NORCOLD 323 (01) PDF DOCUMENT

If you smell gas, follow these steps immediately due to a fire or explosion hazard:

1. Open Windows.

2. Do not attempt to light the appliance.

3. Do not touch electrical switches.

4. Extinguish any open flame.

5. Shut off the fuel supply.

6. Evacuate immediately and call emergency services.

Failure to follow these instructions could result in fire or explosion, which could cause property damage, personal injury, or death.

The safety alert symbols identify potential hazards. The signal words that follow them have specific meanings:

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.

Please adhere to the following safety instructions when using your NORCOLD 323 refrigerator:

Fire Hazards:

• 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.).

Electrical Safety:

• Do not remove the round ground prong from the refrigerator AC power cord. Do not use a two-prong adapter or extension cord.

• A circuit overload can result in an electrical fire if the wires and/or fuses are not the correct size. Use the wire and fuse sizes as written in the manual or refer to local codes for correct sizes.

• Disconnect both AC and DC power sources before performing any maintenance.

• Do not spray liquids near electrical outlets or connections, as many liquids are electrically conductive and can cause a shock hazard, electrical shorts, and in some cases fire.

Service and Modification:

• Incorrect installation, adjustment, or maintenance can cause injury or damage. Service and maintenance work should be done by your dealer or an authorized service center.

• All service work must be done by a qualified service technician.

• Do not bypass or change the refrigerator’s electrical components or features.

Cooling System:

• The refrigerator cooling system is under pressure and contains sodium chromate. Do not attempt to repair or recharge a defective cooling system. Do not bend, drop, weld, move, drill, puncture, or hit the cooling system.

General Safety:

• When you discard the appliance, remove all doors to prevent accidental entrapment and suffocation.

• Regularly ensure the refrigerator flue, burner, and vent areas are free from flammable material or blockages.

• The rear of the refrigerator has sharp edges. To prevent cuts, be careful and wear cut-resistant gloves when working on it.

The NORCOLD 323 refrigerator is designed to operate within 3° off level side-to-side and 6° off level front-to-back (as looking at the front of the refrigerator). Operating it beyond these limits can cause damage to the cooling system and create a risk of injury or property damage. Always ensure the vehicle is level before you operate the refrigerator.

For the best cooling performance from your NORCOLD 323:

• 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 forms on the cooling fins:

• Cover all liquids and moist foods.

• Let hot foods cool before putting them in the refrigerator.

• Do not open the door any longer than necessary.

The control panel is located on the rear of the refrigerator. The functions of the controls are as follows:

• Mode selector [292]: Changes the energy source between propane GAS, AC electric, and DC electric.

• AC thermostat [293]: Controls the temperature when in AC electric mode. Setting 5 is the coldest.

• Gas control [294]: Sets the temperature when in GAS mode. Push and turn the control to HI, MED, or LO. HI is the coldest setting. This is not an automatic control; you must manually change it if the cooling load changes.

• Piezo lighter [216]: Creates a spark to ignite the flame at the burner.

• 3 Amp fuse [220]: Protects the AC wiring.

• 20 Amp fuse [223]: Protects the DC wiring of the refrigerator (model 323).

When the outside air temperature is below 50° F, the refrigerator may have a tendency to freeze food. To reduce this tendency:

• Turn the gas control to the LO position.

• Keep the refrigerator full.

• Put foods that are more likely to freeze on the lower shelf.

To ignite the refrigerator on propane gas, follow these steps:

1. Open the lower intake vent to get access to the rear of the refrigerator.

2. Open the valve at the propane gas storage tank.

3. Open the viewing window on the burner box.

4. Turn the mode selector [292] to the GAS position.

5. Turn the gas control [294] to the HI position.

6. Push and hold in the gas control.

– In rapid succession, push the igniter [216] in several times.

– Look through the viewing window to confirm ignition.

WARNING: Do not hold the gas control in for more than 30 seconds. If there is no flame, wait at least five minutes before trying again. Continuing to hold the gas control in without a flame can cause gas to collect, creating a fire or explosion risk.

– Once ignited, continue to hold the gas control in for about 15 seconds only.

7. Turn the gas control to the desired cooling level.

8. Close the viewing window on the burner box.

With an established flame in GAS mode, you can test the gas safety valve:

1. Push and turn the gas control to the OFF position.

2. After the flame is extinguished, you should hear a sharp “click” sound within three minutes. This indicates the valve has closed.

3. Push and turn the gas control to the HI position.

4. Without pushing in the gas control, push the igniter several times rapidly. The burner flame should not ignite. This confirms that the gas safety valve is working correctly.

To start your NORCOLD 323 on AC power:

• Turn the gas control to the OFF position.

• Make sure that 120 volts AC is available and the 3 Amp fuse [220] is working correctly.

• Turn the mode selector to the AC position.

• Turn the AC thermostat to the desired temperature setting.

To start your NORCOLD 323 on DC power:

• Turn the gas control to the OFF position.

• Make sure that 12 volts DC is available and the 20 Amp fuse [223] is working correctly.

• Turn the mode selector to the DC position.

DC Operation Precautions:

• The refrigerator is made to operate on DC power while your vehicle is “in transit” and AC or propane gas are unavailable. Operate on DC power only when the vehicle engine is running, as it has a high current draw and can rapidly discharge the battery.

• The battery must be fully charged for correct DC operation.

• The vehicle engine must be running, and the battery charging system must be in good operating condition.

• The battery charging system capacity must be greater than what is needed for the refrigerator and other DC appliances.

• A qualified service technician should verify that the voltage at the DC power supply leads is more than 11.5 VDC while the engine is running.

