NORCOLD 1200 Cooling Unit Failure + tips and tricks
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- This 2008 Phaeton was purchased and I did an inspection. Unortunately, one fo the items I found wrong was a RV Norcold refrigerator not cooling. After initial troubleshooting, I decided to take you guys along for the ride.
This is a Norcold model 1210. I did delete the ice maker and would recommend that to most people.
1210 cooling unit amzn.to/3wCnpuM
1200 cooling unit amzn.to/2UiOg1H
check out Darren @MyRVWorks he explains RVs very well
• RV Refrigerator Coolin...
Thanks for watching!
I spent 20 years as a service tech in semiconductor. I admire the way you work, sir. I would have zero concern were you to ever work on anything of mine. 👍🏽👍🏽
Thanks Dave!
I'm always impressed by the amount of work/detail you put in..
It would be great if we could get the same from every repair shop.
Thank you very much!
Only a professional would update the fans and thermostat……..thank you another job well done
0:28 “(The refrigerator) has a tendency of catching fire and blowing up and burning you coach down”, that is a really strong statement.
It's the truth
Facts are facts… check out Visones RV salvage in Kentucky, if the rv isn’t crashed it caught fire, usually right where the refrigerator is.
I am clueless as to why anyone would want to put this kind of work/$$$ into such old/faulty/risky technology, but my goodness, you made this unit as good, probably much better than new. 👏👏👏👏👏
Hey Thanks!
With one fan being bad kind of makes you wonder how well the other fan was doing under heat .
With kind of chity work done previous repair work you could have made to many trips repairing this unit
is what I would guess. Also with a new unit you are doing away with the need for more service calls needed.
So I would agree with you ! Thanks for sharing ! !
You're most welcome!
Ammonia dilutes over time. Evac and Recharging probably would work. I'm with you, residential frig is the way to go, keep the extra fans to help with compressor temps. Always good videos.
Thanks!
Great video. I was relived when I picked up our 02 Monaco this year that the cooling unit was “upgraded” to a JC cooling unit. Like you a Res Refer is down the road, but solar/batteries, and pooping a window out for install are big hurdles. Thanks for sharing
We have a propane fridge at our remote cabin that the performance dropped drastically. I took it out and turned it over for a day to “burp” . Put back and tried it, still now success. I then took off the burner orfice which is a metal screen dome, cleaned it up. . Put it back on and it has worked great. That crap they put in the propane to make the smell will gum up small burners.
I had to replace my cooling unit in my Norcold 1200. Mud Dauber wasps had built a large nest along side of the burner (?). It failed to cool eventually. I called a local RV repair service. They ordered a replacement unit. The first replacement did not fit. The second unit did. While installing the replacement the removed the new fans and installed the old fans. The had two new fans now sell. I was a greenhorn then. Bought the screens to install in the louvers. Zip tied the screens in place. RV manufacturer said to remove them as they.would inhibit airflow. Never had a problem. Left freezer at -5f.
I bought our Fleetwood Discovery and the NorCold frdge didn't work. the safety had tripped (unknown when or why) I did the magnet trick and it is now running. A new residential fridge will be coming soon, but, I hope this one will make it through our seatrial runs when we take a real trip. Lots of great knowledge out there! Thank You very much for sharing how the fridges work.
Our 4 door 1350 died after a trip.
We converted to a jc compressor style.
.8a draw =8a dc thru inverter. Cools fast plus it’s not a fire hazard.
Great job James.
Another excellent episode. I'm with you as far as just replace with a residential unit- less grief and worry (fire)in the long run - and live happily ever after!
As you pointed out, residential is less money and we absolutely love our 18 ft. Samsung. We wanted solar anyway so it was a no brained for us. Now we don’t worry about a fridge fire.
I think the tape is to keep moisture from getting into by the unit and causing ice building up around the cooling/heating unit. Thanks for another video, stay safe.
I actually have a situation like this on a novakool in my class b. It's 110v and not 3 way. But it seems it doesn't cool well or hold temperature well.
Because of this video learning the general concept of what is going on and how airflow should be, I looked at pictures online of my fridge back section...and you know like normal winnebago strikes again (I've watched alot of your videos) I believe what is actually happening is improper airflow inside the cabinet. When van body is cold at night fridge works well but during the day performance is anything but good.
So I ordered some audio equipment cabinet fans that can control the temperature of a cabinet based on sensor temp it sees via its controller.
