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New to T@B - Question about Norcold 3-way

ColoradoJonColoradoJon Member Posts: 415
in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
Hi everyone - My wife and I just took delivery of a 2017 T@B S Outback model.  Had a great experience with Sun City Trailers in Colorado Springs and their walk through was fantastic, although some of the info they provided as a bit off.  I can't blame them with all of the changes that are made to these trailers, though.

We got the Norcold 3-way refrigerator and the dealer said that any time the refrigerator is running that we need to run the secondary, manually activated fan.  We are 100% dispersed campers and will rely on propane and 12V power sources, so I'm concerned about having to run that fan all the time. Is it really necessary?  Or can we just use the thermal activated fan?

On another note - we brought our new trailer home yesterday and ran through all of the systems.  The Norcold was awesome, I cannot believe that it maintained a temp of 34 inside even when the exterior temp was 88 F.  We did run that manual fan the whole time, though.  Everything worked beautifully and Sun City did an awesome job prepping and testing the systems.  I couldn't be happier!
Jon & Angela | Florissant Colorado | 2017 Outback S
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    VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    I ran my auxiliary fan all winter when camped and I camped most of the time without electric sites. The fan is a miser on battery usage. It is a small computer fan, and it does work well to exhaust the extra heat from the top of the fridge. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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    ColoradoJonColoradoJon Member Posts: 415
    I must say that it did work very well exhausting the heat and if it doesn't use that much power it can't hurt to run it.  Thank you for the feedback.  I'll probably turn the fridge and fan off at night to avoid the fan noises when sleeping.

    I'll probably have more questions after we get back from camping this weekend.  Or not.  I've spent the last two months lurking on these forums and have learned a lot just by reviewing older posts.
    Jon & Angela | Florissant Colorado | 2017 Outback S
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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    I'm an off gridder like Verna but don't leave the aux fan on all the time. In hotter temps (80-85+) I find the main fridge fan runs fairly often so I do turn the aux fan on and leave it on. In cooler temps (70s or below like today) the main fan rarely comes on and the countertop isn't overly warm so I leav it off.
    But, as Verna states, it's a miserly electrical draw so batterywise it's not going to hurt ya. I just don't want the noise even though it's pretty quiet.
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    TommyTommy Member Posts: 175
    OK I feel dumb asking but what aux fan are you guys talking about? Does your fridge have an aux fan button? I've examined every square inch of our fridge (Norcold 3-way, 2016 Outback) and there is no aux fan switch. There is however a 1" round hole cover on the control panel that looks like an extra switch could have been mounted there. I feel like I'm missing out on something because our fridge struggles to keep the temperature in the safe range - we had to throw out some food this last trip because the temp got too high inside.
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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    edited July 2016
    Tommy - There's a small aux fridge fan that was added in either late 2015 or 2016 models to help with airflow around the fridge. It also exhausts heat that builds up under the counter. If your T@B doesn't have one, you can get one free from the factory. I installed the fan while on the road, the only tool it took was a drill for the switch. Here's what my fan switch looks like mounted in the wood trim...



    Yes, I need to dust ;-)

    The kit includes a new external vent (the one outside front of the door) that has a small computer style fan mounted to it and the switch with wiring. Just need to take out the old vent, install the switch, tap into the fridge electrical wiring and slide the new vent into place.
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    ScottGScottG Administrator Posts: 5,428
    Argh! Another glowing LED! :-)

    Didn't realize PV would provide these for free. Do they need any particular info when I call?
    2015 T@B S

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    Tabaz Tabaz Member Posts: 2,357
    I replaced my stock Norcold and LG fans with very quiet computer fans (search Noisy Norcold).  All three fans are connected to the Norcold thermostat and run simultaneously.  I too boondock a lot and find the fans draw very little power on battery power.
    2016 Outback 320 with a 2010 Ford Expedition.
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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    edited July 2016
    I haven't found the fan noise to be too bad and I installed while sitting in a little town park in NE - Frank's install is much more elaborate by tieing it into the thermo switch. If I was sitting with a shop/tools, I might have gone that way.

    ScottG - Just call Elsie and ask for the aux fan kit for the fridge and she'll send one out to you free. According to a Verna post.
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    TommyTommy Member Posts: 175
    Very cool (no pun intended). Thanks @PXLated. We do not have that installed so I will call them today and see if I can get it going.

