WITHOUT FRIDGE DEFEND YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED
Dometic & Norcold reliability and fire safety, can you live without it?
WITHOUT FRIDGE DEFEND YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED
Dometic & Norcold reliability and fire safety, can you live without it?
This page shows how to install the Fridge Defend on Norcold Models 962, 982, 9162, 9182, 963, 983, 9163, 9183 and provides troubleshooting information.
Before reading this page, please click here and view our wiring video.REQUIRED TO DOWNLOAD INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS - WEB PAGES ARE SUPPLEMENTAL - EACH VERSION OF CONTROL HAS INTRICACIES REQUIRING THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS.
Instructions: Subjects are listed on left. Click the link to the right to go directly to the subject matter on this page.
This drawing shows the view looking into the vent door at an 86xx series fridge. These refrigerators were exceptional RV fridge, the number of units still in operation attests to this fact. To keep these excellent refrigerators alive it is recommended to keep the boiler of the fridge from overheating with the Fridge Defend by ARP. This page is an overview of how to install the ARP.
We do not recommend using the 12VDC (3rd-Way) for cooling your fridge because the 12VDC heater can destroy the fridge if the Fridge Defend by ARP is not protecting the fridge. If the Fridge Defend is being used to control boiler temperature, it is not unusual for the controller to trip due to the 12VDC heater. One can just disconnect the 12VDC heater if you choose not to use it, otherwise click on the following link for wring a load relay:
Please click this link for wiring on the 3-Way fridge models.
This photo shows a Norcold 983 with the door to access the electric heaters opened to install the boiler sensor.
The red arrow points to the cooling unit boiler tube at the approximate location where the Fridge Defend boiler sensor will be installed. On this cooling unit the flue tube is behind the boiler tube, this makes the installation on the 600, 6000, & 6100 series very easy. Please make sure the temperature sensor is insulated as per the example on the Boiler Temperature Probe Install page.
The yellow arrow points at the slot where the cooling unit heater access door tab is engaged. Press the housing together to disengage the door latch.
The orange arrow points to the electric heating element, the electric heating element is always attached to the cooling unit boiler tube.
This photo shows the Fridge Defend boiler sensor clipped onto the boiler tube. The insulation is placed under the ARP boiler sensor wire, the wire should also be wrapped with insulation where it exits the boiler housing to keep the sheet metal from cutting it. The entire sensor shall be insulated so that ambient air cannot enter the boiler housing.
Please note that all of the following specifications are believed to be accurate. If any errors are found, please bring them to our attention as soon as possible. For critical specification please contact Norcold as they make changes to their specifications without notice.
| Item | Value | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ARP Control Boiler Temperature | See Note 1 Below | |
| Off-Level Operating Limit | See Note 2 Below | |
| AC Heater | 2.7 | Amps @ 120VAC |
| AC Heater | 40.3 | Ohms +/-10% |
| DC Heater | 16 | Amps @ 12VDC |
| DC Heater | 0.87 | Ohms +/-10% |
| Temp Setting Range | 1 - 5 | 5 = Coldest | See Note 3 Below |
NOTES
Note 1: 185-195°C - 365-383°F
Note 2: Dependent on ambient and ARP boiler temp.
Note 3: Thermistor Values
| FAULT CODE | MEANING | POSSIBLE SOLUTION |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Burner ignition failure on initial start-up can occur whenever the refrigerator is started after each shut-down period |
LP gas turned off.
Low LP pressure. Click here for pressure test. Manual shutoff valve is closed on LP solenoid. |
| A2 | A2 code will appear when the gas fails to re-ignite during a cycle period. |
LP gas turned off.
Low LP pressure. Click here for pressure test. Manual shutoff valve is closed on LP solenoid. |
| A3 | Door has been open for more than 2 minutes. | Close the door. |
| A4 | No AC voltage to control. |
Check for shore power at plug.
Check RV circuit breaker, or if equipped, the GFI. Try RV generator. Click here for improved AC heater safety. |
| A5 | Low AC voltage at fridge. |
Check with DMM to see that AC voltage is in range at fridge.
Click here to check AC heater. |
| A6 | High AC voltage at fridge. |
Check with DMM to see that AC voltage is in range at fridge.
Click here to check AC heater. |
| A7 | Low DC voltage at fridge. | Check with DMM to see that DC voltage is in range at fridge. |
| A8 | High DC voltage at fridge. | Check with DMM to see that DC voltage is in range at fridge. |
| C1 | DC Heater Failed | Fault with the DC Heater circuit.
Click here to check DC heater. |
| C2 | AC Heater Failed | Fault with the AC Heater circuit.
Click here to check AC heater. |
| C3 | The control senses DC heater current when the DC heater should be "OFF" | Fault with the DC Heater circuit.
Click here to check DC heater. |
| C4 | DC voltage is being supplied to the heater but the heater is not drawing current (no cooling) | Fault with the DC Heater circuit.
Click here to check DC heater. |
| C5 | If the thermistor becomes inoperable, the power board will revert to the Back-Up Operating System. When the refrigerator enters this mode the thermistor is ignored and the refrigerator will interpret the thermostat setting as a duty cycle command. |
If the fridge has an ARP Control, this message should not appear.
Fridge thermistor has failed. Click here to check thermistor. |
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