet.....this has worked every time.
I'd like to come up with a way to keep the sensor from tripping due to driving rain......RV is permanently parked on a site so I can't move it.....can't cover the outside vents and I've moved the sensor higher so it's not directly across from the vent, but it still trips when we get a driving rain.
Anyone come up with a way to solve this problem?
Appreciate any suggestions
Delman

10 Replies

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  • Delman's avatar
    Delman
    Explorer
    Jan 17, 2016
    .....don't have bug screens.....the frig vents face west which is where some bad storms with heavy rain and high winds come from here in central FL.....and when we get one of those storms the wind blows between me and the RV parked beside me and creates a wind tunnel effect.....I think that's what causes the rain to enter thru the vents(s).
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Jan 17, 2016
    Cloud Dancer wrote:
    dougrainer wrote:
    Cloud Dancer wrote:
    Isn't the "sensor" itself of the iron-constantan thermocouple design? If water gets to this "sensor" the "box" would just see a lower temperature. My guess is that water might be begetting to the "box".
    Perhaps, the "box" is designed to shut down the system if it reads a certain low temperature, as well as a high temperature.


    No, the sensor only trips if it sees 700 degree or higher. The normal operating temp is 350 degrees. No low temp trip at all. Water will indeed trip a recall box. This happens when people wash the RV and get hi pressure spray thru the lower access door and saturate the recall box. It is an electrical PC board and will react to water and malfunction like any other electrical board. Doug


    I'm just not familiar with all the different installation configurations. I've only worked on conventional Class A installations where there's a standard louvered exterior wall access cover, and a roof vent. It was hard for me to see how enough rain water could reach the circuit board inside the "black box interrogator".


    Except for the exception with bug screens I posted, I also fail to see how enough rainwater could access that recall box since it IS mounted a foot above on the back cooling unit tubes. I have NEVER had or seen a 1200 have a rain water leak trip until this posting. The ONLY time I have had the water problem was when the customer washed the RV and the water was sprayed into the lower door and too much water was used. Doug
  • Cloud_Dancer's avatar
    Cloud_Dancer
    Explorer II
    Jan 17, 2016
    dougrainer wrote:
    Cloud Dancer wrote:
    Isn't the "sensor" itself of the iron-constantan thermocouple design? If water gets to this "sensor" the "box" would just see a lower temperature. My guess is that water might be begetting to the "box".
    Perhaps, the "box" is designed to shut down the system if it reads a certain low temperature, as well as a high temperature.


    No, the sensor only trips if it sees 700 degree or higher. The normal operating temp is 350 degrees. No low temp trip at all. Water will indeed trip a recall box. This happens when people wash the RV and get hi pressure spray thru the lower access door and saturate the recall box. It is an electrical PC board and will react to water and malfunction like any other electrical board. Doug


    I'm just not familiar with all the different installation configurations. I've only worked on conventional Class A installations where there's a standard louvered exterior wall access cover, and a roof vent. It was hard for me to see how enough rain water could reach the circuit board inside the "black box interrogator".
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Jan 16, 2016
    Delman wrote:
    I know rain is getting in thru one or both of the side vents.....neither vent is cracked.
    I think Old-Biscuit's suggestion to wipe the leads with dielectric grease is worth a try. If that doesn't work I'll try the zip lock bag trick!
    Thanks to all


    I have a customer that complained of a slide leak when in heavy rain that came INSIDE the slide room. It turned out he had those add on Bug screens wire tied to the vent louvers of the outside access doors of the refer. The refer was in the slide and had both the lower and upper doors. When we rain tested the slide, the water was hitting the outer edge of those bug screens and channeling the water into the back of the refer compartment. It came in the top and bottom doors and saturated the coils of the cooling unit and then that water drained thru the wood floor of the refer cabinet onto the interior of the slide room. Do you have those bug screens installed? Removing those screens stopped the leak. Doug

    https://jet.com/product/detail/a05ca5d1ddfe486cb1aa5f8b9daa18c4?jcmp=pla:ggl:vehicles_parts_a3:vehicle_parts_accessories_motor_vehicle_parts_motor_vehicle_wheel_systems_a3_other:na:na:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&k_clickid=58a466b5-bc1c-4290-9c39-6bfbd20c6d09&abkId=403-489659&gclid=CNyF1siur8oCFQyFaQodWY8Geg
  • Delman's avatar
    Delman
    Explorer
    Jan 16, 2016
    I know rain is getting in thru one or both of the side vents.....neither vent is cracked.
    I think Old-Biscuit's suggestion to wipe the leads with dielectric grease is worth a try. If that doesn't work I'll try the zip lock bag trick!
    Thanks to all
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Jan 16, 2016
    Cloud Dancer wrote:
    Isn't the "sensor" itself of the iron-constantan thermocouple design? If water gets to this "sensor" the "box" would just see a lower temperature. My guess is that water might be begetting to the "box".
    Perhaps, the "box" is designed to shut down the system if it reads a certain low temperature, as well as a high temperature.


    No, the sensor only trips if it sees 700 degree or higher. The normal operating temp is 350 degrees. No low temp trip at all. Water will indeed trip a recall box. This happens when people wash the RV and get hi pressure spray thru the lower access door and saturate the recall box. It is an electrical PC board and will react to water and malfunction like any other electrical board. Doug
  • Cloud_Dancer's avatar
    Cloud_Dancer
    Explorer II
    Jan 15, 2016
    Isn't the "sensor" itself of the iron-constantan thermocouple design? If water gets to this "sensor" the "box" would just see a lower temperature. My guess is that water might be begetting to the "box".
    Perhaps, the "box" is designed to shut down the system if it reads a certain low temperature, as well as a high temperature.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Jan 15, 2016
    Do you see water on the back side of the refer? Are you POSITIVE the roof vent is not busted and allowing water down inside? Does the recall box have moisture on it or around it? You could install the recall module inside a zip lock bag. Doug
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jan 15, 2016
    Water is a great conductor

    Rain may be getting on the DC leads at terminal block, at temp sensor on burner stack, at control module

    Maybe wipe them with some dielectric grease?

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