Thetford DC851 Series (Volvo) - Manual (Page 8)

Installation and Owner’s Manual 8
This refrigerator operates on 12/24 volts DC current from a
battery.
CAUTION: Only connect the refrigerator directly to the
battery. Because they often generate high voltage pulses
and cause transistor defects in the inverter, no other
switches, lead wires, or electrical equipment should
share the wiring between the refrigerator and battery.
When using either a converter or a battery charger, make sure
that they are connected in parallel between the battery and the
refrigerator. Do not use a converter or battery charger to supply
the DC power directly to the refrigerator because these two
devices do not supply filtered DC power (See Art01521).
Correct ................................................................................. 1
Incorrect ............................................................................... 2
Refrigerator .......................................................................... 3
Battery charger or AC/DC converter, etc. .............................. 4
Transistorized DC power supply ......................................... 5
Condenser ........................................................................... 6
Battery .................................................................................. 7
As the distance from the vehicle battery to the refrigerator
increases, the correct AWG wire size also increases. If the wire
size is too small for the distance, a voltage drop occurs. The
voltage drop decreases the cooling performance of the refrig-
erator.
Connect the 12 Volt DC Supply
Install the Refrigerator
The refrigerator should be installed only on a solid surface in
the vehicle.
1. Align the mounting rails on the bottom of the refrigerator [1]
with the mounting rails on the bottom of the refrigerator
enclosure [2] (See Art01652).
2. Carefully push the refrigerator completely into the enclosure.
3. Open the door of the refrigerator.
4. Align the hole in the mounting rail on the bottom of the
refrigerator and the hole in the mounting rail on the bottom of
the refrigerator enclosure.
5. Put the mounting screw down through the opening [3] in the
bottom trim of the refrigerator (See Art01651).
CAUTION: Make sure that the mounting screw is not
cross-threaded in the mounting flanges. Cross-thread-
ing will damage the mounting flange and/or the screw.
6. Turn the mounting screw down into the mounting rails.
7. Tighten the mounting screw.
Ventilation
This refrigerator is made for a built-in installation. Correct
ventilation is necessary for the correct operation of the
refrigerator and to increase the life of the refrigerator cooling
system.
Correct ventilation allows the natural air flow that is necessary
for good refrigeration. Cooler air comes in through a lower
intake vent, goes around the refrigerator coils where it removes
the excess heat from the refrigerator components, and goes out
through a side exhaust vent. If this air flow is blocked or
decreased, the refrigerator will not cool correctly.
The refrigerator has a fan which will operate only when the
ambient temperature is higher than approximately 95° F.
CAUTION: The refrigerator has built in vents on the right
and left sides. Make sure that the flow of air through
these vents is not blocked in any way. Blockage of air
through these vents can cause:
- shortened life of the refrigerator cooling unit.
- poor cooling performance of the refrigerator.
- continuous operation of the refrigerator.
- fast battery discharge.
- void of the refrigerator warranty.
1. Norcold recommends that you use the following wire and
fuse sizes:
- Measure the distance from the vehicle battery to the
refrigerator:
- If the distance is less than 12 feet, use 16 AWG wire
and a 10 Amp fuse.
- If the distance is between 12 and 20 feet, use 14 AWG
wire and a 10 Amp fuse.
- If the distance is more than 20 feet, use 12 AWG wire
and a 10 Amp fuse.
- Twist the lead wires to reduce the radio interference and
induction of a high voltage surge from the outside (See
Art01518).
Correct ................................................................................. 1
Incorrect ............................................................................... 2
Refrigerator .......................................................................... 3
Battery .................................................................................. 4
Electrical equipment ............................................................ 5
Twisted lead wires ............................................................... 6
NOTE: This wiring is already in the vehicle. It is located
behind the wall trim panel.
2. Push the DC connector of the refrigerator completely into the
DC plug of the vehicle.