I appreciate all your videos you teach people really neat stuff. Thanks.
Found this very interesting. I avoided that brand refrigerators when we got our RV's for their reputation of causing fires! 🔥 We never had issues with our refrigerators in any of our 6motor homes.
That's awesome! Glad you did your research
@@AZExpert The earlier coaches were all Dometic the Diesel pushers and our Teton 5th wheel were residential refrigerators.
At 7:45 you answered my question. The used fifth wheel I purchased last August and started using in November to mid May didn’t do a good job when it got to the 90’s deg. I have solar, battery bank and 1500 watt inverter. I installed 4 120mm computer fans in the space above the baffle, on a switch.
Thanks for the tip about the baffle in the top vent. Mine was tight and I was going to remove it until somebody told me it needs to be there. I’ll use adhesive and seal it back tight.
If it continues to not perform well it’s going to be replaced with a 120 volt residential model.
Well done. Rain drops are falling on my head. Thought you might tap dance.
Sometimes
Now I know why I’ll never have a absorption fridge ! Great explanation and hands on how to do the complete job.
In 2018 I rebuilt a single door unit in a 1999 Arctic Fox 22’, it was the original unit I ordered online, was delivered & once installed it worked great!
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
Have the same Norcold, 1200, changed the whole unit out for a 120 volt JC Refrigeration unit, got rid of the propane and the ammonia, unit came as promised small very efficient compressor, was out with the coach 2 weeks ago in 44degree C it never missed a beat. Cools down to temp in less than a day and while driving uses less than 1 amp of battery power, and it was under $1000.00 delivered to Canada. Love your channel we winter in Mesa, will certainly kept you in mind for any repairs !
In Australia outback they use propane refrigerator freezers everyday and everyone uses them....
There it's a common practice to take the refrigerator turn it upside down and then every hour tapping r on the cooling pipes the cooling pipes to dislodge any blockage.... It seems to work 90% of the time for them
YOU MADE MY DAY!!!!!😊THANKS SO MUCH. I HOPE EVERYONE APPRECIATES YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
is it me or was the video reversed or reflection a few times when taking off the doors. One minute on the driver side and then seemed on the passenger side of the RV. LOL I was so turned around. That aside and just having fun, I really enjoy your vids, very informative. Thank you for taking the time to do this. Man you are the best and I would trust any advice you gave as to how to proceed.
I like to keep you on your toes
Great video, just so happens we are having cooling problems with our Norcold. In extreme heat, (106-115) it is not maintaining a cold temp but recovers overnight at its coldest setting.
Sorry to hear that
FYI: Yes you can test just the cooling unit just hot wire it! So run the heat elements on 110 via extension cords prop up or stand up the cooling unit with the baffle installed and about 6 to 8 hours later it should be ice cold on the upper tubeing plus you eliminate the problems with any control issues I've done that for 30 plus years and it never lies it tells you if for sure you have a bad cooling unit. Psst... I always hot wire the cooling unit as part of diagnosing a hot box.
James, you are my go-to expert on RVs. If you refer to another channel, I’m subscribing.
Your so thorough! Like I said before we need to clone you.
I’ve had a lot of techs work on my trailer, and they reck more s##t than they fix, and the fix is what I call a mickey mouse job.
Had the coolant replaced in my rv fridge too, a four door, a brand new stainless steel front, the dealers techs scratched it up all over.
They didn’t take the doors off, laid it down on the doors on top of cardboard that had staples in it.
Oh the stories I can tell about the other jobs….Every rv tech out there needs to subscribe to your channel and ‘learn!’ how to do things properly. Cheers 🍻
Some people don't care
Interesting. As I watch the vid, I sit here across from our Norcold 1200 series unit in this Keystone Fuzion toy hauler. thanks James. Our fridge is working well so far.. Likely if the Norcold fails , a residential type fridge would be fitted.
Always good to keep an eye on it
Did a residential fridge swap on my rig, sold my 19 year old fridge for $600. I guess my unit was one of the last good units built. Installed 800 watts of solar, xantrex xc 2000 watt inverter, and Chins 300 ah smart lithium battery. Best upgrade I’ve done!
Very nice!