DC Operation Guidelines:

• DC operation is intended only to maintain the temperature of an already cool refrigerator. It is not for the initial start-up and cooling.

• Always use AC or propane gas for the initial cool-down. The refrigerator must be cool and the temperature steady before switching to DC.

• Use DC operation only while the vehicle is in transit.

• Only use DC operation if the vehicle battery and charging system are in good condition.

To shut down the NORCOLD 323 refrigerator:

• Push and turn the gas control to the OFF position.

• Turn the mode selector to the OFF position.

When you operate the NORCOLD 323 on propane gas at altitudes higher than 5500 feet above sea level, you may experience reduced cooling performance and burner outages. It is recommended to operate the refrigerator on AC power at these altitudes to avoid these issues.

A gas absorption refrigerator is not designed to operate in freezing temperatures. If the cooling system is exposed to temperatures of 32° F or lower for an extended period, the refrigerator’s operation may be disrupted. Operation will resume when the cooling system warms up sufficiently. If the refrigerator is equipped for low-temperature operation, it will operate in temperatures down to 0° F.

Perform these simple checks every three to six months for trouble-free service:

• Keep the food compartment and freezer clean.

• Defrost the refrigerator as necessary.

• Make sure the door seals correctly.

• Be aware of any cooling changes not related to weather, loading, or thermostat changes. Contact your dealer if such changes occur.

• Make sure the gas supply is propane gas only, not butane or a butane mixture.

• When in propane gas operation, examine the appearance of the flame.

• Make sure the air flow in the lower intake vent, through the refrigerator coils and condenser, and out the upper exhaust vent is not blocked or decreased.

• Make sure the area behind the refrigerator is clear. Do not use this area for storage, especially of flammable materials.

Excess frost decreases cooling performance. Defrost the refrigerator as necessary using these steps:

1. Remove all food from the refrigerator.

2. Turn the mode selector to the OFF position.

3. Place dry towels inside the refrigerator to absorb melted frost.

CAUTION: High temperatures can warp or melt the inside surfaces. Do not use pans of HOT water, a hair dryer, or other high-temperature devices to defrost. Do not use hard or sharp objects to remove frost, as this can cause damage.

4. To speed up defrosting, you can place pans of WARM water in the refrigerator.

5. Remove the wet towels and dry the interior.

6. Start up the refrigerator.

7. Allow the refrigerator to cool down before returning all food.

A good time to clean the refrigerator is just after defrosting. To avoid food odors, clean the inside as often as necessary:

1. Remove all food from the refrigerator.

2. Wash the interior with a solution of dish detergent and warm water. Do not use abrasive cleaners, chemicals, or scouring pads, as they can damage the interior.

3. Rinse with a solution of baking soda and clean water.

4. Dry with a clean cloth.

5. Put all food back in the refrigerator.

If the door does not seal correctly, excess frost will collect inside. To check the seal:

1. Close the door on a piece of paper about the size and thickness of a dollar bill.

2. Gently pull the paper. You should feel a slight drag between the door gasket and the cabinet.

3. Do this on all four sides of the door.

4. If you do not feel a drag on the paper, the door gasket is not sealing correctly. Contact your dealer or an authorized service center.

Have a qualified RV dealer or a Norcold authorized service center perform these annual safety and maintenance checks:

• Examine the gas supply lines for leaks and repair if necessary.

• Ensure the propane gas pressure is 11 inches of water column and adjust if necessary.

• Make sure the combustion seal is complete and intact; replace if necessary.

• Make sure the burner and the burner orifice are clean.

• Check that the electrode spark gap is 1/8 – 3/16 inch and adjust if necessary.

• Ensure the AC voltage is 108 – 132 volts and the DC voltage is 10.5 – 15.4 volts.

• Make sure the thermocouple tip is clean and secure.

• Ensure the area at the rear of the refrigerator is free from any combustible materials.

Before storing the refrigerator for an extended (seasonal) period of time:

• Defrost and clean the interior of the refrigerator.

• If your model has a storage latch, close the door with it to allow for air circulation.

Before starting up the refrigerator after storage:

• Make sure there are no obstructions in the vents, the ventilation air pathway, the burner, the orifice, or the flue area.

While operating in GAS mode, you can examine the gas flame:

1. Push and turn the gas control to the HI position.

2. Open the lower intake vent.

3. Open the burner box door and look at the gas flame [75]. The burner box cover can be hot, so wear gloves to avoid burns.

The flame should be:

• A darker blue color on the inside and a lighter blue color on the outside.

• A constant shape without flickering.

Contact your dealer or an authorized service center if the flame is:

• Yellow.

• Flickering or changing shape.

Also, make sure the flame does not touch the inside of the flue tube [76]. If it does, contact your dealer or service center.

4. Close the burner box door when finished.

This procedure must be performed by a dealer or a Norcold authorized service center.

1. Close the valve at the propane gas tank(s).

2. Open the lower intake vent.

3. Push and turn the gas control to the OFF position and turn the mode selector to the OFF position.

4. Remove the burner box cover by removing one screw (Caution: cover may be hot).

5. Using two wrenches to avoid leaks, remove the flare nut from the orifice assembly [77].

6. Remove the orifice assembly from the burner [78].

7. Clean the orifice assembly with alcohol only. Do not try to remove the orifice [79] from the adapter [80] or clean it with a pin, as this can cause damage and lead to a gas leak.

8. Using a wrench, reassemble the orifice assembly to the burner.

9. Assemble the flare nut to the orifice assembly, tighten by hand, and then use a wrench to tighten it 1/4 revolution only.

10. Examine all gas connections for leaks.

You may purchase replacement parts for your NORCOLD 323 through your local RV dealer or an authorized Norcold Service Center.