#837 heading home

[Donna and Scott]

We picked up 837 June 23.  Minor issues caused us to return to Oliver while we were still at DCSP.  New issue arose while heading home so we will talk with Oliver. Frig works on PROPANE while camping but not while hauling.  We did put it on DC as it also would not work with the inverter.  Anyone else have this issue

[ScubaRx]

I suspect the fridge outlet is not connected to the inverter circuits.

Also, with no solar I'd be very careful about running the fridge on DC, you likely will arrive at the end of a travel day with a severely depleted trailer battery.

Dumb question, you didn't turn the propane off before leaving camp?

[SeaDawg]

What is your battery voltage? 

Fridge will not run on dc with low battery. Theres a kickoff level .

Hooked to 110, you fridge would run, because it's getting plenty of voltage.

Check your voltage at the time you stop, before you connect the trailer to 110.

 

[Mike and Carol]

Agree with Steve and Sherry.  Assuming you have a 3 way fridge.  If the propane is turned on the fridge should run whether you are traveling or stationary.  I don’t know why it wouldn’t work on propane if the tank is open while traveling. 

If it doesn’t work on 110V when plugged in to shore power, check to see if it is plugged in to its 110V outlet.  You will need to remove kitchen drawers and the plywood panel behind to see if it is plugged in.  

I wouldn’t run it on 12V, your batteries won’t last long, especially without solar.  I’ve never considered running my fridge off the inverter, not sure that outlet is even connected to the inverter.  Our preferred power is propane unless on shore power, then 110V.  We’ve never used 12V.   Mike

[Donna and Scott]

More I.tetested in finding out why propane and frig work fine while stopped (spent night at rest area)  but after pulling back on the road frig won't work with propane.  We didnt touch tank so it should run while we are driving as nothing was changed.

[Mike and Carol]

If you didn’t turn the tank off it should keep running while on the move.  Is it off when you stop?  How do you know it shuts down once underway?

[Donna and Scott]

Frig worked fine on shore power

[Donna and Scott]

When we stop after knowing it was running on propane the frig displays F which in checking in manual says fault

[SeaDawg]

From what you've described,  I'd guess that your system is setup for gas, but had os turned off.

Please check,and let us know 

[SeaDawg]

My best guess. 

No solar. No continuous power. 

 

[ScubaRx]

Do you have the fridge set to AUTO or MANUAL?

[Donna and Scott]

2 minutes ago, ScubaRx said:

Do you have the fridge set to AUTO or MANUAL?

Manual

 

[ScubaRx]

So you are physically switching the fridge to propane when you start to travel? It won't change modes unless you do it or set to AUTO.

[Donna and Scott]

3 minutes ago, ScubaRx said:

So you are physically switching the fridge to propane when you start to travel? It won't change modes unless you do it or set to AUTO.

We are physically changing it to propane to drive because on auto we couldn't tell what power source it was using.

[Donna and Scott]

Is the wind messing with the flame while we are driving at 70mph and blowing the flame out?

[ScubaRx]

The fridges being supplied with the newer trailers are different from the one that is in out 2014 Hull #050 so I am not familiar with the indicator lights on yours. I do know that your refrigerator will AUTO select between all 3 modes. Ours will only swap between LP and AC.

 

[ScubaRx]

1 minute ago, Donna and Scott said:

Is the wind messing with the flame while we are driving at 70mph and blowing the flame out?

I doubt it, we've owned two different Oliver's over the past 13 years, that has never happened to us. But....like I said, our fridge is different from yours.

Additionally, I've never heard another Oliver owner complain about that problem.

 

[ScubaRx]

What is the brand and model on yours?

 

[Donna and Scott]

Just now, ScubaRx said:

What is the brand on yours?

 

Norcold.  We ha e looked it up on Google and there are videos too but none discus our actual problem

[Donna and Scott]

4 minutes ago, ScubaRx said:

I doubt it, we've owned two different Oliver's over the past 13 years, that has never happened to us. But....like I said, our fridge is different from yours.

Additionally, I've never heard another Oliver owner complain about that problem.

 

We. An hear the flame flickering when we are standing next to the frig vent ouside

[Patriot]

When we disconnect from shore power, our 2020 Norcold frig auto switches over to LP, per the owners manual you must have it set on auto for this function to work. The frig gets ice cold and uses very little LP. 

 

[Mcb]

So…this may not apply… but it’s a thought. 
Our fridge (2020 E2) had issues from the get go.. worked great on AC, but was fussy when running on gas. There was no rhyme or reason to it, sometimes it worked fine, but would shut off for no reason, sometimes it wouldn’t ignite. It didn’t matter it we were stationary, moving, level, or parked hanging off a cliff… sometimes it worked … sometimes it didn’t.  
In the end the issue was that the igniter wasn’t spaced properly, the gap was way to big.… see pg 12 in the Norcold N41X manual.. It was an easy fix. 
might be worth a look..

[John E Davies]

I think this would be a very easy problem for an RV tech to figure out. Call Service to schedule a mobile appointment. I dislike propane appliances intensely, but they normally are pretty reliable until they actually fail completely. Does that make sense?

I am sure Oliver will get it corrected.

This is another good reason to have a backup fridge, a compressor type  running off 12 volts in your truck. Otherwise a 3 way fridge failure will ruin a vacation, as you have discovered.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Youngster]

Check the hot wire on the 7 pin connection to be sure your charging while driving. Those DC fridges like to blow the fuse under hood. 

[LCTraveler]

We just got home after a 2400 mile trek with Hull 836.  We too had the same issue with the Norcold Fridge faulting (in manual) on propane while  we were driving, two times.  Both times the weather was from ideal and windy.  Note, the fridge worked fine on propane while we were stationary.  When we were sitting out the third night (it was windy) we could hear the Suburban hot water tank flicker and keep lighting on and then going off.  Yesterday my husband checked the propane valve and it was only open 1/4 turn.  We haven’t vetted out yet whether the supply propane is set too low.  It has been a blur coming home to 115F and trying to save all of our plants on our small farm. We will update soon with what we find. 
Pam

from the VERY Hot PNW