Can a Norcold 3 way fridge be made to run with no battery?

[Claytoes]

Hello, my husband and I just bought a vintage camper that has no power system at all. Is there any way to use a norcold n410 3 way refridgerator without having any type of battery/power system? Thanks!!

[Harvey51]

N41x manual

Curious, it does not answer the question.
I expect power needs would be very modest with the pilot light so a single deep cycle battery would last a week.

[Chris_Bryant]

If you can use smaller, the Norcold N305 needs no power, or if you can find an old N400, that needs no power as well.

[Old-Biscuit]

westend wrote:
Instead of trying to operate the fridge without a battery, I'd suggest you install one. If the trailer has electric brakes, you'll need a battery to operate the emergency break-away system.

THIS^^^^^^


Norcold N400 Manual

[DrewE]

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:

Matt_Colie wrote:
All you really need is the 12vdc power for the control board.

So, get a juice friendly acquaintance to:
A - Locate a 12VDC wall wort.
B - Attach it to the DC supply terminals of the unit.

There is usually a duplex receptacle behind the unit that the wall wort (plug in power supply) can use.

Matt

Wall warts usually produce really crappy unfiltered DC. That fridge also requires 400 mA of current at 12VDC. Make sure the wall wart will supply at least that. The one I have to charge my ham radio handheld puts out 13.2 V at only 70 mA

Wall warts have changed quite a bit in the past several years due to new efficiency requirements; most new ones are now little switching power supplies, and produce quite well regulated and comparatively clean power. At most a small filter capacitor and maybe an RF choke would be needed. Of course, that only works if you camp where electricity is available in the first place.

[Canadian_Rainbi]

Matt_Colie wrote:
All you really need is the 12vdc power for the control board.

So, get a juice friendly acquaintance to:
A - Locate a 12VDC wall wort.
B - Attach it to the DC supply terminals of the unit.

There is usually a duplex receptacle behind the unit that the wall wort (plug in power supply) can use.

Matt

Wall warts usually produce really crappy unfiltered DC. That fridge also requires 400 mA of current at 12VDC. Make sure the wall wart will supply at least that. The one I have to charge my ham radio handheld puts out 13.2 V at only 70 mA

[Matt_Colie]

All you really need is the 12vdc power for the control board.

So, get a juice friendly acquaintance to:
A - Locate a 12VDC wall wort.
B - Attach it to the DC supply terminals of the unit.

There is usually a duplex receptacle behind the unit that the wall wort (plug in power supply) can use.

Matt

[westend]

Instead of trying to operate the fridge without a battery, I'd suggest you install one. If the trailer has electric brakes, you'll need a battery to operate the emergency break-away system.

[SoundGuy]

Love the WAGs. :R The OP has already identified this fridge as a Norcold N410.3 3-way fridge that does require 12 vdc to operate.

[wing_zealot]

I think pasusan may be right. I had a 1970's something Apache popup and I think the 3-way frig would run on propane without a battery. I would give it a try and see if it works. Just remember, once you light the pilot light and set the temperature you will have to leave it for about 12 hours before you can tell if it is working or not. These things aren't instantaneous cold. And leave the door shut, the more times you open it the longer it will take.

[pasusan]

That depends. Does it have a pilot light? Our '74 Scotty trailer had a 3 way fridge that would run on propane or electric without a battery. No control board - just turn the knobs to the correct setting.

[dodge_guy]

No. the 3-way fridge needs the 12V`s for the operating system. you could wire in a small 12V battery that would power it, but you will need a way to charge it.