Norcold 1200 LRIM

[dltaweb]

I have a 07 Dynasty with a 1200  LRIM, Started prepping for our first trip of the season and found the fridge flashing L1oP, I had the recall done years ago when the problem first started. The red light is on on the recall added box. I have reset the box with a magnet multiple times and will retrip again with in 5-10 minutes. I don't see any sign that it is leaking and don't smell anything either. I have read that these early fixes can go bad and Norcold  will not sell me one direct. The closet service shop is quite far away and would like to try jumping the retrofit box first temporarily to see if that is the problem, I understand the risk of fire, I even put in a halon fire extinguisher in the outside access when I had the recall done years ago just to play it safe.  If I can determine the problem then I will take it to a service center to replace the recall box

Thanks

Mark M

07 Monaco Dynasty

[JDStew]

I just hooked the wire to the source, bypassing the safety switch. Amazon sells that safety switch as of last year when mine tripped after a coach wash 🙂

[Dr4Film]

If the RED light is still on after attempting to reset the box then you need to get a stronger magnet. The RED light needs to be OFF for the box to work.

Tractor Supply has what they call a cattle magnet or go to Harbor Freight and purchase the strongest magnet they have in stock.

[Sandy Swede]

Have you looked into the ARP thermal limit switch?  Prior to having the Amish cooling unit (helium) installed, I had the ARP installed for safety.  Hindsight, as they say, is 20 20 and I sometimes think that I should have bitten the bullet way back then and just gone the residential route as we seldom dry camp.  Continually resetting the fridge control with a magnet is a short term fix, but you are still exposing yourself and loved ones with the fire hazard.  The recall fix by Norcold/Dometic was set to trip at too high a temp IMO.  Safe travels.

Edited May 7, 2020 by Sandy Swede

[jacwjames]

My Norcold never really did perform well.  Fridge temps varied widely and I installed remote temp sensors to keep track of it.  We kept large freezer blocks frozen and would put them in the fridge it temps started to go down. 

Finally, while I was living in the coach when we were building our new house, the fridge starting shutting off.  I reset the recall box 3-4 times with a strong magnet, which only worked for a short period of time.  The last time I went back out to reset there was a dust that appeared so I assume the system actually did completely failed.  I unplugged and shut off the gas and never looked back.  To get by I used a small dorm type fridge.

Finally last year I took the time to install a Samsung residential.  Should have done that years ago considering how much spoiled food we threw away over the years besides the fire risk.

[redhorse819]

Lost my 2004 Camelot to Norcold fridge box failure.  Have another rig but refused to step foot in it until a residential fridge was installed.  Tried to fight Norcold, but a losing battle.  I was on #5 'box fix'!!!!!  Why were these not toally recalled is beyond me.

[dltaweb]

Thanks all for the input.

 

I am aware of the issues with the No cold, this is moho #4 and second Dynasty, I originally joined MOCA in 2000 shortly after I bought my first used Dynasty and not long after Al P started it up, was a huge help for me as it was my first diesel pusher. Once Bill D aka The Colonel, branched off on his own with this site I of course started following this as well, I haven't been active for a few years now with life getting in the way but do get the digest and follow when I can 

This coach was a factory order for me and figured it was my last one so I wanted it my way. The residential fridge was an option at the time but my kids were still young and most of our use was dry camping with some NASCAR races mixed in so I still wanted the LP option but knowing eventually I would want a residential fridge I ordered it with the larger inverter and extra 4 6v batteries that would normally come with the residential option so it is ready to go when I am which will be soon but for now we have our first trip of the season scheduled in a couple weeks and for now trying to get this one running so my question still is can I bypass the retrofit module to confirm that is actually the problem and then schedule to get it fixed ASAP when I can.

This is probably the first generation retro fit and have read they can and do fail so just trying to pin it down.

 

Sorry for the long winded post but just a little background info.

Thanks

Mark M

07 Dynasty 

[jacwjames]

If you just bypass the black box to see if the fridge works I would think you would be OK but I would not let it connected that way for long.   Have fire extinguishers in hand!

I was able to reset my black box~3-4 times but finally realized I had a bigger problem and just threw in the towel.  I did contemplate having the Norcold fixed with the Amish unit but decided to go with a residential.  In my case not an easy decision due to the furnace under the fridge.  I was able to lower the furnace to the floor and gain enough room to install the Samsung.  Not an easy task but worth it in the long run

Good luck