WOW. What a big difference. Like you said it could of been not installed correctly plus the one fan wasn’t working. When you took the old one off that was a lot of that putty in between the two metal plates. When you installed yours you didn’t put any of that putty between the two plates. Just asking since it looks like it has the room and the length of that cooler fins on the back why didn’t they just put four fans back there. Everybody keeps saying between the bottom hole and top hole the amount of airflow that goes through there is what really helps keep the fridge cooled down. But thanks for explaining in a little more detail on how them systems work. I had my cooling system replaced on my fridge. And they said keeping it level was number one and no more than a 2% margin on leveling. And I said could’ve it been traveling with the fridge on. And that’s the thing they couldn’t answer yes or no. But the way you explained it. Turn it off unless its Leveled.
Thanks for watching!
I fixed my RV by getting rid of the garbage.👍
You threw out the whole thing????
Great introduction to RV refrigerators.
A lot of money for a foam box.
Yes indeed!
The best thing I did for my Norcold 1200 was install the 12v Pump model from Jc Refrigeration upgrade. It now cools in just hours and keeps ice cream rock hard I never need to worry about fires.
Fantastic video. Double work recording it and documenting things. Well done.
I replaced mine with an Amish built cooling units, so much better than the Norco also I didn’t use mastic as a seal I use spray foam to inject in between the gaps to make an airtight seal. Works flawless
Great video
Thanks for sharing
That was awesome, and again thanks for the ongoing narration, thank you for educating the masses. Thanks James
That’s a lot of work. I like your idea of the residential frig and solar.😎🇺🇸 From the Northwest, strange to see someone excited about rain. 😁
What a pain in the butt. Hopefully that cooling unit lasts a while. My buddy is an RV tech and said he's had good luck with the Amish built units.
Thanks for the tip
Time to replace it out with a residential I’ll never have a 3 way that’s crazy put a residential in problem solved. I have 1200 ways solar on my tiffin with tilt kits and love the residential refrigerator.
Hi, great video, except... you are following instruction. I'm not an expert on refrigeration but I am highly experienced with thermodynamics and very experience with insulations from VIP panels down to anything that may be an insulator. The issue I see is the thermal mastic that is used to seal the new unit to the refrigerator around the edges. The thermal mastic is a conductor not an insulator. The mastic will pretty much negate the thickness of the insulation basically creating a path for heat transfer to the inside area that is trying to do cooling. What really needs to be used to make the insulation more effecient is a bead/beads if foam to insulate the edges. I like Loctite because it is a bit more flexible and denser so is doesn't have those big bubble in the foam when it expands. Anyway again, good video, just trying to educate.
One other small point the cooling fins need to be sealed so moisture does not pass from the inside of the refrigerator to the cooling unit void. When ice on the fins melts it will flow behind the refer interior plastic. I'm sure you have seen mold in the cooling area behind the cooling fins. There have also been videos on water saturated foam being the cooling fins. This will also cause pore performance. Just solved this problem on mine.
Good work. An HVAC and/or Plumbing supply store should sell the aluminum tube used for the burner. I have replaced a lot of that tubing, and/or used it rebuilding pilot assemblies on furnaces and many gas appliances. Just trying to offer you advice as I have learned a lot from what you do. You explained how exactly these works which I appreciate a lot.
❤ Most RV refrigerators I've seen
have a black temperature adjust on the heat sink fins inside top.
I replaced the cooling unit in my garage in the fridge on our old trailer with a refurbished unit from the Amish. Wasn't too mad and Holy hell it cooled like a pro after the replacing it
Thanks for watching! :)
Your videos are very entertaining my man who ever is editing is doing a good job
I do everything! so Thank you!
Thanks for taking your time and going through comments
I like this fellow. I will never rebuild my rv refrigerator but I enjoyed watching the whole video
Thanks Michael!
Thank you… this was all good information. Have you seen the new complete replacement kits that actually use a 12VDC compressor and refrigerant instead of ammonia? My two year old Nevercold, oops… I mean Norcold is having troubles staying cold and was thinking of converting to the compressor kit.
Nice job, did the same to my 1200 used the "Dutch Aire" unit and internal fans, ice cream is hard and milk stays fresh. Tom & Darcy 2002 Bounder "hardest roof you did" lol
James as a professional your knowledge and your tech savvy Trump's any potential customers and sometimes it's our job to convince a customer through sharing information that way they can make it informed decision clearly replacing that monstrosity with the residential and solar is a win-win and it's equitable cost sometimes we just have to help people help themselves make wise decisions
Hey, Thanks for watching! :)
They are going to love the 🔥 comments z I know they are absolutely true. I told you on TT how our coach came with a domestic fridge. I put in a big inverter and LiPos to run it. Solar is soon. Only thing I like about the absorption fridge is the propane. I have a huge LP tank and am seriously thinking about ripping it out. That’s an awesome job.
