Norcool fridge not turning on 12v

ric · **Posted:** Sun May 10, 2015 10:13 pm

I'm not sure where to start. 1999 Norcool fridge not sure of the model #. It's getting 12.5v to the circuit board, and inside the circuit board it has two glass fuses that are not blown and passing 12.5v as they should, but inside the fridge is an on/off switch, rheostat for temp, and LED light for power and it doesn't light up nor does the fridge turn on.

I feel like I'm missing something simple.

ric · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2015 9:54 pm

Works perfect on 120v. Doesn't turn on with 12v. I feel like I'm missing something.

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Tue May 12, 2015 6:05 am

I feel like I'm missing something too....like you seem to have acquired a Chap 240 in your signature line. Did I miss the post about you getting a new boat?

ric · **Posted:** Tue May 12, 2015 8:00 am

NiagaraChillin wrote:

I feel like I'm missing something too....like you seem to have acquired a Chap 240 in your signature line. Did I miss the post about you getting a new boat?

A buddy is letting me borrow it for the year, he wasn't using it. He has 8 jet skis, 11 motorcycles, and a couple other boats. He's actually quite happy I'm dusting it off and getting it back operational. It's a little old for my tastes, but it will do the job. It's not going to change the fact I'm still saving to buy a 248 Vista. They're cheap here in FL: http://orlando.craigslist.org/boa/4991077468.html or http://treasure.craigslist.org/bod/5009533611.html

After doing a BUNCH of googling on the fridge it could be two things. The relay on the circuit board OR the switch inside the fridge. It's not a lost cause it's just corrosion somewhere. Not even sure if I want to get it working on 12v though, we'll get drunk and leave it on.. 6 hours later the boat won't start.

Geotempo · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2015 9:30 am

I have the same problem on a brand new Norcold Fridge. I tested the fridge with a direct connection to a 12v trolling motor battery and the compressor started running. However if I ran the fridge from the boat wiring the compressor will run for 2 seconds ,then shut down. The voltmeter showed 12 volts on the wiring but i suspect is oxidation on a terminal along the wiring.

2004 Four Winns Vista 268.

ric · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2015 9:38 am

Geotempo wrote:

I have the same problem on a brand new Norcold Fridge. I tested the fridge with a direct connection to a 12v trolling motor battery and the compressor started running. However if I ran the fridge from the boat wiring the compressor will run for 2 seconds ,then shut down. The voltmeter showed 12 volts on the wiring but i suspect is oxidation on a terminal along the wiring.

2004 Four Winns Vista 268.

Oxidation is the issue with mine. I need to take it all apart.

Geotempo · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2015 2:14 pm

I think I found the problem.

ric · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2015 2:45 pm

Yeah you're going to want to clean that up :shock:

noexcuses · **Posted:** Tue May 26, 2015 7:51 am

I kind of doubt that your battery isolator is part of your fridge circuit. Are you showing 12 volts at the fridge connection under load? More often than not with Four Winns the wire size is to small for the run for the fridge.

Thalasso · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:45 pm **Posts:** 333

Sounds to me the inverter portion of the board is gone.
When on 12V DC it runs on an inverter that is prone to break (blown diode on the DC power board) which includes the circuit which senses the AC and DC

ric · **Posted:** Tue May 26, 2015 8:53 am

Actually it's usually not the inverter portion. The on/off circuit board is inside the fridge and it corrodes from condensation. Clean/replace switch and it usually comes back to life.

Thalasso · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:45 pm **Posts:** 333

ric wrote:

Actually it's usually not the inverter portion. The on/off circuit board is inside the fridge and it corrodes from condensation. Clean/replace switch and it usually comes back to life.

Misread the post. I thought it to say it would run on 110 and not 12v.
Do they still make parts for never cold?

ric · **Posted:** Tue May 26, 2015 2:56 pm

Thalasso wrote:

Do they still make parts for never cold?

Nope, that crappy ass company doesn't make or sell parts for anything that's over 2 years old (past it's warranty). They want you to buy new.

Graham R · **Posted:** Tue May 26, 2015 4:32 pm

ric wrote:

Thalasso wrote:

Do they still make parts for never cold?

Nope, that crappy ass company doesn't make or sell parts for anything that's over 2 years old (past it's warranty). They want you to buy new.

Didn't that used to be the "American way", obsolescence once the model year changed ? Not meant as an anti- American comment. My boss in Switzerland from 1987 to 1989 was a Texan, the nicest guy I have ever known and a friend to boot. Very well respected and rightly so in the large US chemical company we worked for. He was amazed when he came over from the US that I had a 7 year car that still looked new(ish) and that I could still get parts for it. ( I wish he was still with us and I still had the car; now worth upwards of USD 30.000; shame I sold it for around USD 1,000 ! )

boater50 · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 10:47 am

Ric;

Have you looked at the 5a fuse? Mine will do the same thing from time to time, I just pull the fuse, spray elec. cleaner on the terminals, jiggle it a bit and it works.....now just today I discovered that the fridge is not cooling....power is on, led light is on, on both ac & dc power, but frige is warm......maybe the compressor bit the dust......orig. fridge on my '96 238v......time for a new one I guess....

Steve

www.iFourWinns.com

Norcool fridge not turning on 12v

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