Thetford N51 User Manual

Owner ’s Manual
For N41X models - 4.5 cu. ft., 2-way or 3-way, refrigerators. For N51X models - 5.5 cu. ft., 2-way or 3-way, refrigerators.
The model numbers of 3-way refrigerators include “.3”. The model numbers of 2-way mod­els do not.
The letter “X” in the model number above, stands for a letter or a numeral which means a refrigerator option.
WARNING: Improper inst allation, adjustment, alteration, service or maintenance
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
NORCOLD, Inc. P .O. Box 4248 Sidney, OH 45365-4248
If you smell gas:
2. Don’t touch electrical switches.
3. Extinguish any open flame.
4. Immediately call your gas supplier.
English
French
Norcold Customer Support Dept.
Telephone: 800-543-1219
Fax: 937-497-3183
Web Site: www.norcold.com
Part No. 628702A (6-05)

Table of Contents

NORCOLD - Gas Absorption 3 Year Limited
Warranty Policy
Gas Absorption 3 Year Limited Warranty Policy ......................... 2
Gas Absorption Warranty Information ........................................ 3
Gas Absorption Warranty Questions .......................................... 3
Safety Awareness ....................................................................... 4
Safety Instuctions ....................................................................... 4
About Your Refrigerator .............................................................. 4
Storage volume ................................................................... 4
Leveling ............................................................................... 4
Food compartment .............................................................. 4
Flip-up shelf ........................................................................ 5
Door bins ............................................................................. 5
Freezer compartment .......................................................... 5
Operation during travel ........................................................ 5
Door latch for travel and storage......................................... 5
Temperature control system ............................................... 5
Operating the Refrigerator Controls .......................................... 5
Control Panel ...................................................................... 5
Automatic mode operation .................................................. 6
Removing the air from the propane gas supply lines ........ 6
Set the controls to automatic mode operation ................... 6
Set the controls to manual mode operation ....................... 7
Cooling unit sensing ........................................................... 7
Backup operating system ................................................... 8
DC Operation Precautions ......................................................... 8
DC Operation Guidelines ........................................................... 8
Effects of High Altitude on Propane Gas Operation................... 8
Refrigerator Care Checklist ....................................................... 9
Defrosting ................................................................................... 9
Cleaning ..................................................................................... 9
Drip tray ............................................................................. 10
Door Sealing ............................................................................ 10
Refrigerator Maintenance Checklist ........................................ 10
Refrigerator Storage ................................................................. 10
Refrigerator Maintenance ..........................................................11
Gas flame appearance ......................................................11
Remove and clean the burner orifice ................................11
Remove the Refrigerator ........................................................... 11
Reinstall the Refrigerator ......................................................... 12
Replacement Parts .................................................................. 12
Wiring Pictorial ......................................................................... 12
Wiring Diagram ........................................................................ 12
Fault Codes .............................................................................. 13
Norcold • P.O. Box 4248 • Sidney, OH • USA • 45365-4248
Provided it is properly installed, properly maintained and placed under normal service and use, Norcold, Inc. warrants its refrigeration equipment to be free from defects in material and workmanship for three years with respect to the equipment’s component parts, and for two years with respect to the labor to repair or replace such parts, commencing from the original date of purchase.
Limitations of warranty
1. This Warranty applies only to Norcold gas absorption refrigerator operating equipment. This Warranty does not extend to glassware, electric light bulbs, and replaceable fuses.
2. This warranty does not apply to parts and assemblies that have been subjected to misuse, improper installation, improper or abnormal service, transit damage, recharging of the cooling system, accident, fire, improper repair, tampering or abuse.
3. Irrespective of the nature of the warranty protection offered or claimed, the period of warranty shall in no case extend beyond three years for component parts and two years for the labor to repair or replace such parts, commencing from the original date of purchase of the new equipment.
4. In order to obtain the remedy of repair and replacement, the refrigerator must be brought to any Norcold Service Center for warranty service. The end consumer is responsible for all expenses resulting from any remote service call if the refrigerator cannot be brought into the Norcold service center.
5. It is the responsibility of the end consumer to have mainte­nance performed upon the warranted equipment one time during the second year or before the beginning of the third year after original purchase. Such maintenance is required to maintain this warranty in effect and failure to perform such maintenance will void the remainder of the warranty. Re­quired maintenance during the second year or before the third year after purchase is cleaning and checking of the following: Burner, Flue, Spiral Baffle, Roof Cap Screen, and Control Board Sequence.
Owner’s Manual 2
LIMITA TION OF REMEDY
1. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF NORCOLD UNDER THIS OR ANY WARRANTY IS LIMITED TO THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT (AT NORCOLD’S OPTION) OF THE DEFECTIVE P ART OR ASSEMBL Y.
2. IN NO EVENT AND UNDER NO CIRCUMST ANCES SHALL NORCOLD BE RESPONSIBLE UNDER THIS LIMITED WAR­RANTY FOR ANY OTHER CHARGE WHA TSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CHARGES OR CLAIMS FOR LABOR, LOST BUSINESS, LOST TIME, LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF USE, OR ANY KIND OF INCIDENT AL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAM­AGES, HOWEVER DENOMINATED OR DESCRIBED. THE REMEDY UNDER THIS WARRANTY IS LIMITED TO REPLACE­MENT OR REPAIR.
3. SOME STA TES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMIT ATION OF INCIDENT AL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MA Y NOT APPL Y TO YOU.
DISCLAIMER OF OTHER WARRANTIES
THIS WARRANTY IS EXPRESSL Y IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A P AR­TICULAR PURPOSE, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED AND EX­CLUDED.
Legal rights
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other legal rights, which vary from state to state.

