13th Oct 2026

Norcold 1200 / 1210 dc HI Code (DC Voltage High)

dc.↔HI.

dc HI CODE

Norcold 1200 / 1210 dc HI Code (DC Voltage High)

The display alternates between dc and HI and the alarm beeps. The 12V DC supply to the power board went above 15.4 volts, usually from a converter, solar controller or charger that’s overcharging. The fridge’s controls run on 12V in every mode, so this can stop it on AC or LP.

Before you start

  • When it sets. In any mode, about 25 seconds after the voltage rises above 15.4 volts. It’s saved in the fault history even after the voltage recovers.
  • Good voltage on the 1200/1210 is 10.5 to 15.4 volts DC.
  • You’ll need a multimeter set to DC volts.

STEP 1

Measure the voltage at the fridge

Measure across the power board’s 12 VDC and GND terminals with the fridge ON. Leave your chargers (shore power, solar, generator, engine) running.

▼
?

Is the DC voltage at the power board above 15.4 volts?

NO
▼

It’s not happening right now

The voltage is fine at the moment, so the spike comes and goes. Check the fault history on diagnostic screen 4, clear it on screen 6, then check screen 4 again later to see if it comes back. Steps are below.

YES
▼
Go to Step 2 ▼

STEP 2

Check the RV’s DC output

Measure the voltage at the RV battery and at the DC circuit that feeds the fridge.

▼
?

Is the RV’s DC output 10.5 to 15.4 volts?

NO
▼

Correct the RV’s DC output

Find the charger that’s overcharging: turn them all off, then back on one at a time while you measure. Check that each one is set for your battery type. See our high-voltage checks for the step-by-step.

YES
▼
Go to Step 3 ▼

STEP 3

Test with a known-good battery

Connect a fully charged 12V battery straight to the fridge’s DC input and turn it on.

▼
?

Does dc HI still display?

NO
▼

Check the DC circuit to the fridge

With a good battery the code is gone, so the problem is in the RV’s DC circuit feeding the fridge: wiring, fuses, breaker, connections and ground.

How to check and clear the fault history

The 1200/1210 saves every fault, even after it clears. Use the built-in diagnostic screens to see if DC voltage high has been happening.

  1. Enter diagnostics: press and hold MODE and SET TEMP together. Let go when 1 shows. Within two seconds 88 appears.
  2. Go to screen 4: press MODE to step through the screens until 4 shows on the left.
  3. Read it: lit segments on the right digit are stored faults. Segment 4 lit means DC voltage high has been recorded.
  4. Clear it on screen 6: press MODE to reach screen 6 (it shows Er). Hold SET TEMP until CL appears, wait five seconds, then hold SET TEMP until Er shows again.
  5. Exit: hold MODE and SET TEMP together again, or turn the fridge OFF and back ON.

On screen 4, segment 3 is DC voltage low and segment 4 is DC voltage high. The other segments are burner failed to light (1), door open (2), no AC (5), AC relay stuck (6) and AC heaters open (7).

Keep dc HI from coming back

High-voltage codes usually start with a converter or charge controller that’s failing or set for the wrong battery type.

A surge protector or EMS guards the converter from bad shore power. It won’t fix the 12V reading by itself. Switching to lithium? Set your converter and solar controller to their lithium profile.

← All Norcold 1200 / 1210 parts
Still stuck? ask a tech with your model, serial number and the readings you got. We’ll confirm the part before you order.
Based on the Norcold 1200/1210 service manual, dc HI Fault Code flowchart.
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