Anybody do refrigerator repair or service?

Tom@Hilltop_Machine

Tom@Hilltop_Machine

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2005
Location
Rural Retreat, VA
Just bought a travel trailer and the refrigerator wont come on. I checked all the fuses, circuit board looks good, it has power and tries to come on but it wont. Anybody here work on them or can recommend somebody trustworthy? I hate to have to pull it to some camper place and have them rape me.
 
Is it getting propane?
 
I usually have to open one of the valves at the cook top in order to get enough propane flowing to purge the lines so that the fridge can start.
 
first off, if it is a bi or tri power fridge ( AC/DC/LP ) there are NO moving parts, they are what is called "Absorption Refrigeration"



you won't hear anything come on, and it takes several hours to actually have any real cooling effect, especially if the unit hasn't operated in awhile.

LP is the most efficient operation method, causes the fridge to cool better, AC works almost as well, takes a little longer to come down to temp, DC will suck the life out of a battery in short order, suggested only to be used when connected to power source from tow vehicle, and not let them sit connected and not running for long.

there are many mods you can do to increase efficiency, add a fan to the outside coil and direct air flow across, greatly improves how it works, some folks also add a fan inside the fridge as well to circulate air inside for more even cooling.
 
Its been plugged in for 24 hours now and its still warm inside. The light comes on when I open the door and the display panel is lit up and its displaying an "A". The manual says that ac voltage is unavailable to the refrigerator control. Trouble shooting it says to check:
the frig is plugged in. yes it is
the fuse or circuit breaker is intact. yes its good.
the ac fuse is intact. yes it is
see your dealer or norcold service center.
 
Look it up by the model number and see what the rest of the innernet says. Terry Moorefield knows a fair bit about absorption fridges... and I believe his standard response is to "replace the control board", but your model may vary.

While you're working on it, see what it'll take to get the propane hooked up. The only way I could ever see an A/C-only fridge being useful is if you park the camper at a park full-time. We turn our fridge on (propane) the day before we leave, load it up with groceries, and let it run the entire time we're gone. Every once in a while, I've packed a cooler for beverages, but that's just because it can sit outside in a convenient place.

Matter of fact, I should probably pack a cooler for this week.....
 
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