Thanks again for a thorough video. Since mine (the original Dometic in my ‘05 Damon Hornet) quit working last thanksgiving, I’ve been watching a lot on replacing cooling units. For now since I’m stationary, I have a residential fridge outside (it won’t fit through the doorway). It kinda sucks having to go outside whenever I want a cool drink though. I’ll be checking the link you shared for the other video too. I think I’ve already watched that one, but watching twice won’t hurt me. LOL
"This one doesn't catch on fire as much as the old one" Good to know, thanks.
You're welcome!
Well thats some good work and youve convinced me to go residential if mine goes bad in my old Exec. I always learn something with your vids!
Thanks!
Hello James! Great tutorial video on replacing a cooling unit on a Norcold fridge! You are always very informative!
Thanks for watching!
your info is so valuable! if i wasnt mechanicaly inclined i would not attempt this repair. looks easy
Thanks Sam!
Don't worry that recalled unit won't catch on fire ... as much
Hopefully not at all!
I replaced my cooling unit (2006 Itasca Meridian 36g) with the Dutchaire Amish unit.
Works perfectly.
I can't see why anyone would want to replace a piece of junk with another piece of junk.
Homer: OH LOOK! Buy one get one free pizza at Chico's Pizza!
Lisa: Dad ... Chico's has terrible pizza.
Homer: I know! But there's TWO!
👍 Great job as usual.
As far as my own refrigerator, agree with you 100%. Residential refrigerator over RV refrigerator.
U made the right call.
Thanks
I have the same set up in my Lance truck camper. I add 2 bigger fans on the upper vent to help it get the hot air out. Is it ok to keep the fans running all the time or just let them come on when the temp switch cuts them on? Love your videos. I have learned a lot from you.
My RV refrigerator cools normal in electric mode only . The gas valve is clean ( no spiders!). In the gas mode it doesn’t attempt to Ignite . I made sure to bleed the propane by lighting the stove . I do believe the fuses are ok It’s a dometic RM2652
Thanks for this video on Norcold. Happy trails!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow!! Another great job James!! I wonder what modifications would be required to upgrade to a residential unit. I think I would definitely be inclined to consider it.
Extra layer of thermal mastic around the top.. makes sense why it was performing poorly and not having a good bond below on the plates.
Our latest camper has a norcold. I like the Dometics
A lot better.
It could be VERY helpful to us if yuou could somehow create or refer us to lists of RV component recalls and which ones are prone to dangerous failure, particularly fire. And when buying a new one, which brands of components and RV brands overall are most safe. We would happily contribute to costs of providing such info. It could save out lives.
Always an idea for another video! Much of this info is already available on the internet.
Hi James. This was such an awesome and informative video. Filled with tips. Thanks for taking the time to tape and share this. Take care!
Glad it was helpful!
Just removed my Norcold after it failed. I am putting in residential tomorrow.
Wow, sure is great to have your videos... Will check into the proper venting of the heat as you suggested once we get our 2007 Tiffin Phaeton... You are awesome bro... thanks!
Sounds great!
Educational & Interesting :: thanks for sharing . . . . . there is so much to learn from your videos, you do a great job of mixing procedures/theory/industry-history/cautions . . . .GREAT >> Thanks!
Thank you very much!
What's the total labor time for diag and R&R cooling unit. I had a customer today same fridge, same year, same problem. First one of the fans wasn't working so I replaced that and it cooled for a couple weeks then stopped again. Everything checked out but no cooling. Customer decided to go with a $1,000 residential fridge. I removed the the old fridge for them which had to be disassembled to fit through the door. Anyway, I was happy with their decision. Thanks for the vid, I really like the way you guys work.
Experience shows, good job!
O love when you said that if this doesn't work you won't be seeing this video !! LOL
It's also true
Just replaced my N1OLX Norcold refer. Spent 6 hrs at a rest stop in northern Nevada 2023/March that was 10 degrees. When I arrived in central Oregon my refrigerator’s
Coolant gelled and the unit failed. 3 years old. Norcold should be ashamed of the products they build and the price they charged for them. For myself I will put a residential fridge in. Much more
Efficient and cheaper.
100 percent correct just put in a new house fridge and a solar panel way more efficient.
