Thetford N500 Installation Manual
Installation Manual
For model N400 - a 4.5 cu. ft., 2-way or 3-way, refrigerator.
For model N500 - a 5.5 cu. ft., 2-way or 3-way, refrigerator.
For model N510 - a 5.5 cu. ft., 2-way or 3-way, refrigerator.
WARNING: Improper installation, adjustment, alteration, service or mainte-
nance can cause injury or property damage. Refer to this manual.
For assistance or additional information, contact a qualified inst aller ,
service agency , or the gas supplier.
FOR YOUR SAFETY
Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquid in
the vicinity of this or any other appliance.
FOR YOUR SAFETY
If you smell gas:
1. Open windows.
2. Don’t touch electrical switches.
3. Extinguish any open flame.
4. Immediately call your gas supplier.
WARNING: DO NOT install this refrigerator in below
deck marine applications. Do not install this refrigerator in
fixed indoor cabin or other dwelling applications. This
refrigerator must use only NORCOLD designed and approved outside air intake and exhaust ventilation for correct
and safe operation. Any other ventilation could cause lethal
combustion exhaust fumes and/or explosive propane gas
fumes to be in the living area and/or to be below deck.
NORCOLD, Inc.
P .O. Box 4248
Sidney, OH 45365-4248
English
French
Norcold Customer Support Dept.
Telephone: 800-543-1219
Fax: 937-497-3183
Web Site: www.norcold.com
Part No. 622265B (9-01)
Table of Contents
Safety Instructions
Safety Awareness ....................................................................... 2
Safety Instructions ...................................................................... 2
Certification and Code Requirements ....................................... 3
Ventilation Requirements ........................................................... 3
Assemble the Enclosure ............................................................ 4
Install the Lower and Upper Vents ............................................. 4
Install the Refrigerator ................................................................ 5
Installation Options .................................................................... 5
Install the decorative door panel ......................................... 5
Reverse the door swing ...................................................... 5
Change the travel latch position ......................................... 6
Connect the Electrical Components .......................................... 6
Connect the 120 volt AC supply .......................................... 6
Connect the 12 volt DC supply (models N400.3 and ............
N500.3) ........................................................................ 7
Connect the 12 volt DC supply (model N510.3) ................. 7
Connect the Propane Gas Components ................................... 8
Connect the propane gas supply system ........................... 8
Examine the gas supply system for leaks .......................... 8
Ignition Start Up .......................................................................... 8
Ignition-propane gas operation (N400 models) ................ 8
Ignition-propane gas operation (N500 models) ................ 9
Ignition-propane gas operation (N510 models) ................ 9
Safety Awareness
Read this manual carefully and understand the contents before
you install the refrigerator.
Be aware of possible safety hazards when you see the safety
alert symbol on the refrigerator and in this manual. A signal
word follows the safety alert symbol and identifies the danger of
the hazard. Carefully read the descriptions of these signal
words to fully know their meanings. They are for your safety.
WARNING: This signal word means a hazard, which if
ignored, can cause dangerous personal injury, death, or
much property damage.
CAUTION: This signal word means a hazard, which if
ignored, can cause small personal injury or much
property damage.
WARNING:
- This refrigerator is equipped for the use of propane gas
only and can not be changed to use any other fuels
(natural gas, butane, etc.).
- Incorrect installation, adjustment, alteration, or maintenance of this refrigerator can cause personal injury,
property damage, or both.
- Obey the instructions in this manual to install the intake
and exhaust vents.
- Do not install the refrigerator directly on carpet. Put the
refrigerator on a metal or wood panel that extends the full
width and depth of the refrigerator.
- Propane gas can ignite and cause an explosion that can
result in property damage, personal injury, or death. Do
not smoke or create sparks while working on the gas
supply system. Do not use an open flame to examine the
gas supply piping or fittings for leaks.
- To avoid possible propane gas leaks, always use two
wrenches to tighten or loosen the gas suppy line connections.
