When it comes to RV refrigerators, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a cooler brand than norcold. Their fridges have been making their way into rigs since 1959, and are known for their reliability and energy efficiency. But, despite their durability, your norcold fridge can still experience issues from time to time. Luckily, they’re not nearly as difficult to fix as you might think. In this article, we’ll explore how norcold fridges operate and give you a few straightforward troubleshooting tips to get you back on track.
How Does a Norcold Refrigerator Work?
Norcold refrigerators are absorption fridges that use a combination of gasses and chemistry to create cold. They start with a boiler that’s powered by propane gas. This boils a tank of water and ammonia, which turns into gas before rising to another chamber where it absorbs heat from the air. As the gas cools, it returns to a liquid state and is remixed with water to start the cycle all over again.
The latest additions to the Norcold family are the Polar series, which feature an LCD display, hidden hinges and recessed handles for easy access. They also include a mode selector that allows you to choose between LP gas or 12-volt DC power as the primary energy source for the fridge. For smaller spaces, the company’s portable refrigerators and freezers look more like coolers and run on electricity only. For those who want to try a more traditional refrigerator set-up, there’s the Norcold AC/DC series, which features two and four door models that resemble residential refrigerators. norcold refrigerators