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06-04-2020, 08:50 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Surrey
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21331
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Norcold Fridge packed up
Hi all. We have a 2016 model year 3440RL with the Norcold 2118 4 door fridge. It has been a terrific fridge with no issues until now. Yesterday morning I noticed there was no cooling in the fridge are and the freezer section was still cold. Pulled the outside lower vent and saw refrigerant had leaked all over. The end result being the cooling unit is dead.
My question is, with the unit being 5 years old, do we replace the cooling unit or the whole fridge? The pricing for the cooling unit is slightly less than half the price of a new fridge, but part of the reason could be the fridge itself - door seals, case issues, electronics etc. The fridge itself is $5K plus
Replacement with a residential fridge is not an option as we need the propane for a backup in the event of an AC power loss when we are not at the trailer.
Curious if anyone has had the same issue and what the solution was?
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06-04-2020, 10:05 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,658
M.O.C. #9969
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We have a Residential Fridge, 1000 Watt Inverter, and Four 6 Volt Batteries. If we loose shore power our Fridge keeps running and doesn't miss a beat and can run for several days if necessary.
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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06-04-2020, 10:16 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,690
M.O.C. #12947
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We have the 12 cu ft Norcold and after having the cooling unit replaced twice in 2015, and installing an ARP device on it the second time, our fridge has worked perfectly since. I would suggest just having a new cooling unit installed, whether a Norcold or a good Amish unit and install the ARP device and you should be good.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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06-04-2020, 11:02 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
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Take a look at JC Refrigeration offerings. Third party replacements of OEM cooling units in a couple of different flavors.
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06-04-2020, 11:36 AM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Round Rock
Posts: 475
M.O.C. #17905
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhs4771
We have a Residential Fridge, 1000 Watt Inverter, and Four 6 Volt Batteries. If we loose shore power our Fridge keeps running and doesn't miss a beat and can run for several days if necessary.
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Yep, x2
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Pete & Joan & "Honey" fur-baby.
2015 Montana 3611RL 2012 F350 6.7 DRW Lariat
Disc Brakes & Sailun 14 ply S637
6-pt Hydraulic leveling
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06-04-2020, 01:01 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,923
M.O.C. #20477
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Mule,
First, welcome to the forum!
Either replacing with a residential or repairing can work. I would not buy a whole new RV unit - replace the cooling unit instead. If you repair, add an ARP unit to protect it. Finding a residential that will fit is a challenge sometimes.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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06-04-2020, 01:12 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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Give Dave Forest at https://rvcoolingunit.com/ a call. My older Dometic cooling unit went out several years ago. Replaced the cooling unit myself with the Amish Built unit Dave handles for $680.00. Much heavier than the Dometic OEM as the walls of the coil are thicker. Dave provided all the advice and guidance I needed to complete the change out.
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2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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06-07-2020, 09:59 AM
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#8
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Surrey
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21331
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Thanks for the reply. Which residential fridge do you have?
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06-07-2020, 10:00 AM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Surrey
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21331
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Thanks for the info!
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06-07-2020, 01:59 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,370
M.O.C. #8728
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Contact Leon Hirschberger at National RV Refrigeration in Shipshewana, In. When the fridge in our old unit quit, I brought the rig to him and he replaced the burner unit for half of the cost of a new refer, added an ARP Fridge Defend unit and warranteed it for six years. I installed a ARP Fridge Defend unit on my new rig. It will protect the refrigerator from over heating.
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06-21-2020, 02:39 PM
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#11
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Surrey
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21331
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Thanks for the comments to this post.
After a significant amount of research, we have made the decision to go with a residential fridge. The repair to the 2118 was met with much uncertainty as to what caused the failure. Replacement with new was not an option that made fiscal sense.
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06-21-2020, 07:49 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Fullerton
Posts: 209
M.O.C. #22148
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Hi Bob,
For my own clarification, what is an “ARP device”?
Don
__________________
Donjamin & Laurie
Fullerton, CA
2016 Montana Legacy, 3160RL
2015 Ford F-250 SD 4X4
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06-21-2020, 08:53 PM
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#13
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Surrey
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21331
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Hi Don,
Here is a link to the ARP product offering. Not all that familiar with the product but if you have an absorbson fridge, it seems like a good safeguard.
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06-21-2020, 08:54 PM
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#14
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Surrey
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21331
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Sorry, here is the link for ARP.
https://www.arprv.com
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06-21-2020, 08:59 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,923
M.O.C. #20477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donjamin
Hi Bob,
For my own clarification, what is an “ARP device”?
Don
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Installed an ARP in ours - great protection. https://www.arprv.com
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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06-24-2020, 09:40 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackMule15
Thanks for the comments to this post.
After a significant amount of research, we have made the decision to go with a residential fridge. The repair to the 2118 was met with much uncertainty as to what caused the failure. Replacement with new was not an option that made fiscal sense.
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I think you will be happy with that choice. I don't know how often you have power outages. At our southern winter private site we have had only one significant outage in 7 years. That was for 8 hours in our second year with the residential. Invertor/battery got us through with no issue. We have had several others of very short duration and the fridge just stays on without a hitch. I would recommend two batteries if you don't already have that.
__________________
Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA
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06-26-2020, 07:21 AM
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#17
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Joppa
Posts: 22
M.O.C. #22627
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackMule15
Thanks for the comments to this post.
After a significant amount of research, we have made the decision to go with a residential fridge. The repair to the 2118 was met with much uncertainty as to what caused the failure. Replacement with new was not an option that made fiscal sense.
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Can you let us know make and model of the replacement. Any additional work needed due to size differences. Total cost of the conversion. My Nevercold is pushing me to do the same thing.
__________________
2019 3120RL
2018 F350 DRW
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