Norcold Fridge shutting off on Propane

digitaldean

Hi. I have a 2018 320S Boondock with the 3-way Norcold fridge. Last weekend, while the fridge was running on propane, I noticed the fridge wasn't running and warm. When I started it again I noticed the gauge showed barely on the line between white and green which was a little lower than normal. Then I noticed it would bounce around if I flicked it with my finger. I got it going again a couple times, but also noticed that the flame would go out right when I closed the fridge top cover (covering the controls). Weird! Loose connection? One or two issues?

I noticed a soot buildup around the thermocouple and chimney as well so I cleaned that on site. Really hard to get the soot off the thermocouple though, and really hard to get the thermocouple out. Anyway, I got it cleaned and started again a couple times, but the flame just kept going out over time, or when I closed the fridge top cover. The thermocouple seems to be in partial flame where it should be. Faulty?

Back home today I removed the cooktop and looked inside remembering someone posting awhile ago about loose connections. I didn't notice any, but wiggling them around seems to have made the gauge read more onto the green side now. Not a good sign. The propane starts first click of the ignitor, and the gauge now reads well into the green like it used to last year, but I don't know if it's going to go out after awhile next time camping. Any experience with these issues? I did a search but there's so many to go through.
Dean

ChanW

The 'loose connection' for our Tab was the under-stovetop connection for the thermocouple. Lighting and staying lit were all over the chart. I looked under the stove and found the thermocouple loose, tightened it, the fridge worked for a while, then it got loose again.
Finally fixed it with LockTite. Haven't had a problem lighting it, since!

MadCityJack

I used my 3-way on propane for 4 days while camping last week. It went out several times but was readily re-lighted. It seemed that the "going out" was related to changes in air pressure, like closing the door to the camper rapidly and when strong gusts of wind blew through.   However, I did not test this but subsequently closed the door more slowly.  Could be superstitious behavior on my part.  If it keeps up, I'll check out the thermocouple.

digitaldean

Thanks for the responses. Another interesting observation while troubleshooting, there is considerable air turbulence when I slide the metal box over the flame. I can hear it being blown around, and when I open the little door, the flame is changing colors and moving around a lot. I slide it off, the flame burns blue and calm. I thought that box is supposed to protect the flame from turbulence, not produce it? I'm running the fridge outside now with it off and it's been running for a few hours now, no problem. This might be the issue? 

ginsbuj

I finally found a way for frig to work on gas again by turning the temperature control all the way clockwise to the very coldest setting that is a dot just past the coldest setting. Runing in 100 degree weather at 30 degrees.. Anyone know the part to replace ?

ginsbuj

Actually although it will run on gas for maybe 3 hours then it heats up so my last post now is questionable. At this point I just wish there was a way to pinpoint exactly what may be causing it to lose cooling. The Norcold N180.3R has really very few parts, no fans, no motherboard just very old fashioned cooling. Anyone?

pthomas745

@ginsbuj There were a bunch of posts for "turbocharging" the Norcold fridge about three years ago:  adding fans, etc.

https://www.google.com/search?q=turbocharging+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk02_p0iI0wfGhNhfMlKeeTiQq2dx_A:1623644781830&ei=bdrGYKmYMtbc-gTctpzQCQ&oq=turbocharging+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAM6BwgAEEcQsANQ_w1YsjRg8j1oAXACeACAAVKIAcYOkgECMjeYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6yAEEwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjpgtmTpJbxAhVWrp4KHVwbB5oQ4dUDCA0&uact=5

Here is a post about adding a fan.  Also included is a mod that removes the cover on the left side of the fridge and installing a vented cover.  I took the cover off a while back...and never put it back on.  My 2017 has the Aux fan installed, and on hot days I might put a little USB fan blowing over the fridge "works".

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/7535/norcold-3-way-auxiliary-fan-kit-my-install-in-2018-t-b-320s/p1

ginsbuj

Stepped up the gas pressure and it seems to be working better. Will monitor for 24 hours and see

Sharon_is_SAM

I just attended the question and answer session at UCamp.  The techs said that at least some of the stove and frig issues can be resolved by adjusting the LPG regulator.

pthomas745

You mean the regulator at the tank?  Or, at the fridge?

Sharon_is_SAM

@pthomas745 - I understood it as the regulator that comes off the tank attached to the front wall of the TaBs. 

ScottG

@ginsbuj, what do mean by "Stepped up the gas pressure..."--did you adjust the regulator as described above by Sharon_is_SAM, or did you make some mod to the fridge itself?

ginsbuj

Upped the pressure on the front wall. The pressure was under 10 so turned up to a little above 11 and it did the trick. Explains why at high altitude the issue showed up first. Glad I didn't toss the frig. It worked perfect for 2 years and I hope to get several more. 

Sharon_is_SAM

What does the inside of that regulator look like?  How do you or a plumber adjust it?

ginsbuj

RV guy tapped into the gas line back near the Alde to put a measuring gauge inline, then took a little plastic tab off the regulator and turned it up with a screwdriver. Very simple. The regulator is stock from NuCamp 2019 Boondock model.  

pthomas745

I've been reading about RV regulators and how they are calibrated.  WAaaay above my pay grade, but now I know what "water pressure inches" are.    Someone on the FB page today is at about 8500 feet and the Alde and stove have stopped working, with full propane tanks.  Which brought me back to search for "adjusting the propane regulator", and I found this thread from 2016.  Which describes an owner giving a simple adjustment to the regulator that solved a propane issue.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/2867/propane-regulator

In that thread, there is a link to a whole discussion and description of how a regulator actually works.

http://www.rvdoctor.com/2001/01/avoiding-pitfalls-of-rv-propane-system.html

digitaldean

Ok, the fridge works on shore power and 12V. Seems like a regulator issue, and I moved mine due to the new hitch box. It's horizontal now, and that CAN be a problem if it's designed to be a vertical mounted unit. It's a fairview, not sure of the model at this point. Anyone have any comments about that? I'm going to try to adjust the flow a little as the fridge can be sensitive to lower gas flows. I'll let you know, thanks to the person that posted that.