Gas Absorption Warranty Information

Your refrigerator is made to provide the ultimate in cooling satisfaction and will serve you reliably in the years to come. Norcold refrigerators are the only RV refrigerators made in the United States and offer a standard limited three-year warranty. Norcold also offers an additional warranty coverage plan which extends the standard limited three-year warranty. To activate your three-year limited warranty and to receive an invitation to participate in the extended warranty plan, complete and mail the warranty registration supplied.
Help us to help you. Write the model number and serial number below for future
reference. These numbers are on the serial plate in the refrigerator. The serial plate is located in the fresh food compartment on the top right hand side. Use these numbers when receiving service or in any correspondence concerning your refrigerator.
Model number ___________ Serial number ___________ If a problem occurs with your refrigerator, contact any of the
service centers throughout the United States and Canada. To find an authorized Norcold Service Center near you, please telephone the Norcold Customer Support Dept. at 800-543­1219 (option-1) or visit our web site at www.norcold.com.
Norcold is committed to providing products that are in harmony with the environment. Your Norcold refrigerator meets all environmental safety standards.

Gas Absorption Warranty Questions

About your warranty
This warranty coverage begins on the original date of purchase by the consumer purchaser and is the only warranty for the Norcold refrigera­tor. In no case will the Limited Warranty extend beyond two (2) years for labor and three (3) years for parts and freight. Norcold reserves the right to change design or specifications of a refrigerator without obligation to modify previously produced refrigerators. There are no other warranties, either expressed or implied.
What is coverd by this warranty?
- Defects in material and workmanship.
- Parts and labor for two (2) years
- Parts only for the third year if the required maintenance is performed.
- Freight (ground service only) for shipment of a replacement part and for return of the defective part.
What is not covered by this warranty?
- Shipping methods other than ground service.
- Defects in glassware, electric light bulbs, and replacement fuses.
- Adjustment of the burner electrode.
- Cleaning of the burner.
- Fees for mobile repair service.
- Mileage or travel expenses to obtain warranty service.
- Expenses for required maintenance as specified in the Limited Warranty and in the Owner’s Manual.
- Incidental or consequential loss or damage including but not limited to charges or claims for labor (including labor when no parts are used for a repair), lost business, lost time, lost profits, lost food, and lost use.
- Replacement parts that are not manufactured or supplied by Norcold.
- Defect of a part or assembly when the defect originates from misuse, improper installation, improper or abnormal service, transit damage, recharging of the cooling system, accident, fire, improper repair, tampering, or abuse.
What will Norcold do?
For a refrigerator that is properly installed, maintained, and used as specified in the Installation/Owner’s Manuals, Norcold responsibilities are:
- Limited to the repair and replacement of parts.
- To provide no charge parts and labor for two (2) years.
- To provide no charge parts only for year 3 if the required mainte- nance is performed.
- To provide freight (ground service only) for shipment of a replace­ment part and for return of a defective part for three (3) years.
What will the refrigerator owner do?
T o obtain warranty service, the refrigerator owner responsibilities are:
- T o use, service, and maint ain the refrigerator as specified in the Installation/Owner’s Manuals.
- T o deliver the warranted product to an authorized Norcold Service Center for warranty repair.
- To show proof that the refrigerator is within warranty coverage.
- T o have the required maintenance performed by an authorized Norcold Service Center one time during year 2 of the Limited Warranty.
- T o pay to have the required maintenance performed.
- T o mail paid receipt to Norcold showing required performed before expiration of year 2 of the Limited Warranty.
- T o show proof of the required maintenance before requesting warranty service in year 3 of the Limited Warranty.
What rights do you have?
The warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
Owner’s Manual 3

Safety Awareness

Read this manual carefully and understand the contents before you use 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.
- 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.
- At regular intervals, make sure that the refrigerator flue the burner, the vent areas, and the ventilation air pathway between the vents are completely free from any flammable material or blockage. After a period of storage, it is especially important to check these areas for any flammable material or blockage caused by animals.
CAUTION: This signal word means a hazard, which if
ignored, can cause small personal injury or much property damage.

