Has anyone replaced Fridge with 12V/120V model?

H

heinz wittenbecher

New member
Mar 1, 1998
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I'm back to considering fridge replacement again. I've been able to keep
procrastenating because mine still works on 110. I currently have a 3 way
but am considering a 12V/120.

Norcold DE-461 still only all electric choice I guess.
Any negative feedback out there re the 461? Any positive experiences?

I did notice on the Norcold site that warranty on the AC/DC is 1 year and on
the gas absorbtion 2 years and you can buy 3 more.

I don't know what's a better deal, get a new fridge or run the Genset when
needed :-)

Heinz
 
Propane is wonderful, uses almost none and does a great job.

gene

>I'm back to considering fridge replacement again. I've been able to keep
>procrastenating because mine still works on 110. I currently have a 3 way
>but am considering a 12V/120.
>
>Norcold DE-461 still only all electric choice I guess.
>Any negative feedback out there re the 461? Any positive experiences?
>
>I did notice on the Norcold site that warranty on the AC/DC is 1 year and on
>the gas absorbtion 2 years and you can buy 3 more.
>
>I don't know what's a better deal, get a new fridge or run the Genset when
>needed :-)
>
>Heinz
>
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
> > Norcold DE-461 still only all electric choice I guess.
> > Any negative feedback out there re the 461? Any positive experiences?
> >
> Heinz
>
> I wanted to put the 12/120 unit in mine. I went to my local RV dealer
> who I have done business with for at least 20 years. This is a man
> who is known to be honest to a fault. I ask him about the 461. He was
> very blunt about it---he would not sell me one.

I guess that may be why they only warranty it for a year then :-)

Thanks for all the comments.

Heinz
 
> >>
>
> Heinz,
> In this size Norcold is the only choice. There are several other brands
> -Waeco, Dometic, Panasonic, or NovaKool - which build smaller single-door
> models which are sold to the marine and truck sleeper market.
>
> Negative feedback? Yes, but . . .


Erv,

Thank you VERY much for your feed back. Much appreciated.

Heinz

 
Yes.... Just last month

Just went through the process.

When I bought my GMC it had a 2 year old Norcold de-561 with no fans. The PO
for what ever reason sealed the top of the cabinet on installation. The
Refrig lasted three years in Texas with out proper ventilation.

After talking with Tech Support we concluded the compressor was out. due to
overheating. The cooling unit cost $700

I have a DE-561 power supply if anyone wants it.

FWIW Please note that according to Tech Support the compressor on the DE 561
or 461 is seriously damaged if it get much hotter than 100 degrees or so.
The life expectance starts to decrease at 85 degrees. So cooling of the
back coils and compressor is a must. Basically you have to pump cool air in
from the interior and run your AC when the Refrig is running in Hot weather.

Hear is the good news. I was able to buy a new DE-461 for $799 I think. It
was reconditioned and had a few dents on the side. West Marine has them for
$1000. The Tech support people at Norcold gave the regional distributes
telephone #. I order it on Tues got her on Friday. Cost $80 to ship.

Works great.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Gcbr
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2000 11:19 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: Has anyone replaced Fridge with 12V/120V model?

In a message dated 05/05/2000 10:55:52 PM Central Daylight Time,

> Changes were made internally in the compressor and to the
> filter/drier. Externally, a fan was added that ran whenever the
compressor
> came on.

Erv

Once again I would like to thank you for a very informative post.
Just keep on telling us what you know. I will listen.

Take Care
Arch
 
> > Changes were made internally in the compressor and to the
> > filter/drier. Externally, a fan was added that ran whenever the=20
> compressor
> > came on.

Erv,

Thanks for the great information. I very much like my 12/120v Norcold. When=
=20
it comes time to replace it I will be looking for another 12/120v unit. Its=
=20
nice to hear that Norcold has gotten the bugs out of the DE-461.

