Norcold Fridge Operation

gypsmjim · 05-13-2016, 06:20 PM

Ours is a 2015 model with a 3-way selector switch. Off-Gas-Electric. It does not distinguish between AC and DC.

We have always used only the gas position, since we boondock with a genny that is only on a couple hours a day.

Startup procedure when we get to camp is to fire up the propane system, and then put in the frozen items, plus drinks that were pre-cooled in a cooler. In a very short time all is well. I have a thermometer inside that I use to monitor the temp. and it runs ~40 F all the time its on.

Our 120 volt 30 amp line was just installed. So, now as soon as we get to camp I'll plug in the shore power. (I don't intend it to be left powered up when no one is there. The solar panel will keep the battery at 100%)

So, now what do I do about the fridge? Simply turn it on and switch it to electric? If so, how long will it take to cool down.

Or, should i run the propane system first and then switch over when its cold?

Grumpy · 05-13-2016, 06:27 PM

It cools faster on gas.

Jhowemca · 05-13-2016, 06:41 PM

When I'm hooked up to a 30 amp I always run the refrigerator on electric.
If I was going to do what you want to do and shut the off the 30 amp while I was away I would turn the refrigerator to gas.
I would probably run gas the whole time so I wouldn't forget to change over.
But then again I have never had a good reason to turn off the 30 amp while I was away.

Why would you want to turn off your 30 amp electric while you're not around?

gypsmjim · 05-13-2016, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhowemca

Why would you want to turn off your 30 amp electric while you're not around?

Maybe that's a good question. Perhaps that should be the topic for another thread....

I guess I just have thoughts of a malfunction while nobody is around. If something were to short out and the trailer caught fire, nobody would ever see it way back in the woods like that. I just have visions of driving up my driveway to find a destroyed RV.

OTOH, with nobody home, there really is no reason to keep the fridge going, or any of the detectors.

Jhowemca · 05-14-2016, 09:13 AM

I try not to worry to much about my trailer when I'm not around. Don't get me wrong I shut off the city water or turn off the pump while away. But my insurance would pay me back if I had a fire or a tree fell on it or whatever.

gypsmjim · 05-14-2016, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhowemca

I try not to worry to much about my trailer when I'm not around. Don't get me wrong I shut off the city water or turn off the pump while away. But my insurance would pay me back if I had a fire or a tree fell on it or whatever.

I shut everything off too. And I certainly don't "worry" about anything. I have insurance as well.

As for the electric, if there was a compelling reason to keep it on I would. But there isn't, so I turn it off.

Seann45 · 05-15-2016, 06:27 AM

Without knowing what kind of RV you have I would doubt very much that you have a 3 way fridge.. Most fridges when set to electric will auto change over to gas when the power is lost... they all require 12 V to operate when on gas...

gypsmjim · 05-15-2016, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

Without knowing what kind of RV you have I would doubt very much that you have a 3 way fridge.. Most fridges when set to electric will auto change over to gas when the power is lost... they all require 12 V to operate when on gas...

I already know its not a 3-way - see my post #1.

And it can't go to gas when I turn off the power because when I turn off the power i turn off the gas too.

I just want to know if I can start it up by turning the switch to electric, or do I need to pre-cold it with gas first.

Jhowemca · 05-15-2016, 09:40 AM

You can start on electric, no problem.

canadiankid · 05-18-2016, 05:14 PM

Not sure how old this thread is but I tested my fridge today. From warm, not used since last year, I plugged it into 30amp at camp ground and within 4 hrs both my inside and outside fridge had frozen freezees. My understanding was it took much longer to cool but I will nolonger be pre-cooling my fridge a day in advance. Put things in cold or frozen and they would never warm in that time.

gypsmjim · 05-18-2016, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadiankid

Not sure how old this thread is but I tested my fridge today. From warm, not used since last year, I plugged it into 30amp at camp ground and within 4 hrs both my inside and outside fridge had frozen freezees. My understanding was it took much longer to cool but I will nolonger be pre-cooling my fridge a day in advance. Put things in cold or frozen and they would never warm in that time.

Thanks for the real world experience. I'm going camping tomorow so I'll see how mone works...

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