Norcold 2-way Refrigerator Trips Shore Power Breaker

[Matt42]

I may have damaged my 20 year old Norcold 2-way refrigerator. I was doing some wire-feed welding using one of the 10 gauge extension cords that I use as an RV extension cord.

For some dumb stupid reason, I managed to plug the welder into the same cord the trailer was plugged into. After less than five minutes of welding, the 20 amp breaker for the circuit tripped. At first, letting the breaker cool worked. Then I could reset it. (This is an actual in-the-panel GFI breaker.) I eventually got the welding project done once I discovered my cord selection mistake, and unplugged the trailer.

I thought at the time that the trailer and the 115 volt wire feed welder together might have exceeded 20 amps. But the trailer was only using the converter, and the welder consumed 15 amps at full output. I later discovered that when the refrigerator circuit is plugged in, it trips the shore power circuit breaker. It did not do this before my welding episode.

Could I have fried the circuit panel in the refrigerator? And if I did, could it be causing the problem? Thanks.

 

[Brian Sullivan]

Does it work on a non gfi breaker?

 

[Matt42]

Does it work on a non gfi breaker?

Have not got that far yet. But it never had any problems at all over the prior 20 years on a GFI breaker.

 

[TJJEEPER]

There is a good chance it's the breaker. GFI breakers are very fragile. I would think the only way you could have fried the refrigerator is if you were actually welling on the camper.

 

[Matt42]

I have some more diagnosing to do this weekend, I see. Thanks.

 

[RustyJC]

If you're cooling on electricity instead of propane, disconnect the heating element and ohm it out between the leads and between each lead and ground at the boiler well the element screws into. These elements are known for shorting to ground when subjected to electrical upsets.

Rusty

 

[Northfork]

I would do your due diligence on working the problem, but over the past 3 RVs we have owned I have, more than once, gone to these guys and bought one of their products and solved a number of head scratcher problems with both Dometic and Norcold RV refrigerators and other appliances.Their boards are visibly better made than the factory stuff, and the grounding circuit is a priority.
Worth looking at if your troubleshooting leads you in this direction. Also, a lot of info on their website...

http://www.dinosaurelectronics.com/