SteveAE
Bend, Oregon
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Joined: 02/20/2012
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Here is a (not great) picture of the Cold Weather Kit.
Simply a Fuse, stick on heater (~20 Watts at 12 volts DC) element and a thermal switch so the unit won't run when it is warm
![[image]](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y501/Steveae/IMG_0900_renamed_6141_zps1a125b14.jpg)
Steve
* This post was
edited 12/27/12 09:36pm by SteveAE *
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi Steve,
That looks like a "snap disk" thermostat, and some sort of "heat tape".
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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SteveAE
Bend, Oregon
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I plan to post better pictures of the unit and the installation next week for all to view. Hoping to go snow camping the following weekend to try it out .... if the weather is right.
Steve
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SteveAE
Bend, Oregon
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Here is the install of the Norcold Cold Weather Kit and some operational information.
Another picture of the unit on a table prior to installation:
![[image]](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y501/Steveae/IMG_0908_zpsea7eede9.jpg)
Back of refrigerator with access panel off (Note the cover near the top, partially blocking the flue. I had to remove this cover to gain access to install the kit):
![[image]](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y501/Steveae/IMG_0901_zpsaa976fba.jpg)
Lower part of refrigerator with red tape showing where heat tape needs to be installed:
![[image]](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y501/Steveae/IMG_0902_zpsfa21ed72.jpg)
Upper part of refrigerator with red tape showing where heat tape needs to be installed (Note that the heat tape needs to follow this tube - marked in red - until its junction with a larger tube tucked up behind the coil...which you can't see in this photo):
![[image]](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y501/Steveae/IMG_0903_zps5c4cc9ea.jpg)
Lower part of refrigerator with kit installed. You can see the defrost switch in the center of the picture (with the red wire going around it):
![[image]](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y501/Steveae/IMG_0909_zps2bb1906c.jpg)
I am not posting any pictures of the installation in the upper portion of the refrigerator because they don't show much. It was a bit difficult to get the tape in there though as I had to do it completely by feel as I couldn't see in there with my arm in the way. Additionally, trying to get the heat tape to stick, neatly, in the cold weather made it even more challenging. O-well, it's in.
Finished up installation by adding a On/Off switch (see lower left corner):
![[image]](http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y501/Steveae/IMG_0911_zps1a22ce09.jpg)
Turned the refrigerator on and ran the heater. Can't say it made any difference because the refrigerator has always worked fine at the temperatures I tested it at. I did note though that the tubing where the heater is, now runs warmer (~55 degrees F with air temp in the 20's)
The current draw of the heater is 1.7 amps at 13 volts. This should continue until the air temperature inside the refrigerator compartment reaches the cutoff limit of the defrost switch (48 degrees F)
I hope this posting was helpful,
Steve
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Hi Steve,
Thanks for the excellent post. What is the "cut in" temperature for this freeze prevention heater?
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SteveAE
Bend, Oregon
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It is a L48-10F refrigerator defrost switch. The crude testing I did seems to indicate that it opens at ~48 degrees (F) and closes at ~38 degrees.
I am glad that I put in a switch that allows me to disconnect the heater in more moderate temperatures so as to conserve battery power.
Steve
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mikellmikell
Benton harbor
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Joined: 10/16/2012
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Were ending out 3rd winter in Michigan without any problems and 6 more workers moved into the park this weekend and nobody said they had any fridge problems. It's been in the low teens at night??
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hotrod4x5
Southern Calif
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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mikellmikell wrote:Were ending out 3rd winter in Michigan without any problems and 6 more workers moved into the park this weekend and nobody said they had any fridge problems. It's been in the low teens at night?? Do you have ice cream in the freezer?
Rodney Former Owner of: 2005 Laredo 29GS 2002 F250 V-10 Yamaha EF3000iSEB (and NOT a GS Member)
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jeremyp60
Home
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Joined: 11/19/2012
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In the winter of 2010-11 we camped in NH with no snow for any extra insulation. Temperatures got to -15. Fridge worked fine with ice cream in it. We were pulling electric from our own meter so I had only one extra infrared heater we used sparingly. I had a 100lb tank filling between 1-3 weeks depending on temps. I didn't connect water choosing to fill the tank and use the pump. When draining the gray and black I chose the standard method, black first then gray with electric valves and had no problems. We kept the temp around 66. Can't wait to go skiing one of tuese winters out west now that we know everything works.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi,
I'm adding interior window covers that are a four layer:
Cloth
Mylar (shiny silver)
batting
Cloth *added by the end user*
The first three layers are called Insul-Bright
I'll have a door cover, a way to separate the cab, covers for the skylights and vents.
* This post was
edited 03/02/14 03:16pm by pianotuna *
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