Residential fridge replacement for Norcold LRIM

Look around, there are still some 197s around, but you'll have to really look for them. It's a great fridge..the replacement model is RF18HFENBSR...it's a tad taller @ 71" but still doable...Dennis


Samsung Install

Executive wrote:
Look around, there are still some 197s around, but you'll have to really look for them. It's a great fridge..the replacement model is RF18HFENBSR...it's a tad taller @ 71" but still doable...Dennis


Samsung Install

Thanks for that. I have saved your blog link. I will be very usefull.

What is the height of the 197? Ours is in the slide so overall height may be a problem. I don't think 71" will work. Probably won't know for sure until we remover the Norcold. :E

The 197 is 69" so you'll need two more inches....Dennis

I am looking too. Look in your manual and it will give the dimensions of the cutout for your current refer. Since mine is in a slide out as well, height will be a problem. Mine is elevated about 7 inches but I do not know what is in that enclosed space under it as there is no access to it.

CJW8 wrote:
I am looking too. Look in your manual and it will give the dimensions of the cutout for your current refer. Since mine is in a slide out as well, height will be a problem. Mine is elevated about 7 inches but I do not know what is in that enclosed space under it as there is no access to it.

63 1/4 X 32 11/64 X 24 is the opening given in the the installation manual @ zero clearance. Measuring from the top to bottom of the black plastic trim is 65 inches. Floor to top is 69 3/4 but the has to be I would guess a 3/4 inch floor under that. I'll try to measure from the outside.

Depending how big and how efficient your new fridge will be, you may not have to get real zealous with more solar. I run a small dorm fridge (not efficient) with just one 235W module and 300AH of battery banks.

I would think that running a newer fridge with the 134a compressor won't require a solar upgrade as you have enough charging to run the refer and the battery capacity for a few cloudy days.

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
I know I saw on here perhaps a year or so ago mention of a residential fridge that was a good fit for the Norcold 1201 LRIM space. I have done a bunch of searches and can't find it. I thought I had made a note of it and can't find where I put the note.

I searched Norcold 1201 from over a year ago.. found some stuff. Not sure if you did that. I hope by 'note' you don't mean writing on paper. :E

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
The 100F day I see 39F on the door shelf of a gas refrigerator is the day I'll change my mind.

Hhhhuuuuh?

It's been a long time since we were camped or drove during a 100F day, but I THINK our RV's Norcold could hack it - especially if I bump it's slide switch to "5" - instead of the "3" setting that we normally set it at. In Death Valley our stuff stayed cool.

Ya gotta have good ventilation, though, with a gas box in high temps. Perhaps many installations compromise ventilation too much?

Hi Phil,

I've had to use extra measures to get my absorption fridge to work well. That included a mask at the top of the "chimney" with twin computer fans controlled by a thermostat. When they were new the rpms were the same, but now they "throb". Even then, I had to add a dual fan that hangs from the fins. That let me get to 3 out of 5 when it is not too hot out. The baffles are in the "right" place.

I really it depends on the individual fridge.

Yes, I suspect that the baffles may be improperly placed or not there at all. had the same problem with one fan running slower than the other and had a slow throb. Then the throb went away as one fan quit and then we really had the heating problems. A 12" 120VAC fan blowing in the lower vent at least has us too borderline temperatures in the fridge. At the moment, 7:20 PM local time the outside air temperature is 27C, 80F. It was probably up to the low to mid 30s during the day.

I'm still waiting for a couple of 4" 12VDC computer fans, then I'll ask for advice on where and how to place them. I'm not about to pull the fridge down here.

I think I'll try to post a couple of photos of down the back of the fridge and see if Doug responds.