Norcold 2118

[Rhortie1]

Trying to run my refrigerator from my batteries when traveling rather than run off of propane and am getting a “no ac” code on the fridge. I have a sine wave 2000 , 3 Battleborn 100ah batteries and a 265 w solar panel. Any help would be appreciated TIA !

[AZ Traveler]

Ron,

Sounds like your inverter is not working or its not wired to the plug for your fridge. Are any systems running off the inverter?

[DQDick]

You don't mention an inverter and if you do have one it has to be wired to the frig. You have a Norcold so that means you can either run it on 110 or propane. The 12v power to the frig runs the controls, but you need 110 to power the cooling system. You can run it on propane going down the road and some do, we don't. We have traveled 12 hours in over 100 degree heat in AZ with our frig off and not lost any appreciable cold many times. It takes a long time for Norcolds to get cold, but it also takes a long time for them to get warm.

[Rhortie1]

A dealer told me it wasn’t wired to the inverter but wasn’t sure why it wouldn’t be because I bought everything including the batteries when I got it new. Unfortunately I don’t trust our dealership to do things right so I’ll have a mobile guy come check it out and see what needs to be done. Thanks

[Rhortie1]

Originally Posted by DQDick

You don't mention an inverter and if you do have one it has to be wired to the frig. You have a Norcold so that means you can either run it on 110 or propane. The 12v power to the frig runs the controls, but you need 110 to power the cooling system. You can run it on propane going down the road and some do, we don't. We have traveled 12 hours in over 100 degree heat in AZ with our frig off and not lost any appreciable cold many times. It takes a long time for Norcolds to get cold, but it also takes a long time for them to get warm.

Yes I have been running my fridge on propane when traveling and shore power when in RV parks. Haven’t done any Boondocking yet but want the option. A dealership offered to wire it for me but I like more than one opinion before doing anything. I have fixed all my problems myself except for a leaking hydraulic level up on the front right. That’s when I asked the service guy to show me how to run the fridge off the batteries. Un fortunately I am now out of warranty but that my not have mattered anyway. Thanks

[jcurtis934]

With the controls set for running off propane, the norcold should be happy to do so....unless the fridge has a malfunction. Rv fridges are power hogs running on 120vac, hence the need to run off propane while traveling or boondocking. I never felt entirely safe running the fridge on propane while going down the road, which may have lead to its shortened life.

[Carl n Susan]

A 3120RL doesn't come with an inverter. The 3121RL Model does. The dealer must have added the inverter and what was wired to run off of it is hard to determine. But I doubt he included the 120V circuit for the refer. It shouldn't be too difficult to find the inverter and follow the wiring.

[Rhortie1]

Originally Posted by AZ Traveler

Ron,

Sounds like your inverter is not working or its not wired to the plug for your fridge. Are any systems running off the inverter?

Not sure if anything is running off of the Sinewave inverter. When I turn it on I can get the control for the fridge to come on but I get that “no ac” code. The dealer told me the fridge isn’t wired to the inverter and offered to wire it but we’re full timers and I could wait for that to be done. How hard is it to wire it up ?

[Rhortie1]

Originally Posted by Carl n Susan

A 3120RL doesn't come with an inverter. The 3121RL Model does. The dealer must have added the inverter and what was wired to run off of it is hard to determine. But I doubt he included the 120V circuit for the refer. It shouldn't be too difficult to find the inverter and follow the wiring.

My 3120RL came with a Sinewave inverter along with the solar package. My model has the RV fridge and I keep it set to automatically change to propane when I have no shore power.

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by Rhortie1

Not sure if anything is running off of the Sinewave inverter. When I turn it on I can get the control for the fridge to come on but I get that “no ac” code. The dealer told me the fridge isn’t wired to the inverter and offered to wire it but we’re full timers and I could wait for that to be done. How hard is it to wire it up ?

Ron,

It will take a few hours. You need to decide what outlets you want to power via the inverter.

