Norcold Refrigerator - Cycling often - Question

[obsessive]

We have a Norcold DC451 in our 240. It appears to by cycling on and off at what I would consider, quick intervals.

It cools great, no issues there... But, it may run for 2 minutes, and then shut off for 3-4 minutes, and then may start up for another 1-2 minutes. It will do this pretty much on any temperature setting (once it gets up to temp that is). It will do it either on AC or on DC.

It does hold a consistent temperature, and doesn't seem affected by the frequent starts/stops (unlike a home fridge).

I fully cleaned/defrosted the unit, and it still does it. The temperature sensor is screwed into the bottom of the freezer tray (where the coils are running through), and when I remove it from it's holder and let it dangle in the ambient air, it will not cycle on and off (it just runs... for awhile I assume, but I got tired of waiting for it to shut off). It doesn't seem to drain the battery fast running this way either. I can go on the water for 8-9 hours and have the fridge on DC and it doesn't drain the selected (I have dual) battery much (I can still start the engine from it).

The fridge may have done this all along, but we have only spent the night on the boat three times this year, so I only notice it then.

Is this cycling normal?

 

[jg300da]

Check to make sure the door is closing fully and sealing the magnetic gasket properly. This would account for the need to defrost often and the constant compressor cycling.

 

[obsessive]

I wish that was it. I've only defrosted it once this season. The build-up wasn't that bad at all (1/8" maybe). Gaskets are good and are sealing agianst a piece of paper well. No cold spots felt around the perimeter of the door.

How much does yours cycle?

Eric

 

[Hampton]

Mine never cycles. I keep taking cold beer out and puting warm ones in. That way, it stays on all of the time.

 

[Tyree Too!]

Ours does the same thing but works great. We worried about it when we got the boat over two years ago but don't even notice it now. We spend two nights almost every weekend on the boat. You get used to it and my theory is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!

Peggy

 

[obsessive]

Good to hear... I'm glad I'm not the only one. If I spent the night on it more than a few times, I'm sure I would be used to it, and I can't hear it when we're cruising aorund/tied-up.

I was going to replace the thermostat, thinking the temp sensor had a break in it, but maybe I'll hold off. It seems to work just fine, and appears to operate slightly differently than a home fridge. Starting the compressor on a home fridge a couple minutes after it shuts off will result in a huge current draw and maybe a fridge that won't start. The Norcold seems unaffected.

Haha on the beer comment. Fridge isn't big enough for alot of beer, so the cooler is backup.


Eric

 

[Robski97]

Eric,
The t-stat has to be secured to the feezer plate. If there is not excessive ice on the freezer plate then its normal. Checking the door was a great idea. If the t stat had a break in it it would never shut off . ( there is gas in the cap tube of the t stat that expands and contracts on temperature )

Rob

 

[obsessive]

Eric,
The t-stat has to be secured to the feezer plate. If there is not excessive ice on the freezer plate then its normal. Checking the door was a great idea. If the t stat had a break in it it would never shut off . ( there is gas in the cap tube of the t stat that expands and contracts on temperature )

Rob

Ahh, I thought it was a thermistor, but it has a sheath on it so it's hard to tell if it's wire under there or tubing.

There was no excessive ice. This was the first time I defrosted it all year and the ice coating was minimal.

I called Norcold and talked to a rep, they said that it could be normal (but she didn't seem too sharp on that model).

Thermostat is like 30$, so I may pick one up anyway. I was thinking if it was a thermistor and had a negative temperature coefficient, then when the freezer shelf got cold, it would creat an open circuit and shut it off until it slightly heated, but I figure that it wouldn't cool worth a crud then.

 

[Robski97]

I can guarantee the new one will do the same thing. IT will be a pain in butt to run the new capillary tubing. Ull also have to usually pull the refrig out as the thermostats usually enter the box from the back. Id live with it . ITs just charateristic of the set points on the thermostat. ( cut in and cut out temps )


Rob

 

[obsessive]

I can guarantee the new one will do the same thing. IT will be a pain in butt to run the new capillary tubing. Ull also have to usually pull the refrig out as the thermostats usually enter the box from the back. Id live with it . ITs just charateristic of the set points on the thermostat. ( cut in and cut out temps )


Rob

Ok, I'll live with it. Not a biggie, as long as it keeps the beer cold.

Eric