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    BjreimannBjreimann Member Posts: 12
    We have the aux fan built in with our 2017-s and it seemed to be a big draw on our battery. We thought it had to be turned on all the time and with very little (occasional water pump) using our battery, our battery drained in less than 2 days. After recharging the battery and turning off the refrigerator and fan, the battery held its charge without issues. I wonder if the kit they're sending uses less than the one pre-installed?  
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    ericnlizericnliz Member Posts: 4,437
    Bjreimann, We have the pre-installed one on our 2016 S model and have not experienced the issues you are describing. Have you tried to just run it during the day, and turn if off at night when the additional cooling is not required? I have been using ours that way the last two trips, and it seems to drain less on the battery, and does not seem to heat up the counter-top,  but I also re-charge during the day with solar. Might give it a try without the auxiliary fan on at night and see if it helps.
    2016 T@B MAX S-aka: WolfT@B
    TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
    Spokane, Wa.
    Eric aka: Lone Wolf  


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    VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    Bjreimann said:
    We have the aux fan built in with our 2017-s and it seemed to be a big draw on our battery. We thought it had to be turned on all the time and with very little (occasional water pump) using our battery, our battery drained in less than 2 days. After recharging the battery and turning off the refrigerator and fan, the battery held its charge without issues. I wonder if the kit they're sending uses less than the one pre-installed?  
    The kits are identical to what is installed. Last year I watched some workers at Pleasant Valley making up the kits. They all go into the same "bin" and mail orders come from the same bin. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Unlike the water pump and ceiling fan, I don't find the aux fan to be a battery hog at all. On or off, I don't notice much difference.
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    keithpkeithp Member Posts: 31
    I hooked up my aux fan with a separate thermostat so that it runs only when it's warm under the cabinet. It rarely comes on at night. Note that if the door is latched open, airflow from the vent is reduced. The fan runs a lot more when that happens...
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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    I think it was Frank - OutbackAZ - that wired his to the fridge thermostat so it comes on whenever the internal fan does.
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    KeltdubhKeltdubh Member Posts: 54
    Bjreimann said:
    We have the aux fan built in with our 2017-s and it seemed to be a big draw on our battery. We thought it had to be turned on all the time and with very little (occasional water pump) using our battery, our battery drained in less than 2 days. After recharging the battery and turning off the refrigerator and fan, the battery held its charge without issues. I wonder if the kit they're sending uses less than the one pre-installed?  
    Are you running your refrigerator on battery or propane. The Norcold 3-way is a power hog when running on battery. Propane is much more efficient when boondocking. 
    Ed & Tea
    Linden, VA
    2016 T@B Q Max Outback Package - 2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road
    Shenandoah Valley T@BBERS
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    RatkityRatkity Member Posts: 3,770
    ScottG said:
    Argh! Another glowing LED! :-)

    Didn't realize PV would provide these for free. Do they need any particular info when I call?
    Scott, Elsie just asked what model I had. She's a sweetheart. Yes, I put gorilla duct tape over the glowing LED. Drives me nuts! I have most of them taped over.
    2017 820R Retro Toy Hauler from 2015 Tabitha T@B from 2009 Reverse LG Teardrop (but a T@Bluver at heart)
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    VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    ScottG said:
    Argh! Another glowing LED! :-)

    Didn't realize PV would provide these for free. Do they need any particular info when I call?
    @ScottG , just the year of your T@B.
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
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    DurangoTaBDurangoTaB Member Posts: 754
    We have a 2014 T@B with all the 2015 features...which doesn't include the aux fan.  The counter top doesn't seem to get that warm so we just put up with it.  I may get the kit just in case...

    J.D. & Sue

    Durango, CO    2014/15 S M@xx :  "Dory's HabiT@B"  Keep on swimming...

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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Get the kit J.D. :-)
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    TommyTommy Member Posts: 175
    keithp said:
    I hooked up my aux fan with a separate thermostat so that it runs only when it's warm under the cabinet. It rarely comes on at night. Note that if the door is latched open, airflow from the vent is reduced. The fan runs a lot more when that happens...
    Hi Keith, would you mind expanding on this - do you have a link to the thermostat you installed with it?
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    ColoradoJonColoradoJon Member Posts: 415
    Just a follow up - we camped out near Wilkerson Pass last weekend and ran the fridge on propane without the auxiliary fan.  The thermal fan kicked on here and there and the countertop got slightly warm, but it seemed to work just fine on its own.

    12V power is an issue and without solar/generator for recharging I think I will convert to a dual 6V system.
    Jon & Angela | Florissant Colorado | 2017 Outback S
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