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Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Yahoo Message Number: 94405
I have been meaning to share this with all of you who have Dometics or Norcolds. Norcold safety problems aside, I can report after some months of testing, there is a way to dramatically improve the cooling performance of your fridges for about $15: This began months ago: I was getting some ice buildup on the refrigerator side of my 2002 Dometic 1492 (that is the 14 cu foot). I thought the cooling unit was going. I called the RV Cooling Unit Warehouse (The Pines people). He explained that what was occurring was not a bad cooling unit, but a slight leak at the back of the fridge where the cooling unit is sealed in with foam. He said he had a new fan to go on the inside of the fridge that would solve the problem. He sent me this cool little fan that wires in to the light. It worked well: no more ice. Unfortunately, there were no grilles over the little delicate blades and things in the fridge destroyed the blades. I called and he said to send it back and he would replace the fans. I did. He installed new fans with metal grilles. The new fans are a little louder, but more powerful. Not only is there no ice buildup, but the fridge is as cold now as any compressor home fridge. Ice cold drinks. Uniform temps in the fridge, and rock hard ice cream in the freezer. It improves the overall operation of the unit and mine is 13 years old. I highly recommend it. Here is a link. http://rvcoolingunit.com/-Evaporator-Fan-Greater-inside-Cooling-Our-Standard-Model-wGrill-P3239956.aspx
Rich 2002 Magna

Re: Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 94421
this is a great lead for improvement in our coaches. Thanks much for showing us.
Jim Hill

2008 Tribute 260
81138

Re: Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 94641
I installed this little fan and I'm impressed with the results. Easy installation per the instruction included w the fan. There is a deluxe model that looks like it has better clips which I might order next time. The fan improve the circulation, hence food gets cooler quicker. I was also able to set the fridge on a warmer setting. It makes sense that a little positive pressure will keep outside air out in the case of seal leak. There is a delicate balance between getting the ideal fridge cooling without freezing up the fins. Keep them dripping to optimize cooling. Thanks for the great tip on this fan. Rv Cooling Warehouse was very helpful as well.

Sherri Jones
2004 Allure 33'

Re: Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 94646
Does anyone have a solution to the freezer and the build up of frost. We defrost and within a couple weeks it's built up again. There is one frost build up at the top of the freezer that seems to hold that part of the door open a little Any help would be greatly appreciated

Bob 2000 Intrigue

Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102585
After 15 years, my 1492 Dometic kicked the bucket, and I ordered a replacement Amish model cooling unit and that little fan and had it replaced yesterday. It is working better than ever.  I think I can actually have hard ice cream in the freezer now!  I cannot believe it, actually.

But the fan is not very secure. How did you get it to stay in place? That little clip is the only thing holding it and those slots on it do not line up with the rack to hold it  in place.  I placed it on the middle shelf and it sticks out and sort of leans towards the fins with the clip attached.

Let me just say that David Force with RV Cooling warehouse is great! He bent over backwards to answer emails and phone calls. Wonderful service. The only other company I EVER dealt with like this was Fantastic Fan. but they've been sold, unfortunately, to Dometic I think.

Thanks!~

Rosemary  2000 Magna #5798

Re: Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102592
The fan I got has little steel cables which the clips are attached to. I  had no trouble attaching it to the fins. It hangs there.

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102607
I tried this fan several years ago (2007 & 2010) and found it to work well, but didn't like the noise - mainly metal on metal vibration when attached to the cooling fins. I never found an effective way to mount it without the annoying noise. The current model may have solved the noise problem.
 I finally replaced mine with a small (80 mm) computer case cooling fan ordered from Amazon. I chose an "ultra quiet" model that is virtually silent [Cooler Master SAF-S84-E1, 50,000 hour MTBF]. Air flow is less than the noisier models on the market, but adequate for this application.
 I added an alligator clip to attach the ground wire to a cooling fin; connected the other wire to the fridge light bulb hot wire. All done!
 The fan hangs under the top shelf, attached by plastic cable ties. It can easily be moved around to achieve optimal effect..
 Mine came without a grille to protect the fan blades. A couple large paper clips were re-purposed to provide the needed protection. Some models include a protective grille.

Total cost (in 2011) : $6
--

Tom Harsch - 2002 Allure #30791
Rapid City, SD

Re: Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102617
Did the same thing in my Dometic. Used epoxy glue to keep in place. First used a hot glue gun to hold inlace while epoxy cured. Placed in upper right wall.

Doug Yunker

99 Allure 36' #30374
Columbus, Ohio

On Aug 31, 2015, at 9:11

Re: Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102618
Rosemary,

Fantastic Fan is now partnered with Atwood Mobile Products but still gives great service.  Sent me repair parts and only asked for payment of shipping.
John

08 Intrigue

Re: Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102619
Same here but they are owned by Atwood not partnered  with.

Ray

They say wine improves  with age! As I enter my golden years, I say age improves with wine!  The Born  Loser

Re: Absorption Fridge Performance fixed!

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102773
The fan I got has one clip on a short cable. It doesn't always make good contact, or it slips off.  There is nothing else to hold the fan in place.  It doesn't always make good contact either and then it doesn't work.
Is this unusual?

Rosemary  2000 Magna