Safety Instructions

WARNING:
- The storage of flammable materials behind or around the refrigerator creates a fire hazard. Do not use the area behind the refrigerator to store anything, espe­cially flammable materials (gasoline, cleaning supplies, etc.)
- Do not remove the round ground prong from the refrigerator AC power cord. Do not use a two prong adapter or extension cord on the AC power cord.
- A circuit overload can result in an electrical fire if the wires and/or fuses are not the correct size. Either use the wire and fuse sizes as writtten in the “Installation Manual” or refer to your local codes or the applicable RVIA Standards for the correct wire and fuse sizes.
- Incorrect installation, adjustment, change to, or maintenance of this refrigerator can cause personal injury, property damage, or both. Have service and maintenance work done by your dealer or by an Norcold authorized service center.
- Disconnect both the AC and DC power sources before doing any maintenance work on the refrigerator. All service work on this refrigerator must be done by a qualified service technician.
- Do not bypass or change the refrigerator’s electrical components or features.
- When you discard an appliance, remove all doors to prevent accidental entrapment and suffocation.
- 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.
CAUTION:
- The rear of the refrigerator has sharp edges and corners. To prevent cuts or abrasions when working on the refrigerator, be careful and wear cut resistant gloves.

About Y our Refrigerator

Storage Volume:
This refrigerator is made to store fresh and frozen foods and for making ice.
Total capacity 4.50 cubic feet 5.50 cubic feet Freezer capacity .81 cubic feet .81 cubic feet Food compartment capacity 3.69 cubic feet 4.69 cubic feet
Leveling:
CAUTION:
off level side-to-side and 6° off level front-to-back (as looking at the front of the refrigerator). Operating it at more than these limits can cause damage to the cooling system and create a risk of personal injury or property damage. Make sure the vehicle is level before you operate the refrigerator.
The refrigerator is made to operate within 3°
Operation during travel:
While the refrigerator should be level when the vehicle is stopped, performance during travel is not usually effected.
Food compartment:
Ignite or start up the refrigerator and let it cool for eight hours before loading with food. If the refrigerator does not start to cool down after about two hours, contact your dealer or an authorized Norcold Service Center.
N41X N51X
Owner’s Manual 4
For the best cooling performance:
T emperature control system:
- Let air move freely inside the entire food compartment.
- Do not cover the shelves with plastic, paper, etc.
To decrease the amount of ice that collects on the cooling fins:
- Cover all liquids and moist foods.
- Let all hot foods cool before putting them in the refrigerator.
- Do not open the door any longer than necessary.
Flip-up shelf:
The flip-up shelf supplies a space to store tall bottles. To use the flip-up shelf, lift the center of the shelf and fold it up against the inside wall of the refrigerator.
Door Bins:
You may put the door bins [52] of the fresh food compartment in a location that best meets your need (See Art01114). To remove the bins, lift them over the locator and pull them forward. To install the bins, push them onto the locator.
NOTE: Do not wash the door bins in a dishwasher. The door
bins are not dishwasher safe.
Freezer compartment:
The freezer compartment is made to keep pre-frozen food frozen and not to quick freeze food. Keep pre-frozen foods in the freezer compartment.
NOTE: Do not put other items on the ice tray while the water is
freezing. The water freezes more rapidly if the thermo­stat is at the coldest temperature setting.
Door latch for travel and storage:
During travel, the door latch prevents the door from opening. There are no chains, slides, or any devices that you must engage.
During storage, the door latch prevents the door from com­pletely closing. Use it to prevent odors when the refrigerator is shut down for a long period of time.
To use the door latch for storage (See Art00979):
- Open the door just so the door latch [161] is between the ribs [166] of the latch plate [162].
Although the refrigerator is not frost -free, it is made to limit frost on the cooling fins. At regular intervals, the temperature control system automatically melts most of the frost from the cooling fins. The water from the cooling fins drains into a collection cup that is attached to the back of the refrigerator. The heat of the cooling system evaporates the water from the collection cup.

Operating the Refrigerator Controls

Control panel:
The refrigerator control panel (see Art01562) is above the refrigerator door. A 12 volt DC power supply is necessary for the control functions of the refrigerator to operate. The refrigerator receives DC power from the 12 volt system of the vehicle; either an auxiliary battery, a converter, or the vehicle engine battery.
The ON / OFF button [30] starts and shuts down the refrigerator:
- To turn on the refrigerator, push and release the ON / OFF button.
- To turn off the refrigerator, push the ON / OFF button for two seconds and then release.
The TEMP SET button [32] controls the temperature adjustment of the freezer and the fresh food compartment. The temperature adjustment that you select does not change if the mode of operation of the refrigerator changes.
- Push the TEMP SET button and the temperature setting “1­9” appears in the center display [33].
- Push and hold the TEMP SET button and the temperature setting changes.
- When the desired temperature setting shows, release the TEMP SET button.
Owner’s Manual 5
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