New 5th wheel owners

[Badgfan]

We got a 2018 Montana 3820FK 5th wheel last August. Today the lights in the refrigerator went out along with the readout on the front of the fridge. Fridge is working though. And the kitchen blind normally operated by the switch by the door won’t go up/down. When I try to operate the switch I hear a little beep, but the blind won’t move. We’ve tried trouble shooting the connections in the panel behind the fridge and checked out all the fuses, breakers and connections, but everything looks fine. Any ideas? Thanks!!

[Frank G]

You did not tell us the make and model of the refrigerator. If it is the Norcold 4 dr. there is a 12V fuse in the back of the unit on the control board. This means the unit is not cooling either.

[jsb5717]

are you connected to shore power? Are your batteries charged?

[Badgfan]

Yes, it’s the 4-door Norcold. So we can check the fuse for sure. But it’s working fine now. It was cooling just fine, too. Lights inside the fridge were off for several hours then suddenly came back on. The digital readout on the front of the unit was also out, but that’s working too. Plus, as I noted, the electric blind behind the kitchen booth also stopped working the same time the fridge lights went out. But that blind is now working fine as well. Which make me wonder how a fuse on the refrigerator’s control panel could be the problem. I’m also pondering why the refrigerator and the power blind would be the only two things impacted. Everything else — all lights, outlets, etc were all functioning fine. What would cause the light inside the fridge, the digital readout on the front and the power blind — but nothing else — to stop working for several hours, then come back on like normal? If it helps, we’re in a seasonal site and batteries are charged as well.

[Frank G]

It sounds like you had a interruption in the 12V circuit that feeds the refrigerator and electric blinds. It may be a loose connection?? but where? there should be a solid run from the converter to a make-up box in the refrigerator compartment, then a run to the blinds. Your unit should have the color coded number wiring system for easy tracing. All the refrigerator connections are in the lower access/ventilation panel. Just a side note, the unit will not cool without 12V power.

Good Luck