I have a little bigger inverter and have wired everything with the exception of the air conditioners and water heater to run off the inverter. It was a fairly big job which included adding another power panel.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by Rhortie1

My 3120RL came with a Sinewave inverter along with the solar package. My model has the RV fridge and I keep it set to automatically change to propane when I have no shore power.

Yup my mistake. I forgot they were shipping inverters with the RV refer. I seem to remember it only powered 5 outlets (entertainment center, kitchen, and bathroom) and none of them were for the refer.

[Rhortie1]

Originally Posted by AZ Traveler

Ron,

It will take a few hours. You need to decide what outlets you want to power via the inverter.

I have a little bigger inverter and have wired everything with the exception of the air conditioners and water heater to run off the inverter. It was a fairly big job which included adding another power panel.

Thanks AZ Traveler
I ordered all of this equipment when I ordered my RV , is it normal for nothing to be wired to the inverter when coming from the factory ?

[jetskier]

Originally Posted by Rhortie1

Trying to run my refrigerator from my batteries when traveling rather than run off of propane and am getting a “no ac” code on the fridge. I have a sine wave 2000 , 3 Battleborn 100ah batteries and a 265 w solar panel. Any help would be appreciated TIA !

Regardless if they wired your refer circuit to the inverter, running the RV fridge on an inverter is a bad idea. It's a great way to drain your batteries. The element uses just under 600W. Your solar panel will not be able to remotely keep up. You will always be in a deficit. I did an experiment a few weeks ago and I have four BB batteries and nearly 1200W of solar. Once the sun goes down, it sucks the batteries down fast. You're looking at about 45-50Ah/per hour if the element is on continuously. It cycles, but the cycles last a while. Assuming no other loads, you have about 6 hours run time with three 100Ah batteries. That's not counting the other AC/DC draws on your trailer and the inverter's overhead just being on. I removed the RV fridge from the inverter circuit. Stick with 120V or propane. In a pinch, I did keep the 20A ATS that came with the trailer after my complete inverter rewire and use it as a back up should I need to run the RV fridge on the inverter if I run out of propane. That project was quite involved.

[Rhortie1]

Originally Posted by jetskier

Regardless if they wired your refer circuit to the inverter, running the RV fridge on an inverter is a bad idea. It's a great way to drain your batteries. The element uses just under 600W. Your solar panel will not be able to remotely keep up. You will always be in a deficit. I did an experiment a few weeks ago and I have four BB batteries and nearly 1200W of solar. Once the sun goes down, it sucks the batteries down fast. You're looking at about 45-50Ah/per hour if the element is on continuously. It cycles, but the cycles last a while. Assuming no other loads, you have about 6 hours run time with three 100Ah batteries. That's not counting the other AC/DC draws on your trailer and the inverter's overhead just being on. I removed the RV fridge from the inverter circuit. Stick with 120V or propane. In a pinch, I did keep the 20A ATS that came with the trailer after my complete inverter rewire and use it as a back up should I need to run the RV fridge on the inverter if I run out of propane. That project was quite involved.

We only travel about 3-4 hrs at a time and during the day so it would only run on battery power for short periods and while connected to my running truck which also charges the batteries. For long periods of running I have a generator or I’ll run it off of propane. I’m just trying to eliminate running on propane while traveling on the highway. That’s good info to have though, thanks !

[JDDilly]

As Carl stated, you have 5 outlets that are wired from the invertor, just not the refrigerator.

[Rhortie1]

Update - I just spoke with Keystone customer service and the following items are supposed to be wired in at the factory with the 265w a solar package.

Living room tv outlet
Living room power recliners outlets
Kitchen pop up outlet
Refrigerator
Bedroom tv outlet

I have to make another appointment an have dealership fix this problem and it’s under warranty still. Thanks for everyone’s input

[AZ Traveler]

Ron,

I would be surprised if Montana wired the fridge on a 3120, I would only expect it wired on a 3121 with a residential fridge.

Are all the other outlets described working off the inverter?