RV Repair: Norcold 322/323 refrigerator troubleshooting/repair, coleman tent trailer, freezer compartment

Question
Hi...

I have a Norcold model 322/323 3-way refrigerator in my Coleman tent trailer. The unit works fine on AC and DC but does not function in the LP gas mode. The flame seems to be burning fine and stays lit, yet I have no cooling. Is this a problem with the thermocouple, and if so, how easy is it to replace?

Thanks for your input,

Gary Schonewille

Answer
Hi Gary:
The thermocouple's only function is to sense that the burner is lit and thus keep the flame on. If the thermocouple fails the gas will shut off. Your refrigerator uses exactly the same cooling system with all three power sources, AC,DC or gas. The different power sources all heat the same heating coil. That is done in the 4 inch or so round tube at the right of the frig as you look at it outside. Gas is the least efficient of the three. The small flame you see is all the heat that is needed to cool the fridge. Somtimes debris, rust or paint chips fall into the burner grid and reduce the size of the flame. Some corrosion can build up on the gas orifice reducing the flame also. Blow out the burner grid and tube to get any stuff out that may block the gas. Clean out the small gas tube and brass orifice. When you put it all together and light it you should have gas burning above the grid for the whole lenght of the grid. The flame should be bright blue from 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch above the burner, then become almost white above that and turn to a redish purple color for another 1/2 inch or so. When you have that you'll have all the cooling you can get out of gas. If that does not maintain a cool frig and a good freezer compartment then there is something wrong in the cooling unit. Amonia system are not serviceable so you will need a new one. As the cooling sytem is about 80% of a new frig you are better of with a new fridge. Good luck.
Bill