Norcold N305 fridge not working

Couple simple things to verify
With AC Power connected to TT
1) If you turn 'selector switch' to AC and the AC Thermostat Control set to any temp setting does the 'AC Indicator Light' come ON????
YES.then AC Element should be getting hot
NO...then need to:
*Verify you have AC Power at the fridge terminal block
**Verify that the AC 3A in line fuse is good (on output side of terminal block)

AC Heater Element is direct control....No DC control/DC required just AC Power

With Propane Valved in service
*Light off stove top burners on high to establish propane demand/flow
1) Turn 'selector switch' to GAS --- AC thermostat to OFF ---turn Gas Control to High Flame
PUSH and HOLD Gas Control IN .... Rapidly push Piezo several times for five seconds......Does the 'flame meter' move to GREEN?
May have to repeat several tomes until gas flow is present/established

GAS is all manual controls.....no DC Voltage required


Norcold N305/306 Owners Manual
Read up on how your fridge operates

Sounds like the over heat box on the back of the fridge is getting wet and tripping.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Couple simple things to verify
With AC Power connected to TT
1) If you turn 'selector switch' to AC and the AC Thermostat Control set to any temp setting does the 'AC Indicator Light' come ON????
YES.then AC Element should be getting hot
NO...then need to:
*Verify you have AC Power at the fridge terminal block
**Verify that the AC 3A in line fuse is good (on output side of terminal block)

AC Heater Element is direct control....No DC control/DC required just AC Power

With Propane Valved in service
*Light off stove top burners on high to establish propane demand/flow
1) Turn 'selector switch' to GAS --- AC thermostat to OFF ---turn Gas Control to High Flame
PUSH and HOLD Gas Control IN .... Rapidly push Piezo several times for five seconds......Does the 'flame meter' move to GREEN?
May have to repeat several tomes until gas flow is present/established

GAS is all manual controls.....no DC Voltage required


Norcold N305/306 Owners Manual
Read up on how your fridge operates

WOW! Thank you for the quick reply and all the suggestions. I will dig in to this later to day and see what I can figure out.

read nothing about having a full charged 12v battery? even on shore power you need a good battery.

midnightsadie wrote:
read nothing about having a full charged 12v battery? even on shore power you need a good battery.

Fridge does NOT use DC
AC is direct.no DC control
LP is direct..no DC control

Battery doesn't even need to be charged or in the RV for fridge to work

So I'm finally getting around to the fridge issue. I've tried ac again and nothing. I'm not that well versed in electrical so here is a shot of the terminal block

Untitled by Brad, on Flickr

Untitled by Brad, on Flickr

What should I be testing?

Also, tried on gas and was able to get the flame lit but the fridge is still not cooling? Since neither option is cooling the fridge is it something else wrong with it?

And now the furness is blasting out hot air anytime I run the gas. ??

Any guess as to what could cause this???

This freaking thing is only a year old and already having issues. ??

First off....
Need to use a voltmeter and check that you have 120VAC at that terminal block
(Black is HOT, White is NEUTRAL---should show 120 volts between the two)

No 120VAC....check if the Circuit Breaker for Fridge in Main AC Panel is tripped.
Turn it OFF then BACK ON

YES 120VAC....then check the 3A fuse inside that BIG YELLOW fuse holder on the black wire



LP ...you got it to light and stay on.
How long did you let it run?
Fridge when starting up will take several HOURS to cool down. First the freezer THEN the food compartment


Furnace blasting out hot air anytime you run gas??
Is thermostat OFF?

Check the black tank and tubing in the outside fridge access panel. Is it getting hot? It should be. That's where your ammonia is. You'll probably hear it bubbling too. That means it's trying to cool. If it's getting hot try disconnecting the thermistor wire. It will be inside the fridge clipped on the cooling fins. It may be wired in with the fridge light. Mine is. That will put the fridge into max cool mode as it were. If the ammonia tank is getting hot and the thermistor is disconnected and it's still not getting cold the cooling unit might be bad.

Edit: One other thing. Again if the ammonia tank is getting hot, go on the roof and take off the fridge vent cover and look down the stack to see if anything is blocking the vent. That would cause it not to cool as well.


I have a Norcold and my trailer is at the dealership getting the cooling unit replaced right now. Fridge worked on the first camping trip but not the second. Our trailer is a 2018 but we've only had it about 3 months. Bought it brand new as a left over so yes new fridges do break down.

Let us know what you find.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
First off....
Need to use a voltmeter and check that you have 120VAC at that terminal block
(Black is HOT, White is NEUTRAL---should show 120 volts between the two)

No 120VAC....check if the Circuit Breaker for Fridge in Main AC Panel is tripped.
Turn it OFF then BACK ON

YES 120VAC....then check the 3A fuse inside that BIG YELLOW fuse holder on the black wire



LP ...you got it to light and stay on.
How long did you let it run?
Fridge when starting up will take several HOURS to cool down. First the freezer THEN the food compartment


Furnace blasting out hot air anytime you run gas??
Is thermostat OFF?

Thank you for the follow up. I've checked voltage and it's good, 120VAC. Also checked the fuse and it's good as well.

Ok, good to know about the LP. I did notice the freezer portion starting to cool a little after an hour.

I would much rather have the fridge on AC since we don't do any dry camping and I hate keeping the LP on when away from the camper.

Furnace is weird. I did in stall a new thermostat since the original one was pretty horrible. I did try turning it off and even removing the face plate so there is no power but it sill blew hot. I will take a look at it again when I get home.

Thank you again for all the help. It is very much appreciated.