Norcold fridge and high altitude performance

[star kitty]

Was just about to drop $800 for a new Norcold fridge and came across an issue from their owners manual.

It states LP performance of fridge is greatly diminished above 5500' above sea level. Anyone experience this issue?

[mhilley]

We camp at above 10,000 feet every summer for a couple of months and have never had a problem with the reefer. Now the hot water heater is another issue! We are plugged in so the water heater is using propane, the refer is not.

[star kitty]

Originally Posted by mhilley

We camp at above 10,000 feet every summer for a couple of months and have never had a problem with the reefer. Now the hot water heater is another issue! We are plugged in so the water heater is using propane, the refer is not.

Is it a Norcold?

[idroba]

The gas flame heat output at high altitudes on appliances can be reduced, which is why Norcold has said that the refrigeration performance may be a problem. It is not an issue with the refrigeration system itself, but the heat input on propane. It would not affect the operation on electricity.

I don't have a Norcold refrigerator in either of my trailers, they both have Dometics. I don't recall any statement in the Dometic manuals about high altitude reduced operation but have not looked carefully for it. I camped this year for a week above 8700' and had no issues with my Dometic at any rate. My furnace and water heater also seemed ok, but both were a bit more noisy when the flame was on.

[Beaker63]

Hey Star,
We had that same problem this last trip to Colorado. Camping at 9500 ft our nor cold 300 would not get colder than 50 degrees. Had to use matches to light the stove as those butane lighters didn't work either. All was well at lower altitudes.
Tim