Norcold fridge quits

Rapidz · 05-26-2021, 12:11 PM

Hi all:
Our three year old Norcold fridge keeps quitting when on the Van RV battery.
We charge the battery fully for a trip and then when pulling into a campsite without plug-ins, let it operate off the solar and RV battery. Overnight it just quits. We've lost a lot of food on camping trips.
Technicians say the fridge is fine but Norcold model doesn't run off RV battery. They say the RV battery is good.
Any ideas?
Pete

Ben10281 · 05-26-2021, 01:33 PM

What model do you have?

Rapidz · 05-26-2021, 02:31 PM

Norcold DE0041L. It's supposed to be AC/Dc. Right now it is working fine on solar out in the driveway.
I'm totally un techie. Don't know if the compressor or fan is working. The fridge is humming and temp is 33 degrees. It used to make a roaring sound at points in hot weather and there was a clicking on and off. It's not doing that.
???????? Pete

**daveb** · 05-26-2021, 02:47 PM

Just guessing but I'd check the DC voltage at the fridge in early morning before your solar starts charging. Maybe find the 12v fuse and make sure the 12v connections are good & clean. There can be several reasons for shutting down but I'd start there. If the 12v battery voltage drops too much, it could be shutting down due to low voltage.

Ben10281 · 05-26-2021, 03:03 PM

If you can disconnect your solar from your batteries so you are just running off of your house batteries you could then check your battery voltage. The fridge has a low voltage cut-off that will turn the fridge off if the battery's voltage is below 10.9 volts. It also won't turn back on until the voltage coming from the battery is at least 12.2 volts. I would check that first if the fridge actually gets cold when operating on 110 AC shore power.

Rapidz · 05-26-2021, 03:22 PM

Hi:
The RV battery hasn't gotten below 12.2 on average. Once it got to 11.9. We parked it in the garage last night after getting the fridge down to 33 degree. Then we unplugged the van and left it overnight on RV battery power. The battery power read 12.4 this morning but the fridge shut down and was at 64 degrees. It's strange. We have an 02 350 7.1 diesel model Sportsmobile. I think the electrical system is outdated and can't work with the new Norcold fridge. We are in a jam, however, the jam will melt. Thanks for your help Pete

**daveb** · 05-26-2021, 03:34 PM

Where are you reading this voltage? You need to check voltage at the fridge.

gahamby · 05-26-2021, 03:37 PM

Perhaps a sensor is bad (voltage/temp). I have to pull the fridge out to get to the fuses on my fridge. All the electrical components appear to be on top.
When you say "technicians" are these Norcold factory techs?
I just had a look at my Norcold manual recently and Norcold had specific instructions as to how the fridge should be wired.

gahamby · 05-27-2021, 09:58 AM

I was wondering, does the solar rig deliver 12vdc or 24vdc to the fridge?

gahamby · 05-27-2021, 10:09 AM

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/12...page=27#manual