Magnets and Norcold Refrigerators

While we were staying at Manatee Cove Campground (Patrick Air Force Base),  it started raining one afternoon. If you've ever spent time in Florida, you know the rain comes down with a vengeance! After a couple hours of this downpour, I noticed our Norcold refrigerator was no longer working. By this time, it was after 7PM.

I verified that power was running, etc., and then checked the outside compartment. This is when I noticed an LED was illuminated on the Norcold  high temperature sensor retrofit, which is intended to prevent fires (it does not).

LED on Retrofit box

After doing some research, I learned this is a common problem. That is, moisture can trigger an error state in the retrofit box, and shut down the 12VDC power to the refrigerator. Regardless of whether the refrigerator is running in the LP or the AC mode, 12VDC must be available for the system to work.

Fortunately, the error can usually be cleared by holding a strong magnet on the retrofit box, to the right of the LED. After 10-30 seconds, the magnet will cause the circuit board relay to reset and clear the error.

But I did not have a magnet and the one I borrowed from a neighbor was not strong enough. So I made a jumper to bypass the retrofit box and get us through the night. This was only a very short term fix, and I do NOT recommend this approach. If a fire does start, the insurance company would likely deny the claim because the Norcold retrofit was bypassed.

The following afternoon, after getting back from boating with our friends, I went to the nearest Ace Hardware and got a magnet. Worked like a charm!

Fun Times on the Florida Spacecoast

After just one night at the Escapees Sumter Oaks RV Park, we made our way east to the Manatee Cove Campground at Patrick Air Force Base.

When I was a young airman, fresh out of technical training in June 1982, my first duty station was Patrick Air Force Base. I really enjoyed the two-plus years I spent in the Cocoa Beach area... what 22-year old would not? I still have friends in the area and whenever we're in Florida we stop and visit.

Sunset from our campsite

Manatee Cove Campground is a nice campground. Depending on what site you get, you may be on the water or not. Worse case, you'll be within a 3-minute walk and so it's all good. This time around we got a site right on the water, two spots away from our friends Fran and John. They are also heading to Key West and we've been trailing a few days behind them since Jacksonville. They got back on the road to continue south the day after we got to Patrick Air Force Base.

Once we were settled in at the campground, we went with Fran and John to eat in one of the base Dining Halls. The food was pretty good and you can't beat the price - $5.00 for a full meal with drink.

The next day, Tuesday, we caught up on chores such as laundry. It rained buckets that afternoon and this is when we experienced the Norcold refrigerator retrofit moisture issue. I explain this in the post Magnets and Norcold Refrigerators.

Raye, Paulie, Denise, Consuelo, Lynda

On Wednesday morning, we met up with friends Raye, Denise and  Paulie to go fishing. Paulie is Denise's 18-year old son and he is an avid fisherman and very competent boater. We had a really good time and it was so nice to be out on the water! Paulie took us out to sea via Sebastian Inlet but the water was a little rougher than we liked, so we headed back to the more sheltered waters of the Indian River. We tooled along and caught and released a few small fish. It was very relaxing, and I am so impressed with the man that Paulie is becoming. Denise has done a great job raising him!

That same evening, we all met up at Tammy and Debbie's house which is on the river in Grant, FL. They recently bought this property and renovations are underway. It will be a lovely home when they're finished. We all went to dinner at the Old Fish House Bar & Grill and enjoyed some good food and great company! I've known Denise and Tammy for over 32 years and we are still the girls we used to be! Life is good.

Next stop: Marathon, FL.

Weighed the Motor Home

We left Jacksonville yesterday and made our way to the Escapees Sumter Oaks RV Park in Bushnell, Florida. We had an appointment to have the Dolphin weighed this morning, through the Escapees Smart Weigh program.

Weighmaster Gaylord Coston did a fine job weighing our Dolphin and car, and going over the information with me. He also measured the height of the motor home, which is good to know.

It turns out that we are 400 pounds under max weight, which is almost exactly what I had calculated! And our tire pressure is right on the money as well, according to Michelin's Load and Inflation chart.

So we're in good shape providing we keep an eye on items we bring on board. We'll probably weigh the coach again in 6 months or so... weight can sneak up on you!

When we first arrived at the Oaks RV Park, we were perplexed by the layout of the campground. Turns out this used to be a mobile home (trailer) park before being converted to an RV park. Anyway, there is plenty of shade around the perimeter but the pull-through sites in the middle of the campground are open to the sun and heat. We would consider staying here for an extended period, provided we could get a shaded site.