- Make sure the electrical installation obeys all applicable
codes. See “Certification and Code Requirements”
section.
- Do not bypass or change the refrigerator’s electrical
components or features.
- Do not spray liquids near electrical outlets, connections,
or the refrigerator components. Many liquids are electrically conductive and can cause a shock hazard, electrical
shorts, and in some cases fire.
- The refrigerator cooling system is under pressure. Do
not try to repair or to recharge a defective cooling system.
The cooling system contains sodium chromate. The
breathing of certain chromium compounds can cause
cancer. The cooling system contents can cause severe
skin and eye burns, and can ignite and burn with an
intense flame. Do not bend, drop, weld, move, drill,
puncture, or hit the cooling system.
Installation Manual 2
CAUTION:
- The rear of the refrigerator has sharp edges and corners.
To prevent cuts or abrasions when working on the
refrigerator, use caution and wear cut resistant gloves.
Certification and Code Requirements
Ventilation Requirement s
This refrigerator is certified under the latest edition of ANSI
Z21.19 Standards by the American Gas Association for installation in mobile homes or recreational vehicles and is approved by
the Canadian Gas Association.
The installation must obey these standards and this “Installation
Manual” for the NORCOLD limited warranty to be in effect.
Installation must agree with local codes. In the absence of local
codes, the installation must obey these standards:
In the United States:
- National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1.
- Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard,
Title 24 CFR, Part 32-80.
- Standard for Recreational Vehicles, ANSI A119.2 latest
edition.
- For installations which need an electric outlet that is
energized by an external power source, the refrigerator
must be electrically grounded as written in local or state
codes, the National Electrical code, and ANSI/NFPA 70.
In Canada:
- Current CGA B149.1 and CGA B149.2 Installation Code for
Propane Appliances and Equipment.
- Current CSA Z240.4.2 Installation Requirement for Propane
Appliances and Equipment in Recreational Vehicles.
- Current CSA Z240.6.2/C22.2 No. 148 Electrical
Requirement for Recreational Vehicles.
- When installed, the refrigerator must be electrically
grounded as written in the local or state codes, and the
Canadian Electrical Code C22.2. Parts 1 and 2.
All propane gas supply piping and fittings must obey local,
state, and national codes about type and size. These
components must also obey the current NFPA 501C section 24, and in Canada, the current CAN 1-6.10 Standard.
WARNING: The completed installation must:
- Make sure there is sufficient intake of fresh air for
combustion.
- Make sure the living space is completely isolated from
the combustion system of the refrigerator.
- Make sure there is complete and unrestricted ventilation of the flue exhaust which, in gas mode, can
produce carbon monoxide. The breathing of carbon
monoxide fumes can cause dizziness, nausea, or in
extreme cases, death.
- Make sure the refrigerator is completely isolated from
its heat generating components through the correct
use of baffles and panel construction.
Certified installation needs one lower intake vent and one upper
exhaust vent. Install the upper exhaust vent either through the
roof or through the side wall of the vehicle exactly as written in
this manual. Any other installation method voids both the
certification and the factory warranty of the refrigerator.
The bottom of the opening for the lower intake vent, which is
also the service access door, must be even with or immediately
below the floor level. This allows any leaking propane gas to
escape to the outside and not to collect at floor level.
American Gas Association/Canadian Gas Association (AGA/
CGA) certification allows the refrigerator to have zero (0) inch
minimum clearance at the sides, rear, top, and bottom. While
there are no maximum clearances specified for certification, the
following maximum clearances are necessary for correct
refrigeration:
Bottom 0 inch min. 0 inch max.
Each Side 0 inch min 1/8 inch max.
Top 0 inch min. 1/4 inch max.
Rear 0 inch min. 1 inch max.
These clearances plus the lower and upper vents cause the
natural air draft that is necessary for good refrigeration. Cooler
air comes in through the lower intake vent, goes up around the
refrigerator coils where it removes the excess heat from the
refrigerator components, and goes out through the upper
exhaust vent. If this air flow is blocked or decreased, the
refrigerator will not cool correctly.
