ARP Fridge Defend - Boiler temp shows 329F - new install

[kmb1966]

Hi I installed the ARP Fridge Defend this weekend. The ARP unit passes all the tests, and the refrigerator gets cold. But the ARP unit shows the boiler temperature at 329F. This is a Norcold 1200 with the Amish cooling unit.
This temperature seems very high to me, so I have turned the Norcold unit OFF and the ARP OFF. Does anyone know the acceptable range or what is considered normal? The ARP manual states that it will shut off the refrigerator if the sensor goes above 482 degrees. Seems that the 329 sitting level is too high. Using a laser temp gauge, the heater tubes shows around 195 - 200 degrees.

[kmb1966]

Shot-N-Az wrote:
How challenging was it to install?

I have installed RV air conditioners, vacuum pumps, trackbars, stereos, toilets, awnings, horns, blower motors, central air conditioner control boards, and I have to say that this is one of the most challenging installations I have ever done on my RV. While I am sure that the inventor is a brilliant man, and I am hoping the product works well (I have heard nothing but good things about the device itself), the instructions are absolutely ridiculously over complicated. While the intent was to cover many scenarios, the fact is the directions are poorly put together. There are 4 pdf manuals in which you have to have all 4 at your fingertips during the install and setup. To make matters worse, some of the instructions are not in the pdf, but on small video clips on the website (the website is also poorly put together).
The inventor, Paul, will help :R but most of the time tells you to go read the manual or website info, OR he tells you to find a technician to install it for you. Sometimes neither is possible. The instructions are so scattered between the 4 manuals and the many pages of the website and links, that even if the information you need is there, it is frustrating to find the information. At times the drawings leave out important information (such as ground wire not being shown!). It leaves you not feeling confident and that is not a good thing when it comes to the #1 item that can catch fire/and/or ruin your vacation. The alternative in finding a technician to install it is just as challenging. Every RV Tech I spoke with doesn't want to touch this device. Paul says it's because they want your CU to fail so they can sell you an new CU. (Perhaps he is right about that). The techs that did know about the ARP said it was a good product, but that the inventor is so difficult to work with (poor customer service) that they refuse to get involved any longer. It's a shame because it probably is a great product, but it is poorly supported. When the inventor indicates on the website that his support of the product is purely at his discretion... take my word for it.... HE MEANS IT.
In the end, I do think I have it installed correctly, but it was not easy. The owner of the ARP company and inventor thinks he is helpful, courteous and thorough, but in reality he is not that helpful and leaves you to figure it all out yourself or find a tech. By the way.... he will NOT EVER communicate via telephone (wouldn't with me). So what could have been solved in a 3 minute phone call turns into many emails back and forth. (after a few emails, Paul gets agitated and it shows clearly in his email responses).
GOOD LUCK ON THIS INSTALL.

[Shot-N-Az]

How challenging was it to install?

[kmb1966]

wolfe10 wrote:
I reached out to the designer/builder of the ARP Frig Defend.

Here is his reply:


Thanks for the feedback, and letting us know that you have an Amish cooling unit.

First and foremost, IR temperature readings are challenging to get an accurate reading.

Next, 329F = 165C, this is actually a low boiler temperature, but the boiler could be warming up or cooling down?

The normal range for a Norcold 1200 is 185 to 195C (365 - 383F).

Please note that the "normal" temperature for any cooling unit is dependent upon the pressure that the cooling unit was charged with. Also note, 482F (250C) is not the point at which the ARP shuts off at. Also, please see letter from Norcold to ARP at this link:
https://www.arprv.com/arp-versus-norcold-recall.php which states that the recall will only respond after 800F (427C), which is also the yield point of the cooling unit tubing with the normal charge pressure.

Thanks for getting this information from Paul. His reply to me was:
"329 degrees is less than 482 degrees, thus the sensor is not mounted too close to the heaters."

So he gave you more information than he was willing to give me (the customer!).
most of the time his response is to read all of his many many pages and webpages and links of documentation.

Thanks again for the information, it was helpful.

[wolfe10]

I reached out to the designer/builder of the ARP Frig Defend.

Here is his reply:


Thanks for the feedback, and letting us know that you have an Amish cooling unit.

First and foremost, IR temperature readings are challenging to get an accurate reading.

Next, 329F = 165C, this is actually a low boiler temperature, but the boiler could be warming up or cooling down?

The normal range for a Norcold 1200 is 185 to 195C (365 - 383F).

Please note that the "normal" temperature for any cooling unit is dependent upon the pressure that the cooling unit was charged with. Also note, 482F (250C) is not the point at which the ARP shuts off at. Also, please see letter from Norcold to ARP at this link:
https://www.arprv.com/arp-versus-norcold-recall.php which states that the recall will only respond after 800F (427C), which is also the yield point of the cooling unit tubing with the normal charge pressure.

[LittleBill]

from ARP website itself

"The Fridge Defend monitors the vital signs of your fridge and solves problems before they happen. Your RV Refrigerator boiler operates at about 350 degrees all the time, but even a brief time off-level, like driving up or down a hill , can send that temperature sky-rocketing. "

[dougrainer]

Your temp is normal. The Norcold recall temp switch kicks out when boiler goes over 700 degrees. The ARP is designed to kick out earlier. The purpose of the ARP is to monitor the Boiler temps and when ventilation is bad or the unit is off level,(things that cause the boiler temp to rise and destroy a CU), it shuts the refer off until the boiler temp drops to a safer level. It protects the RV'er from unsafe/bad operation that degrades or ruins a CU. Doug