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Norcold 2020 fridge N180.3 saga

YanniLazarusYanniLazarus Member Posts: 365
in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
My Norcold stopped working on propane, and with help from "The Norcold Guy" we discovered that the fridge would not light manually with a grill lighter. I ordered a new gas valve, and after 3 months the part just arrived (upside: my ice cooler skills are greatly improved! ) the Norcold now lights and cools on gas, BUT the flame meter does not move at all toward the green zone. I just ordered a new meter, but wondered if I can use the fridge without the meter. My guess is...no.  (quiet sobbing sounds in background)  We pretty much only boondock so that propane feature was pretty sweet.
Yanni Lazarus 2020 T@B320S, 2018 RAV4 Adventure, Central CT
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Comments

  • Grumpy_GGrumpy_G Member Posts: 578
    The meter just indicates that the gas flame is present. If the fridge works otherwise the only downside would be that you wouldn't know when the flame goes out. Does the needle not move at all or just not all the way ? 
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  • FreespiritFreespirit Member Posts: 167
    You can use the fridge without the meter. We used ours the first year without a functioning meter. Replaced it year two. 
    2020 TAB 320 U
    TV 2022 Highlander
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  • YanniLazarusYanniLazarus Member Posts: 365
    Thanks Fellow t@bbers.  No needle movement at all. Freespirit, was it as easy as it looks to replace the meter? Anyone else have to replace the gas valve? 
    Yanni Lazarus 2020 T@B320S, 2018 RAV4 Adventure, Central CT
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  • webers3webers3 Member Posts: 420
    Curious, do you boondock in CT? Where?
    2017 T@B 320S   2019 Jeep Cherokee - Southern Connecticut
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  • YanniLazarusYanniLazarus Member Posts: 365
    You make me laugh... CT boondocking is pretty tame. For us, it's harvest host sites (always our site preference)  CT or VT state parks which don't have utilities, or when desperate hipcamp sites.
    Yanni Lazarus 2020 T@B320S, 2018 RAV4 Adventure, Central CT
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  • webers3webers3 Member Posts: 420
    Right, no “boodocking” in CT, that’s why I was curious if you had found some place. BTW last year I gave up on the 3 way and went with ICECO portable fridge that fits in the same space, never looked back. Still have the Norcold sitting in the basement, if you are interested 😀
    2017 T@B 320S   2019 Jeep Cherokee - Southern Connecticut
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  • YanniLazarusYanniLazarus Member Posts: 365
    Where exactly is that basement? Might like it for parts! 
    Yanni Lazarus 2020 T@B320S, 2018 RAV4 Adventure, Central CT
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  • webers3webers3 Member Posts: 420
    Milford CT
    2017 T@B 320S   2019 Jeep Cherokee - Southern Connecticut
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  • FreespiritFreespirit Member Posts: 167
    @YanniLazarus, replacing the meter is fairly easy. It all depends on how they routed the two wires you need to disconnect from the non-working meter.  In my case, one wire was easy to remove but the other wire was routed under some wires and a little hard to get to. 
    I took my time and used a small screwdriver to (pry) release the old wire and then used the screwdriver to guide, aligning then push the new wire in place. You can do it!
    2020 TAB 320 U
    TV 2022 Highlander
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  • YanniLazarusYanniLazarus Member Posts: 365



    So relieved/happy to have my 3-way working again.   How long is the socially- acceptable wait before I start claiming the advantages of a 3- way over a 2-way? At least a season, right? This darn thing never lit this easily...
    Yanni Lazarus 2020 T@B320S, 2018 RAV4 Adventure, Central CT
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  • Denny16Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    edited August 2022
    Anytime you want Yanni, but today, the only advantage the propane fridge has over a AC/DC compressor fridge, is it’s ability is most situations (not all) to cool the fridge without using substantial amounts of power.  On DC, the trhee-way actually uses more power than a DC compressor of the same size.  

    It’s previous advantage of providing more cold storage space, has been lost to the new larger DC compressor fridges available today, which nüCamp has switched to using.  

    Glad you got it working correctly, may it give you trouble free service now.  Happy camping and stay safe.
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • YanniLazarusYanniLazarus Member Posts: 365
    My N180.3 has served me well, but now runs with the flame meter just barely in the green.  I have never cleaned or replaced the gas jet (2020) and would prefer to replace rather than clean just to be compulsive.  Is the jet a possible cause? Anything else? Best place to buy the jet? Thanks...
    Yanni Lazarus 2020 T@B320S, 2018 RAV4 Adventure, Central CT
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  • MuttonChopsMuttonChops Member Posts: 1,755
    YanniLazarus said:
    My N180.3 has served me well, but now runs with the flame meter just barely in the green.
    My 2017 N180.3 Flame Meter has barely been in the Green Zone for several years.  I have assumed it is just part of the Source Voltage Thermocouple located in the burner box aging.  As long as the Gas Valve Opens there is enough voltage for the Fridge to operate . . . . So barely in the Green works for me.



    '18 320 S,  pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based
    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    Adventures:  55   Nights:  376  Towing Miles 46,920
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  • YanniLazarusYanniLazarus Member Posts: 365
    Thank you,  MuttonChop!
    Yanni Lazarus 2020 T@B320S, 2018 RAV4 Adventure, Central CT
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