RV Repair: rv frige, sodium chromate, heating element


Question
My fridge is not working correctly. I have tryed taking the two leads from the burner box and connected to 110. freezer got to 20 degrees fridge only got to 75., 85 outside. heard about turning unit upside down ?  I work on central a/c units for a living so I'm at least not completly lost. any testing or info would be great. Oh its a norcold 1984 vintage model
838-e32 that might help get a more acurate answer thanks Tim  

Answer
Tim,
   If the heating element is 350 watt like this unit is supposed to have then you have a blockage in the cooling unit.  Sodium chromate is added to the refrigerant to keep it from rusting from the inside out.  If the unit is run off level the burner will boil the fluids out leaving only the sodium chromate and without the fluids it gets too hot and crystallizes.  These crystals will then try to circulate through the cooling unit until they come to a smaller tube that they can't pass through.  The only way to fix this is to have the cooling rebuilt, replace the cooling unit with a new one, or replace the fridge.  I would recommend replacing the fridge because of the longer warranty coverage and the age of your unit.  I hope this helps and good luck.

Darren