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Norcold Refrigerator Replacing Cooling Unit

rickvikki
Explorer
Explorer
Good Morning Everyone: Our Norcold 1200 LRIM fridge blew a leak in the cooling unit last night :(. It is original fridge in our 2006 Tiffen Phaeton. I have read there are companies that will install refurbished cooling units avoiding buying a new refrigerator. We are in Lake Havasu, Arizona at the moment and were wondering if anyone out there could recommend a company that does the above.

Thanks, Vikki and Rick
Rick and Vikki Landry
Ottawa, Canada
Tiffen Phaeton 2006 (40 ft.)
13 REPLIES 13

bigdisplay
Explorer
Explorer
I have owned THREE 1200/10 series norcolds I have never had a cooling problem
been in 90+ heat all week +works just fine
I did a lot of reading/researching and for the money the one I recommended is just fine and a hell of a lot cheaper than amish
I don't think the almost 100% $$ more for the amish is very good value
nor do I believe its better if it is its so marginal its not worth the 350-400$ more to each their own
I know personally I don't want or need a house fridge as I use the lpg a lot

rickvikki
Explorer
Explorer
thank's Don, I will definitely check them out in Havasu.
Rick and Vikki Landry
Ottawa, Canada
Tiffen Phaeton 2006 (40 ft.)

Ivylog
Explorer III
Explorer III
BigD is trying to recommend this unit which is half the price BUT it's not going to cool any better than your current unit. If you are happy with how your's has cooled then I would consider one. If you compare the size of the bottom coils on your unit (and the above) to the pictures of the Amish ones below you will see why the Amish cool better.

Dforce is probably the largest re seller of Amish cooling units... even one charged with helium.

I had Leon change mine out five years ago when I was in IN and while it's better than the NoCold I would not call it great. I recently bought a Whirlpool Model: WRT771RWYW 21 cu ft that should fit with only a minor change to the top of the cabinet but have not installed it yet.

Someone who went residential recently posted that he was going to miss his 1200 and:
worrying about it catching on fire
carrying a spare control board, ignitior, directions for resetting the board when it locks out
soft ice cream especially when letting it make ice
turning the extra fans on when it's hot out
bypassing the NoCold recall box when it shuts off the power for no reason
checking the ARP readout when the fin temp readout is above 32 to make sure it's still working
moving the fan on the fins to different locations to defrost the ice
turning the unit off ever other day to stop the four hour defrost cycle from raising the inside temp by 10 degrees
not putting hot items in until they have cooled off


I think I've just decided to give it up on my 1200 as I already have enough solar and batteries. A 1000W pure sine wave inverter and pulling the driver's side window plus a couple strong backs......
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
Sold 04 Dynasty to our son after 14 great years.
Upgraded with a 08 HR Navigator 45’...

DSDP_Don
Explorer
Explorer
"rickvikki"....Give these guys a call....they're the big RV repair shop in Havasu. 3 T's
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 - All Electric
2019 Ford Raptor Crew Cab

bigdisplay
Explorer
Explorer
RVCOOL

with Bullet-Proof Boiler™ Technology....the safest 1200 series cooling unit ever built!
BETTER than Amish and 1/2 the price

LVJ58
Explorer
Explorer
The cooling unit in our 2000 1200LRIM gave up the ghost in 2013. We replaced it with a unit from this place:

http://rvcoolingunit.com/1200LR-Norcold-Brand-New-Cooling-Unit-built-by-the-Amish-P13259.aspx

Total cost including installation came to $1,400 it works great.

As others suggested if you have room for a residential unit, that would probably be the best option.

If you do much dry camping you'll need adequate power to run the unit which may include installation of additional coach batteries as well as an inverter to provide AC power for the residential unit.

Good luck with your choice and travel safe...:)
Jim & Sherry Seward
Las Vegas, NV
2000 Residency 3790 V-10 w/tags & Banks System
2003 Suzuki XL/7 toad

rickvikki
Explorer
Explorer
thanks everyone for your quick responses. now just need to find an installer of cooling unit.
Rick and Vikki Landry
Ottawa, Canada
Tiffen Phaeton 2006 (40 ft.)

bigdisplay
Explorer
Explorer
wa8yxm wrote:
Google: Amish Built Cooling Unit

These are not refurbished No_Cold units,,They are brand new and USUALLY superior quality. (Last longer).



by RVCOOL

with Bullet-Proof Boiler™ Technology....the safest 1200 series cooling unit ever built!
BETTER than Amish and 1/2 the price

Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Explorer II
Mine just failed a few months ago.. I bought the Amish built unit (new) and replaced it my self. I would have gone the residential route but I have a double door and it would have had to go out-in thru the windshield. They are way better quality than the OEM unit.

Any competent tech should be able to it in 4-6 hours,maybe less.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
Google: Amish Built Cooling Unit

These are not refurbished No_Cold units,,They are brand new and USUALLY superior quality. (Last longer).
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

ronfisherman
Moderator
Moderator
Not much good to you in AZ. But I and a friend got our fridges repaired in Shipshewana, IN. Mine is a Dometic his is a Norcold in the same model RV as yours. He could not be happier with the repair as I am.
Contact: National RV Refrigeration. Give Leon a call.
You may want to find a small fridge until you head home.
There is a lot of info about replacing fridges with a residential fridge. A good option if you do not boondock.
2004 Gulf Stream Endura 6340 D/A SOLD
2012 Chevy Captiva Toad SOLD

bigdisplay
Explorer
Explorer
rickvikki wrote:
Good Morning Everyone: Our Norcold 1200 LRIM fridge blew a leak in the cooling unit last night :(. It is original fridge in our 2006 Tiffen Phaeton. I have read there are companies that will install refurbished cooling units avoiding buying a new refrigerator. We are in Lake Havasu, Arizona at the moment and were wondering if anyone out there could recommend a company that does the above.

Thanks, Vikki and Rick

To answer the question you actually asked
Don't buy a refurbished cooling unit buy a new one and the best one from my research is from these guys
http://www.rvcool.com/norcold_1200_replacement_cooling_unit.htm
I would call these guys and maybe they know of a Installers around your area. Any RV tech worth his salt could install a new cooling unit for you

pianotuna
Nomad II
Nomad II
Hi,

I would consider moving to a residential compressor fridge and adding some solar panels. That is my plan when the fridge eventually fails.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.