Why does my Norcold fridge have a divider heater?

[HeadedToTexas]

I am replacing the original POS thermostat on my Norcold DE0061 with a new digital model that will maintain a far tighter temperature dead band. The original allows the refrigerator temperature to swing from 33 to 42 degrees. Norcold said that is acceptable. I disagree, hence the new thermostat.

In the process of detailing the wiring, I found a mystery rubber fitting in the top of the insulation layer with a pair of wires disappearing through the fitting. The manual indicates that this is a divider heater. It runs whenever the fridge is on and the door is closed. It's item 85 in the diagram below. A divider heater?

The friendly Norcold Customer Service rep couldn't elaborate much, but the FAQ on Norcold's website indicates that the divider heater "prevent moisture from forming on the center divider between the two doors. This heater operates only when the refrigerator is ON." As in all the time.

I am all for preventing moisture in insulation, but isn't that what insulation is designed to prevent in the first place? How many watts does that divider heater consume? Seems counterproductive to me.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

I finally got around to inquiring with Norcold about the Divider Heater. Here was their reply:

The divide heater (sic) keeps your food in the fresh food area of the unit from freezing.

Really? Seems like a very inefficient way to use electricity in a refrigerator. Do all refrigerators use heaters to divide freezer from refrigerator compartments?

 

[Action]

Not unique to marine application

There are a number of refrigerators that have this feature. I have only seen it in side by side door refrigerators. The heater is only heating the surface of the divider where the doors meet the body of the refrigerator between the two sides. And the heater does not generate a lot of heat nor uses a lot of power. The task is to keep that divider surface area above freezing.

It is possible liquid or moisture from the refrigerator leaks over to the freezer side. And the freezer side of the divider freezes the door to the refrigerator. Making it difficult to open the door. And possibly doing damage to the door seal.

In some models opening the door, one can feel the hotter center divider surface.

Action

 

[HeadedToTexas]

Interesting. Part of my renovation of our Norcold is to evaluate running without the divider heater. I’ll report back as things develop.

 

[High Wire]

I am replacing the original POS thermostat on my Norcold DE0061 with a new digital model that will maintain a far tighter temperature dead band. The original allows the refrigerator temperature to swing from 33 to 42 degrees. Norcold said that is acceptable. I disagree, hence the new thermostat.

In the process of detailing the wiring, I found a mystery rubber fitting in the top of the insulation layer with a pair of wires disappearing through the fitting. The manual indicates that this is a divider heater. It runs whenever the fridge is on and the door is closed. It's item 85 in the diagram below. A divider heater?

The friendly Norcold Customer Service rep couldn't elaborate much, but the FAQ on Norcold's website indicates that the divider heater "prevent moisture from forming on the center divider between the two doors. This heater operates only when the refrigerator is ON." As in all the time.

I am all for preventing moisture in insulation, but isn't that what insulation is designed to prevent in the first place? How many watts does that divider heater consume? Seems counterproductive to me.

Forgive the thread drift but what make/model digital thermostat did you use? Many of us could use that info.

 

[Action]

Interesting. Part of my renovation of our Norcold is to evaluate running without the divider heater. I’ll report back as things develop.

I think humidity may pay a part too.

My guess is sometimes it is not necessary.

Action

 

[OldDan1943]

The product (stuff) temp is far more important than the box temp. Get out your IR gun.

 

[rslifkin]

After turning off the heater, if you start to freeze things that are close to the divider, I'd be inclined to just add some extra insulation to the divider.

My Novakool is a bottom freezer and doesn't have a divider heater, and while the bottom of the fridge does get pretty close to freezing at times, I've never had stuff actually freeze in there with the fridge set to keep most of the box in the mid to high 30s.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

There have got to be better ways to keep items at different temperatures than using a heater in a refrigerator. Just sayin’. Glad to know they’re out there. I hope this Norcold performs and lasts forever, but it’s on a short leash and there are plenty of better choices out there.

Here’s the digital thermostat I am using. There are plenty of options, but I chose this one because it displays in Fahrenheit and includes both set point and current temperature (at the sensor).

Twidec/DC 12V Temperature... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092H3WSZX?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[Action]

If there is an energy savings switch, generally when you switch to energy savings the heater will ne turned off.

After switching if no condensation builds up you are good.

Action