Norcold 1210 cooling question

[Tinstar]

Can cooling the ventilation area behind my Norcold 1210 fridge too much cause it to not get cold enough inside the fridge?

I've got a large fan blowing in the lower vent on the outside of the m/h. It is forcing a lot of air in behind the fridge and out the top vent. It worked good yesterday and it stayed 35 to 36 degrees all day. I checked it tonight and it is up to 42 degrees. It is cool outside tonight and the fan I set up is not on a thermostat.
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[SCVJeff]

If you really want to lose sleep, buy one of those wireless thermometers for the fridge and freezer that tracks high and low temps. You can easily see the defrost cycle happening

[Tinstar]

I returned from my trip and read the follow-up post. The fridge stayed cool (35 - 37 degrees) except a couple of times when it got up to about 42 degrees.

I didn't know about the "defrost" cycle. I guess that's what it might be since it got up in the low 40's about every 2 days and only for 5 or so hours. It would cool back down and stay another couple of days before warming up.

[tropical36]

dougrainer wrote:
I need to check for why we get water inside the fridge and many times, out onto the floor, so what might be the best way for accessing the drain pan system?


Odds are the check valve for the drain hose is gummed up. Outside look at the burner tube. Next to it is a black tray with the drain hose in it. Look at the end of the drain hose to see the plastic check valve. remove it and clean it out and reinstall. Doug

Thanks much and don't ask me why, dummy here hasn't noticed that hose and pan, with the many times I've been back there. I do know, without any doubt, that old age is hell, but then again, I'm still here, so that's something positive to say for it.
Anywaysssss.....I removed that little valve, if we should call it that and didn't think that the water was ever going to quit, with the way it was pouring out of there. Should be fine now and especially with the DW not having to put towels everywhere.

[dougrainer]

I need to check for why we get water inside the fridge and many times, out onto the floor, so what might be the best way for accessing the drain pan system?


Odds are the check valve for the drain hose is gummed up. Outside look at the burner tube. Next to it is a black tray with the drain hose in it. Look at the end of the drain hose to see the plastic check valve. remove it and clean it out and reinstall. Doug

[SCVJeff]

It's likely a defrost cycle, that's about where it gets after a 4 hr shutdown, and it'll likely happen again in two days

[tropical36]

dougrainer wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

Tinstar wrote:
The unit is not in a slide. I designed the fan to force the air through the cooling unit. I molded the fan into an extra fridge outside cover so it is actually forcing a LOT of air through there and out the top.

I can't figure out was is wrong if that's not causing it. It has ran for 3 days with the temps holding at 35 and 36 degrees. All of a sudden last night the temperature went up to 42 degrees. The fridge had not been opened for 12 hours. The temp going up 6 degrees over about 5 or 6 hours doesn't seem right. I checked it this morning after turning the temp up to 9 and it has cooled back to 36 this morning.

I assume the fridge is as level as possible.
Unless in the driveway and near empty, we always run on the 9 setting. Also have a fan installed in the bottom and have it rigged for shore or genset power only. Usually turn it off as well when at home for long periods. I think it's fine for the most part and am a lot more happy with it, than when first purchased last year and thinking this NEVERCOLD was going to need replaced for a residential immediately. I really need to get inside for checking the built in fridge fans, but feel they must be OK.
In fact, the biggest problem we're having right now, is water inside, so will have to check out the drip pan hose or whatever, once we get back home.

I should've added that these fridges and even though not frost free, as per say, they do thaw out the fins on occasion, so that they don't accumulate a lot of frost. I've also noticed higher temps. on occasion, so that could account for it.

The "defrost" system on Norcolds is simple. As long as the refer runs all the time, every 48 to 54 hours, the refer just shuts down for a few hours and this allows the Evaporator fins to slightly thaw and drain any frost/ice accumulation thru the evaporator drain pan system. If you do NOT want this to happen, just shut the refer OFF and ON once a day and the system will never enter the defrost cycle mode. Doug

I need to check for why we get water inside the fridge and many times, out onto the floor, so what might be the best way for accessing the drain pan system?

[Ivylog]

The 42 degrees may have been after the defrost cycle. You can keep it from defrosting by turning it off briefly but the fins are going to ice up if you don't have a small fan blowing on them.

[Tinstar]

I took the big fan out and ran the fridge since last night. It has held at 36.1 degrees all day (about 18 or so hours). I'm leaving now for my trip to the State park to meet family and will be back Saturday.

Thanks for the information everyone.

[dougrainer]

tropical36 wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

Tinstar wrote:
The unit is not in a slide. I designed the fan to force the air through the cooling unit. I molded the fan into an extra fridge outside cover so it is actually forcing a LOT of air through there and out the top.

I can't figure out was is wrong if that's not causing it. It has ran for 3 days with the temps holding at 35 and 36 degrees. All of a sudden last night the temperature went up to 42 degrees. The fridge had not been opened for 12 hours. The temp going up 6 degrees over about 5 or 6 hours doesn't seem right. I checked it this morning after turning the temp up to 9 and it has cooled back to 36 this morning.

