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Refrigerator on T@B320

huanvanho
huanvanho Member Posts: 48
in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
I have 2017 T@B 320. The original refrigerator took 24 hours to get cold on shore power selection.  I had the RV on a good level. Is that normal? I am thinking about replacing with a normal home refrigerator with the same dimension. Thanks for comments
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Comments

  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    Was the frig empty at the time?  Or did you load it with prechilled food?  Do you know what model?  Does your counter top get hot?
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,654
    edited September 2020
    I have the older model (3163?) Norcold 3-way. Starting empty, mine generally gets to refrigerator temp in a few hours at reasonable ambient temperatures. 
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    @ScottG - his 2017 should have the standard vented frig with an automatic fan.  
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,654
    edited September 2020
    Not sure what you mean by "standard"--the older model was standard at the time and also has venting and an automatic fan.

    I know they changed models somewhere around that time but in general I would expect most 3-ways to function similarly.
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    The Norcold 3-way frigs that were vented through the passenger side wall with an automatic fan became standard with the early 2017 models.  
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • rcuomo
    rcuomo Member Posts: 321
    My 2018 model was built April 2017 and did not have the fan. I had to retro fit the factory fan. 
    ‘18 Tab 320S- mfg’d 4/17, acquired 9/17
    Spare & bike rack on tongue, Renogy 100w suitcase connection, cargo & door nets, sway bar, wired rear camera, Norcold aux fan, front window protection, frame mounted sewer & water hose storage, Krieger 1500w inverter w/100Ah LIFePO4.
    ‘24 Ford F150 XLT PowerBoost- 11,000# capacity
    ‘20 Honda Pilot Elite- 5000# tow cap, 500# tongue cap
    Huntington LI
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  • Verna
    Verna Member Posts: 6,876
    @ScottG, remember when nüCamp was installing the second auxiliary fan on the inside of an outside vent, and they had a switch that must be turned on for the auxiliary fan? They determined the built-in Norcold fan was not sufficient to evacuate all the hot air from under the counter top. 
    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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  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,654
    Got it. Regardless, the older model was still vented, albeit perhaps not as efficiently as the air flow came up through the floor, around the fins on the left side of the fridge. and over the top (under the stove) before exiting out the passenger side vent. There was no plenum, only the space between the unit and the cabinets.

    There is an automatic cooling fan mounted near the fins, but many of us also added the extra fan at the vent.

    Given the improvements in the venting of the newer (2017+) fridges, I would expect them to cool down even faster... 
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • huanvanho
    huanvanho Member Posts: 48
    My refrigerator is Norcold, Model 180.3 R. It was empty when I plug in shore power. Took almost 24 hours just to cool few bottle water inside. Any idea or that is normal of this kind of Refrigerator
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  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,654
    I monitor mine empty using a fridge thermometer--that's where I got the "few hours" from in my previous post.

    Bottles of water are going to take much longer to get cold, even after the fridge has reached operating temperature.

    Regardless, 24 hours still seems like a long time. According to the Chilled Drink Calculator, even a 1L bottle should come down to temp in another six hours.
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • Bayliss
    Bayliss Member Posts: 1,496
    @huanvanho, I have the same model refrigerator.  Before leaving on a trip, I chill the Norcold overnight, while it is empty.  In the morning, or shortly before leaving on my trip, I fill the Norcold with pre-chilled items from my house refrigerator.  That has worked well for me.  If you are chilling the Norcold during the day in warm-hot outside temperature, it is going to take longer to get it cold, and much longer if you put warm items (including bottled water) in the refrigerator before it is cold.
    2019 T@B 320 S Boondock Lite; 2025 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4x4
    (Alde: 3020; Refrig: Isotherm Cruise 65 Eleg; Battery: BB 100Ah LiFePO4; Solar: Renogy 220W Portable Suitcase w/ Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 Controller; Victron BMV-712 Battery Monitor w/ Shunt; Pwr Cntr: PD-4135KW2B; EMS: PI-HW30C)
    Greg & Marlene (Tucson, AZ)


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  • huanvanho
    huanvanho Member Posts: 48
    Thanks for all your comments. I guess this is not as fast as home refrigerator. 
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  • VictoriaP
    VictoriaP Member Posts: 1,496
    huanvanho said:
    Thanks for all your comments. I guess this is not as fast as home refrigerator. 
    It is not as powerful, no. But your home refrigerator is also slow to cool down when first plugged in, especially when you put warm things in it. I replaced my kitchen fridge earlier this year, and it took hours to reach the right temperature.
    2019 320s BD Lite, white with blue (“Haven”)
    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
    2020 Subaru Outback XT
    Pacific NW
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