Thetford dc-3984 Mode D'Emploi

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.

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.

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.

 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.