I assume the fridge is as level as possible.
Unless in the driveway and near empty, we always run on the 9 setting. Also have a fan installed in the bottom and have it rigged for shore or genset power only. Usually turn it off as well when at home for long periods. I think it's fine for the most part and am a lot more happy with it, than when first purchased last year and thinking this NEVERCOLD was going to need replaced for a residential immediately. I really need to get inside for checking the built in fridge fans, but feel they must be OK.
In fact, the biggest problem we're having right now, is water inside, so will have to check out the drip pan hose or whatever, once we get back home.

I should've added that these fridges and even though not frost free, as per say, they do thaw out the fins on occasion, so that they don't accumulate a lot of frost. I've also noticed higher temps. on occasion, so that could account for it.

The "defrost" system on Norcolds is simple. As long as the refer runs all the time, every 48 to 54 hours, the refer just shuts down for a few hours and this allows the Evaporator fins to slightly thaw and drain any frost/ice accumulation thru the evaporator drain pan system. If you do NOT want this to happen, just shut the refer OFF and ON once a day and the system will never enter the defrost cycle mode. Doug

[tropical36]

tropical36 wrote:

Tinstar wrote:
The unit is not in a slide. I designed the fan to force the air through the cooling unit. I molded the fan into an extra fridge outside cover so it is actually forcing a LOT of air through there and out the top.

I can't figure out was is wrong if that's not causing it. It has ran for 3 days with the temps holding at 35 and 36 degrees. All of a sudden last night the temperature went up to 42 degrees. The fridge had not been opened for 12 hours. The temp going up 6 degrees over about 5 or 6 hours doesn't seem right. I checked it this morning after turning the temp up to 9 and it has cooled back to 36 this morning.

I assume the fridge is as level as possible.
Unless in the driveway and near empty, we always run on the 9 setting. Also have a fan installed in the bottom and have it rigged for shore or genset power only. Usually turn it off as well when at home for long periods. I think it's fine for the most part and am a lot more happy with it, than when first purchased last year and thinking this NEVERCOLD was going to need replaced for a residential immediately. I really need to get inside for checking the built in fridge fans, but feel they must be OK.
In fact, the biggest problem we're having right now, is water inside, so will have to check out the drip pan hose or whatever, once we get back home.

I should've added that these fridges and even though not frost free, as per say, they do thaw out the fins on occasion, so that they don't accumulate a lot of frost. I've also noticed higher temps. on occasion, so that could account for it.

[dougrainer]

Tinstar wrote:


Here is a picture of the fan and cover. It's powered via 12 volts and is two speed. I cut a new cover and molded the fan to it with sealant. It pushes a lot of air through the cabinet. I would only use this while parked and if the fridge is not cooling properly. I use the factory cover while driving and other times.

Now I understand what you have done. That is probably OVERKILL. IF the air rushes past the upper condenser too fast, then the air cannot remove the heat. The slower the air flows thru the condenser fins, the more time it has to absorb the hot temp and remove it. Same principle of a Engine cooling system. Some people think that if you remove the engine tstat, the engine will run cooler. NOT SO, It will run hotter. It runs hotter due to the hot water flows thru the Radiator too fast to have the water cooled adequately. The tstat acts as a regulator also. Try removing the complete door/fan and see what happens with a open door. Doug

[Tinstar]

Here is a picture of the fan and cover. It's powered via 12 volts and is two speed. I cut a new cover and molded the fan to it with sealant. It pushes a lot of air through the cabinet. I would only use this while parked and if the fridge is not cooling properly. I use the factory cover while driving and other times.

[tropical36]

Tinstar wrote:
The unit is not in a slide. I designed the fan to force the air through the cooling unit. I molded the fan into an extra fridge outside cover so it is actually forcing a LOT of air through there and out the top.

I can't figure out was is wrong if that's not causing it. It has ran for 3 days with the temps holding at 35 and 36 degrees. All of a sudden last night the temperature went up to 42 degrees. The fridge had not been opened for 12 hours. The temp going up 6 degrees over about 5 or 6 hours doesn't seem right. I checked it this morning after turning the temp up to 9 and it has cooled back to 36 this morning.

I assume the fridge is as level as possible.
Unless in the driveway and near empty, we always run on the 9 setting. Also have a fan installed in the bottom and have it rigged for shore or genset power only. Usually turn it off as well when at home for long periods. I think it's fine for the most part and am a lot more happy with it, than when first purchased last year and thinking this NEVERCOLD was going to need replaced for a residential immediately. I really need to get inside for checking the built in fridge fans, but feel they must be OK.
In fact, the biggest problem we're having right now, is water inside, so will have to check out the drip pan hose or whatever, once we get back home.

[Tinstar]

Double post