Fridge not working on propane--discontinued parts to repair--new fridge options?

lkc001

Hello--my 2017 Tab 320S 3-way fridge stopped working on propane--still works on electric if I'm in a campground.  Finally found a tech that was a referral & bonus--has done training with Nucamp.  He has determined that the thermocouple is bad.  Nucamp told him that the part for my fridge is discontinued/or they no longer carry it.  He has tried for 2 days to contact Norcold directly--they are not answering their phones. 
 
Has anyone replaced their older 3-way fridge with one of the new 2 way fridges?  Costs?  My repair tech praises the new fridges--however, how much solar/battery do I to need to use it? 50% of the time I go boondocking for 5-7 days at a time.

Frustrating when older units can't get replacement parts or information directly from Norcold.    

Sharon_is_SAM

Many owners have installed the Isotherm or other brand of 12V compressor frig.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/6556/replaced-norcold-3-way-with-efficient-ac-dc-electric-fridge/p1

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/17806/3-way-norcold-replacement#latest

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/203733#Comment_203733

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/17178/norcold-n180-3-replacement#latest

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/11273/replacing-norcold-3-way-fridge-with-isotherm-2-way/p1

lkc001

Sharon_is_SAM said:

Many owners have installed the Isotherm or other brand of 12V compressor frig.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/6556/replaced-norcold-3-way-with-efficient-ac-dc-electric-fridge/p1

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/17806/3-way-norcold-replacement#latest

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/203733#Comment_203733

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/17178/norcold-n180-3-replacement#latest

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/11273/replacing-norcold-3-way-fridge-with-isotherm-2-way/p1

thanks so much for the info and links Sharon!!

pthomas745

Plenty of Norcold Thermocouples are available.  I was just playing with mine the other day. In my 2017, and with the troubleshooting here in the Forums I made my fridge work. I would have a close look at the Service Manuals we have in the threads linked below for particular part numbers.

https://www.amazon.com/Norcold-Inc-Refrigerators-619154-Thermocouple/dp/B0031XK26A/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3V07ZLJF989B9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ayx6iOfMsC98wO0ACAoVI7PJCk8j1xpALO1BRPK42EPpxWyhBT-0P-SWxQsjddoIOogdNIjAj8JVzXSkb_QTExbdjvODOpHSD573SqVsugBLFZMFNL0RErU_8YCqxmesMTrdcz1Nu2Aru3l4KY7yvCFETtcRStIQA21FHeSeYSVq1WzAsTrrrKWH1Jw1OedyiJoqzzsUFr4BKXBa2osiQFKWRt-ZiZiXfSs-rMUdlIRhQFcdiWG2GOvrE__jHfhynXQeNPPphSl_uLMbLc1z46xXriK6h1OfN8fzeJ0jwYM.vRvQ-ye7uQZ0M2Uq9AbpoIfauQPLjKKtGIqhOpiUe8E&dib_tag=se&keywords=norcold+thermocouple&qid=1717688164&sprefix=norcold+thermocouple,aps,148&sr=8-1

And: what you need is a tech trained by the Forums.  If the "trained by NuCamp tech" has not dug into our many threads and discussions and solutions, with all the trials and tribulations of the owners of the propane fridges, they do not have the experience they need!  There are plenty of parts available...if they know where to look.  That Amazon link is simply one source. The thread below pointed me in the right direction..I had already replaced the gas valve and thermistor.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/7717/norcold-3163-3-way-refrigerator-wont-start-on-propane-what-fixed-mine-general-diagnostic-advice

Did your tech test the "thermocouple interruptor" or simply replace it?  A 7 dollar part?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJK4M7GY?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

With a new interrupter, and an adjustment of the thermocouple going into the interrupter, my fridge came back to life almost immediately.

Yes, you could have the other end of the thermocouple failing inside the burner box itself, which we also know how to fix.

Here is the Forum thread with various  Norcold service manuals with the troubleshooting discussions, parts lists, etc. 

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/6390/norcold-refrigerator-manual-guidelines-tips#latest

Norcold was bought by Dometic a couple of years ago, since Dometic is simply rolling up any number of RV camping suppliers around the world.  Gone are the days of being able to call these companies and ask the most simple of questions. 

Maybe your tech did go through all these things...maybe not.  But, don't give up on your fridge just yet!

lkc001

thank you @pthomas745--I will give him this information!

pthomas745

@lkc001 I did not mean to sound insulting to your RV tech.  Sometimes an owner will obsess on things like these (Fridges, fans, Aldes) and wind up buried in information and sources that others may not come up with.  I've been playing with my fridge now for months on and off.  That little interrupter turned out to be my missing link.

lkc001

pthomas745 said:

@lkc001 I did not mean to sound insulting to your RV tech.  Sometimes an owner will obsess on things like these (Fridges, fans, Aldes) and wind up buried in information and sources that others may not come up with.  I've been playing with my fridge now for months on and off.  That little interrupter turned out to be my missing link.

All good pthomas— I did not take it as insulting— I tried to give my service tech the website & link to the threads dealing with the thermocouple issue but he acted like he knew everything kind of & said the part is simply not available from any of his contacts for parts or from Nucamp—I’m bummed that I had to waste time & money & still no fix—  he wasn’t cheap—I am not handy or talented enough to build a pull out tray to install a 12v fridge in it’s place— so I have elected to just use this fridge on electric when I’m at a campground with utilities & going to get a portable 12v fridge/freezer combo for boondocking then use current fridge as an icebox— it will keep 1/2 gal jugs frozen for a good 5-6 days & water bottles frozen for at least 3 days— then I’ll use the new 12v fridge/freezer combo for frozen meats. I’m not willing to fork out $1,000 to $1,500 for another 3-way fridge plus more labor at $180/hour.  Sometimes things just don’t go as planned.

pthomas745

I am completely with you.  My fridge has been a big "problematic" the last couple of years.  I have one of the small 12V fridges that fills in quite nicely.  At this point, getting my fridge to run on propane is a bonus.  Those little parts I talked about literally sat in the trailer for six weeks or more before I decided to give one a try.  As Sharon-Is-Sam pointed out, there are now many fridges built to fit the old "Norcold" space.  Even Dometic is making small 2 way fridges that will fit in the Norcold space. They appear to be about half the price of some of the ones mentioned above. 

https://www.dometic.com/en-us/outdoor/rv-and-van/refrigerators

StepheninDen

Not sure if this is helpful but I just posted this on another fridge thread. 

I pulled the original Norcold compressor fridge out of my 2014 CS-S a couple of years ago and replaced it with a yeti roadie cooler on a heavy duty pull out shelf from Home Depot. I have a second cooler mostly for drinks in the TV. I mainly boondock and the fridge was draining the battery in 1-2 days during the summer. Combo of block ice and freezer blocks in the cooler will last a week in 80 degree weather (I have a little hand pump to drain melt water). The shade and ventilation of the CS-S hatch also helps. I have portable solar but never need it on shorter trips without the fridge draw. With the pull out, it also adds nice extra counter space!


Also I still have the working fridge in my basement and am probably going to sell it. I’m guessing it will fit an older TAB 320S but don’t actually know. I’m in Denver, DM me if you’re interested in it.