Refrigerator Recycling

[Grey_Mountain]

Just noticed something having to do with my refrigerator is recycling at (estimated) 5 second intervals. It still freezes and cools.
This just started after my last trip about a month ago.
Any ideas what could be the cause of this?

GM

[Joe_Way]

Grey Mountain wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
When i saw the subject Recycling
I thought there topic was what to do with the old fridge

Guess that term comes from my old AF airborne recce days. The wirebenders (airborne maintenance technicians) told us to "re-cycle" or "power-cycle" the unit, which meant to turn it on and off. Amazing how often that would fix the problem.

Still the case with computers, phones, routers, wireless modems--pretty much anything with an electronic brain. Works like magic!!...sometimes.

[Grey_Mountain]

MrWizard wrote:
When i saw the subject Recycling
I thought there topic was what to do with the old fridge

Guess that term comes from my old AF airborne recce days. The wirebenders (airborne maintenance technicians) told us to "re-cycle" or "power-cycle" the unit, which meant to turn it on and off. Amzaing how often that would fix the problem.

[MrWizard]

When i saw the subject Recycling
I thought there topic was what to do with the old fridge

[Grey_Mountain]

Thanks, Doug. That is the information I need for the short term.f
Temp here for the next few days will be in the 90s. I will monitor the situation closely. I'm leaving in an hour or so for a short three-day trip, then have an 11-day trip planned the first week in October. Don't know if I'll have time to get the unit in for repair before that.
BTW, if you ever get stopped by a Carrollton cop, mention my name. My nephew is a police Sgt with the Carrollton PD. He will make sure you get one free phone call.

GM

[dougrainer]

Grey Mountain wrote:
I have power to the unit continuously.
Works both on propane and 120 VAC
May be the fan. When I open the fridge door, light comes on, humming sound quits (motor of some kind - fan?)
Recycling - something turns on and off at nine-second intervals when the unit is on and the door is shut.
Opening the freezer compartment has no affect.

1. The noise that stops when the door is opened is the REAR Cooling fans and that is NORMAL
2. The Freezer doors have NO affect as they have NO light or light switch
3. Except for the REAR Cooling fans, The refer has NO other mechanical equipment that would cause a noise. So, as Chris pointed out, your Rear Fan Temp switch is SHORT cycling due to being defective.
4. NO harm will come to the refer. BUT, if the outside temps are above 75 to 80 degrees and that Fan Temp switch finally FAILS, odds are the refer will NOT cool correctly. The 1200 series NEEDS those fans to cool correctly. Doug

[wolfe10]

GM,

You need to identify what is making the noise. Go to the outside refrigerator access door and see if you can find the culprit.

Really hard for us to be able to tell you how long it will last until we know what is/may be failing.

[Grey_Mountain]

My most pressing question at the moment is: Can I continue to run the unit even with this problem? I have two short trips before I can get it in to the shop.

GM

[Grey_Mountain]

I have power to the unit continuously.
Works both on propane and 120 VAC
May be the fan. When I open the fridge door, light comes on, humming sound quits (motor of some kind - fan?)
Recycling - something turns on and off at nine-second intervals when the unit is on and the door is shut.
Opening the freezer compartment has no affect.

[wolfe10]

Please tell exactly what is "recycling":

1. Do you loose 12 VDC to the whole refrigerator (panel dark).
2. Fan behind the refrigerator cycling.
3. Heat source (propane or 120 VAC) turning on/off/on.
4. Other.

[Grey_Mountain]

The unit is not in a slideout.
I'm leaving on a short 3-day trip tomorrow, then have an 11-day trip planned the first week in October. Can't get it in for repair until after that.
Both the freezer and the lower compartment are working. Should I shut it off until it can be fixed?

[Chris_Bryant]

If it is in a slide out, with a top side vent, allowing access to the top, outside condenser fins, it is easy. Otherwise, the unit has to be pulled.

[Grey_Mountain]

OK. Is that a quick fix or do I need to take it in to my fixer guy?

[Chris_Bryant]

That is the fans running. If it is cycling quickly, I would bet the thermal switch on the condenser fins is bad.

[Grey_Mountain]

NORCOLD 1200LRIMD
Both Electric from shore/generator or propane.
Recycles on both sources.
Just noticed that if I open the door, it stops.