Each NORCOLD model is certified by AGA and CGA for correct
ventilation.
Installation Manual 3
Assemble the Enclosure
- Make sure the enclosure is:
- 36 9/16 inches high x 23 11/16 inches wide x 24 inches
deep for N400 models.
- 42 5/8 inches high x 23 11/16 inches wide x 24 inches deep
for N500 and N510 models.
- Make sure the floor is solid and level.
- The floor must be metal or a wood panel and extend the full
width and depth of the enclosure.
- The floor must be able to support the weight of the refrigerator and its contents.
- Make sure there are no adjacent heat sources such as a
furnace vent, etc.
- For N500 and N510 models, make sure the distance
[4] from the floor level to the top of the rough opening
for the upper exhaust vent is at least 47 3/4 inches or
poor cooling performance can occur.
- Align the upper exhaust vent [5] vertically above the
coils [2] and the condenser [3] of the refrigerator.
- Install a baffle [6] to prevent stagnant hot air in the area
[7] above the refrigerator (see Art 01284).
- Make sure there is less than 1/4 inch clearance [8] between the baffle and the top of the
refrigerator.
- Make sure the baffle is the full width of the
inside of the enclosure.
- If you install the roof exhaust vent (see Art 01285):
CAUTION: Make sure that no sawdust, insulation, or
other construction debris is on the refrigerator or in the
enclosure. Debris can cause a combustion hazard
and prevent the refrigerator from operating correctly.
Install the Lower and Upper Vents
1. Using the following chart, decide which vents and rough
opening (RO) sizes to use.
Certified Vent P/N RO Height RO Width Radius
Upper Roof 622293 24 in. 5 1/4 in. none
Exhaust Vent
Upper Side 617485 7 1/4 in. 18 in. none
Exhaust Vent
Lower Side 617484 9 3/4 in. 19 3/8 in. none
Intake Vent
Universal Upper 620505 6 3/16 in. 17 13/16 in. none
& Lower Vent
2. Install the lower intake vent (See Art 01282):
WARNING: Make sure the bottom of the opening of the
lower intake vent is even with or immediately below the
floor level. This allows any leaking propane gas to
escape to the outside and not to collect at floor level.
- Make sure the bottom of the opening of lower intake vent is
even with or immediately below the floor level.
- Align the lower intake vent [1] vertically below the coils [2]
and the condenser [3] of the refrigerator.
3. Install the upper exhaust vent (see Art01283):
- If you install the upper side exhaust vent:
- For N400 models, make sure the distance [4] from the
floor level to the top of the rough opening for the upper
exhaust vent is at least 41 3/4 inches or poor cooling
performance can occur.
NOTE: Tighten the screws of the roof cap to 10 inch-pounds
max.
- If the design of the vehicle allows, install the roof
exhaust vent [9] directly above the condenser [3] of the
refrigerator.
- Install a baffle [10] to prevent stagnant hot air in the
area [7] above the refrigerator.
- Make sure there is less than 1/4 inch clearance [11] between the baffle and the top of the
refrigerator.
- Make sure the baffle is the full width of the
inside of the enclosure.
- If the design of the vehicle does not allow you to install
the roof exhaust vent directly above the condenser of
the refrigerator:
- Center the roof exhaust vent [9] above the condenser [3] of the refrigerator, but move it inboard
as necessary (See Art01286 and Art01287):
- Install two baffles [12] and [13] to prevent stagnant
hot air in the area [7] above the refrigerator.
- Make sure both baffles are the full width of the
inside of the enclosure.
- Make sure that both baffles are no more than
45° from vertical.
- Put one baffle between the top rear edge of the
refrigerator and the inside edge of the upper
exhaust vent opening.
- Put the other baffle between the outside edge
of the upper exhaust vent opening and the
side wall of the vehicle.
Installation Manual 4
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