Fridge failing - on the road ***Updated to include fix***

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

We are camping and the Norcold N81X refrigerator is not keeping the refrigerator cold. The freezer compartment is still frozen but fridge section is approaching 50 degrees and it is running constantly.

Same issue on electric or gas.

Seems to have deteriorated in last couple of days. That is, cooling efficiency has fallen off and I can hear the gas running every time I check.

Will likely shut down and grab a cooler and ice to finish trip.

The clip on the fins was not knocked loose. Have adjusted slightly higher.

Any helpful thoughts appreciated.


Thanks,
Stu

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

Update: Temperature had been stable and then switched from Gas to Auto. Was stable on electricity for 14 hours, then it is as if it stopped cooling. Switched to Gas and cooled back down.

It appears as though mechanically the unit is capable of cooling. It seems to stop cooling for an unknown reason and only resume after either adjustment to thermistor or switching from electricity to gas.

Perhaps motherboard?

Good news is we are getting by for now...

Stu

[Old-Biscuit]

aftermath wrote:
I might be wrong here but I don't believe the thermistor measures the temperature of the fins. I read somewhere, and it made sense to me at the time, that moving the thermistor up will cool your fridge down. Cold air pools in the bottom of the fridge. As the level of cool air fills the compartment it will reach the thermistor and then shut down the fridge. If you raise it, it will take longer to fill the cool air to this higher level and thus keep the fridge cooler. Is your thermistor loose? When you raise it, does it slide back down on its own?

Remember, these refrigerators do not have fans to circulate the inside air like ours at home do. Venting the fridge is also important. I have had almost no trouble with mine because, I believe, it vents through the top of the trailer. Some fridges vent through the side and usually need an additional fan to help with circulation.

Good luck with your troubleshooting.

Thermistors measure FIN Temp.

Moving thermistor ----if fridge does NOT have an temp settings that can be selected (AUTO TEMP CONTROL)

[aftermath]

I might be wrong here but I don't believe the thermistor measures the temperature of the fins. I read somewhere, and it made sense to me at the time, that moving the thermistor up will cool your fridge down. Cold air pools in the bottom of the fridge. As the level of cool air fills the compartment it will reach the thermistor and then shut down the fridge. If you raise it, it will take longer to fill the cool air to this higher level and thus keep the fridge cooler. Is your thermistor loose? When you raise it, does it slide back down on its own?

Remember, these refrigerators do not have fans to circulate the inside air like ours at home do. Venting the fridge is also important. I have had almost no trouble with mine because, I believe, it vents through the top of the trailer. Some fridges vent through the side and usually need an additional fan to help with circulation.

Good luck with your troubleshooting.

[ScottG]

"Scotty", we believe you! 😉

[scotty46]

My "clip" rusted a bit. Cleaned it with sanpaper and it seems to work okay now.

[SidecarFlip]

Simple and less expensive answer to an absorbtion fridge that don't work well.. A Danfoss Secop compressor fridge. Very efficient (residential units aren't they are power hogs). A Sanfoss Secop fridge is a duty cycle fridge. That is, the compressor (which is brushless and very efficient) runs only enough to hold a set temp and it automatically reduces power use by itself.

In cool down from ambient mode a Danfoss/Secop might pull 5 amps, but once it reaches set temp, it reduces it's power drain to less than 2 amps. About what an amonia fridge pulls with auxiliary fans installed.

Plus, no special venting and they are not affected by high ambient temps. Finally both Dometic and Norcold make drop in replacement units. Basically plug and play for about 800 bucks.

[scotty46]

my "clip" rusted a bit. Used a piece of sandpaper to clean it. Seems to be working okay now.

[scotty46]

My "clip" rusted a bit. Used sand paper to clean it and now seems to work okay.

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:
DW moved clip slightly up. Now cooling. That is twice now we have observed fridge warming up and slight move makes big difference. I have trouble explaining why slight move makes such a difference nor do I see why after a couple days it warms up again.

Perhaps wire loose on clip or connection?

Clip is just a holder for the thermistor
Thermistor measures fin temp and thermostat uses that to control heating cycles


Did you get any 'fault codes'......LED display lights flashing etc?

Lamp/thermistor connector dirty/loose?
(moving clip doesn't really help on a fridge that has adjustable temp settings.....more for those models with 'AUTO Temp Control')
Messing with thermistor means wiring issue or thermistor failing


Unplug thermistor go to max cooling temps setting (5) and let fridge run overnight..then measure temps

No LED coded. Loose connection on thermistor sounds like it may be the source of ou issue. Fridge had been cooling fine since last evening when DW adjusted. I went back and tried to ensure firm connections. Will monitor and if it appears to stop cooling will again check wires. If no change will disconnect and settings coldest setting of 5.

Hoping to make it to next Saturday with no more issues.

Will look into how to test thermistor (ohm meter?).

As for ambient temperature we have had highs in low 90’s but awning provides shade. The failure did not come at hottest part of day and fiddling wit thermistor seems to fix.

Really appreciate he help here.

Stu

[RockDodger]

These fridges are notorious for not working well in 90+ degree weather without a decent amount of shade. I just spent a week at Jim Edgar Panther Creek state park near Springfield, IL. and the temps were in 90+ degree range all week. The campsites are about 150-200 feet apart and the trees are two small to provide much shade. Several people were moaning about poor fridge performance and experiencing the same conditions you are. Seems like a common occurance to me. But then, I'm no authority on fridges.

[Scottiemom]

You don't say where you are, but there is a young Amish lad who owns National Refrigeration in Shipshewana who fixes fridges. He can tell you over the phone what to try and whether or not it's toast. His website is: Fix Your Fridge.

Dale

[Old-Biscuit]

AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:
DW moved clip slightly up. Now cooling. That is twice now we have observed fridge warming up and slight move makes big difference. I have trouble explaining why slight move makes such a difference nor do I see why after a couple days it warms up again.

Perhaps wire loose on clip or connection?

Clip is just a holder for the thermistor
Thermistor measures fin temp and thermostat uses that to control heating cycles


Did you get any 'fault codes'......LED display lights flashing etc?

Lamp/thermistor connector dirty/loose?
(moving clip doesn't really help on a fridge that has adjustable temp settings.....more for those models with 'AUTO Temp Control')
Messing with thermistor means wiring issue or thermistor failing


Unplug thermistor go to max cooling temps setting (5) and let fridge run overnight..then measure temps

[pfidahospud]

May I ask what your ambient air temperature is, and if it has changed during your experience?

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

DW moved clip slightly up. Now cooling. That is twice now we have observed fridge warming up and slight move makes big difference. I have trouble explaining why slight move makes such a difference nor do I see why after a couple days it warms up again.

Perhaps wire loose on clip or connection?

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

Farm Camp wrote:
I'm no fridge expert.... You haven't had something fall on your rig and block a vent, or something crawl in there have you? Hopefully others can help more..

Good thought. Ventilation area clean and clear.