Another, possibly cheaper, option would be using a dorm style 110v only=20
unit with a power inverter. The 12v power consumption will be about twice=20
that of the Norcold but the cost is less than 1/3 that of the Norcold.

Dave
Ann Arbor, MI.
73 Sequoia (26'/455/HEI/TBI/160=B0/3.42)
 
Well, I've written several of what are beginning to feel like
infomercials on the DE461. Dad's had one in his coach for two years
now, no problems. Runs the whole house side off a trolling motor
battery. It's definitely been used in >100degF days without a problem.
Cools down quick and stays cold.

Hopefully, one will go in my coach this summer. What else can I say?
It's a small sample size, but it's what I know.

Patrick
- --
Patrick Flowers
Mailto:patrick

The GMC Motorhome Page
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com
 
> Well, I've written several of what are beginning to feel like
> infomercials on the DE461. Dad's had one in his coach for two years
> now, no problems. Runs the whole house side off a trolling motor
> battery. It's definitely been used in >100degF days without a problem.
> Cools down quick and stays cold.
>
> Hopefully, one will go in my coach this summer. What else can I say?
> It's a small sample size, but it's what I know.
>
> Patrick

Glad your Dad's is still ticking along.

I think that's what I'm going to do too when I'm tired of nursing it on 110V
or it gives up altogether. It'll definately be a south-of-the border buy
though. I was quoted $2000 and $2200 in Canuck dollars. Took note of the
posting re $1000 at West Marine. That'll work out to about 15-1600 Canuck
dollars by the time exchange and taxes are paid. Still a long ways from
2000. Oh the privilege of living "up north" :-) And then they bitch about
not buying local. Big difference between buying locally and getting hosed
locally, in my book at least [g].

Heinz
 
I intended to do a lot of boondocking in Canada and Maine. I really felt that
until battery technology improves, I would be better off with LP.

My neighbor, who had a SOB that he hated said the only thing he liked was the
fridge. He kept it stocked with Budweisers the whole year and it never ran down
the tank of LP. His wife did'nt know he had them out there because it was never
plugged in. She was always telling me that it was so nice that the guys hung out
in the motorhome and didnt have to drink beer. That is enough reason for me.

I bought a Dometic 2685 lp/220v on auction from Ebay for $780. Six cubic feet,
separate freezer for the kids ice pops. Required modifications but now I am all
set. It is now stocked with Budweisers.

Ron and Julie

> Have to tell you I just installed a Norcold double door LP/120VAC unit(and
> it has a light inside) and we love it. Less than a $1000 from JC whitney. I
> dont understand why everyone is concerned about the LP. But than I guess
> that is what makes life interesting.
>

> >On Sat, 06 May 2000 14:33:58

> >
> >unit with a power inverter. The 12v power consumption will be about twice
> >that of the Norcold but the cost is less than 1/3 that of the Norcold. >>>
> >
> >Good point, Dave. During our problems with the Norcold failures one of our
> >sleeper customers bought a small apartment size refrigerator from Sears, and
> >we installed it in his sleeper. When we questioned whether this would work on
> >a truck, due to the vibration and high mileage life of a truck, he told Sears
> >what he intended to do with it. He was told that Sears would honor the
> >warranty, even if it was installed on a truck. We never did find out how long
> >it lasted, since he was the type of person who would never tell us if it
> >failed (i.e., he never makes mistakes)
> >
> >Even if these only lasted for 300,000 miles, you could buy 2 or 3 reefers for
> >the price of one Norcold, and still have a reefer for 900,000 miles, which is
> >typical for many long-haul trucks.
> >
> >One disadvantage - you would have to manually switch the reefer to 120V
> >operation when plugged in to avoid running it through the inverter. One added
> >advantage - you would probably have a light inside the Sears unit - Norcold
> >has not yet added one to theirs.
> >
> >Thanks to all the other comments which have popped up on this subject. Keep
> >'em coming.
> >
> >Erv and Emma Troyer
> >Lagrange, IN
> >
> >
 
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