Thank you, James. I'm doing a cooling unit replacement on a 1210 unit and your video was awesome to serve as a refresher and provide a few tips to make the job easier. If you weren't shooting video; how long do you think it takes you to change a cooling unit on a 4 door fridge?
question? how did you trouble shoot the main control board? or decide that it wasn't bad? after watching the poor connection between the cooling coil and inside plates I'd be suspicious like you that it was just a bad install of the cooling unit. great video!
Wow, now I see why you would use a residential refrigerator!
The comments section must be screwed up. I'm showing 5184 views, 523 "Likes" and zero comments. This happens on two different browsers. Or are there really no other comments on this excellent video?
Glitch probably
good job again. I really enjoy your channel. I replaced the cooling unit on mine as well. Wasn't to bad.
Hey Thanks! I'm glad it worked out for you
As usual your style of doing things is quite entertaining..both of our coaches have had the Norcold 1200 LRIM and both had the retrofit..we just love them..it must be my woman cuz I'm the most unluckiest s.o.b. when it comes to things breaking down..around the campfires when we talk about our likes and dislikes of the things of our coaches..kerosene burners and gasoline alike..the brand "Amish Built" comes up for the 1200/1210..people swear by them and I do have to admit I have witnessed the "refitted" 1200 with these units..you need a pry bar to get the ice cream out of the tub..what's your take on them..I value your input..cya..still in Rock Port.TX
Thanks James for this video. Your great my friend. Be safe!
Regards, Myk
Thanks for watching, Myk!
Love watching your videos and thanks for posting i did mine kast year and it works awsome thanks again
great video
Thanks!
Norcold refrigerators tend to burn down....ha ha Read the instructions....ha ha You are funny funny man, James... I didn't know that about the cap on the flue.
Thanks for all the informative info. I have learned a lot from you in the last year. Keep those videos coming.
You got it!
James, thanks for this video. We were thinking about instead of fixing our Norcold 1200, replacing the cooling unit with a High efficiency compressor based cooling unit. Do you think that's a good idea?
I agree with the replacement with a residential refrigerator but don't they blow their hot air directly back into the room and aren't some of them using very dangerous coolants which are at risk of explosion and fire if their lines become crimped and damaged and are they made to have a framework which can be securely anchored while in transit? Oh! As I am watching this, are they made with the same explosive coolant? Sure looks like it.... I wonder if it is possible to go back to using Freon or a safer alternative?
Degradation of cooling could have been caused by a bad fan. But you added a fan to compensate. Cooling unit was bad, possibly caused by the failed fan and poor installation originally. It had to work too hard and crystalized the ammonium.
Thanks for the insight
James my Norcold 1200 just dies in my beaver. You mentioned you would replace with a residential frig. Do you have a suggestions ona replacement frig? I know the door opening in my beaver is 24" wide. so I am interested in your suggestion
You are the master Mr James
I put an Amish built (refurbished unit) in my absolutely mint 92 western wilderness alpine 11 ft camper
Worked great……then the camper got totaled in a massive 55+55 mph head on……oh well got a 5th wheel now
Ouch! Glad you are ok!
@@AZExpert thanks man….I’m still here brother turns out I’m hard to kill,.. lol..love the videos and the wealth of information that goes into them….my uncle owned his own rv repair/ custom upholstery business for many years it’s cool to see the type of work he did thru your videos takes some of that weird voodoo black magic out of rv repair….now we can see what’s beyond all that glue and shiny paint
Would switching to a residential unit have been any more cost effective than replacing the cooling unit? *EDIT* Nevermind. Good to hear your advice.
Super job James
32:08 A 12 hour headstart? Surfaces in my no-colds' freezer get pretty frosty in just a few minutes.
that seems very impressive
Az Expert
I have a 1200 and when my unite when out I tried one of the “ Amish “ replacements “ it was made out of much thicker martial and seems like a better unite all around I was wondering if you had ever come accros one and if so what your experance had been ? They also have a conversion kit for the 1200 that makes it’s normal fridge lol so one thing didn’t like is the Amish cooling unit come with self tapping screws 😂 and well the first time I tried let’s just say I screed it up and man that stuff smells bad the company was awesome and sent me a new one even though I destroyed the first one
Nice job! Who ever did it before did a sloppy job.
Exactly!
Should I avoid purchasing an RV with a Norcold 1200? I suppose I will want to know if the recall was performed, and/or the cooling unit was replaced.
Thx for sharing