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Fridge Fan

Yahoo Message Number: 11767
We've used a Fan in all of our RV Rigs, even before they were big enuff to be called a "Coach". Not quite as high Tech as Fred. Just a simple little 2 each D-Side Battery operated fan circulates the air. "In theory" the colder air settles to the bottom and the fan moves it upward. It even worked on our 1st 20 ft. long chassis mounted Open Road Camper with a Real ICE Box, they took a 10 lb slab of solid ice to keep the cocktails cool. Just hung the ICE Sign in the Side Window of our Rig in the campgrounds (they were not call RV Parks back then) for the Ice Man to stop by.
"We come along way Baby" ! ! !
Happy Travels

Lee in Portland x 326 ft. x'01 Intrigue with smaller that desired Fridge for "Most-Timing it in January.
"fredkovol" fredkovol@...> wrote:

Refrigerator Fan

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11792
We installed a 12v fan inside our refrigerator and it has totally eliminated the icing problem we had on the interior cooling vanes.
The icing really gets bad when we camp in very humid areas like Florida. It also keeps the refrigerator more consistently cool from top to bottom. We have two wireless temperature sensors in the fridge (one on the top shelf and one on the bottom shelf) and one wireless sensor in the freezor. It gives me all the data to know that my fridge is working to cooling levels that keep our food safe.
The Dometic Fridge has a convenient source for 12v power on the back of the unit. I knew I was on to something good when we first installed the fan and it melted a solid block of ice on the fridge cooling vanes overnight! No more ice, and more efficient cooling.

Regards,

Bob Kumza

Intrigue #11581

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11799
We installed a 12v fan inside our refrigerator and it has totally eliminated the icing problem we had on the interior cooling vanes.
The icing really gets bad when we camp in very humid areas like Florida. It also keeps the refrigerator more consistently cool from top to bottom. We have two wireless temperature sensors in the fridge (one on the top shelf and one on the bottom shelf) and one wireless sensor in the freezor. It gives me all the data to know that my fridge is working to cooling levels that keep our food safe.
The Dometic Fridge has a convenient source for 12v power on the back of the unit. I knew I was on to something good when we first installed the fan and it melted a solid block of ice on the fridge cooling vanes overnight! No more ice, and more efficient cooling.

Regards,

Bob Kumza

Intrigue #11581

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11802
Quote from: ]
Bob, Where was the 12v source, kind of fan, and where did you buy the wireless sensors.[/quote
uote]
Several models of base stations and wireless sensors are available from "www2.oregonscientific.com" or one of their internet dealers. Some models are also available at Camping World.
Dick

2000 36 Allure
30592

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11806
Radio Shack makes a nice three channel temp display with mins/maxs.
You can have three wireless remote units. I have one of their conventional remote units in the refrig for the past year. Working great and apparently not too cold for the batteries.

Cat # 63-1026 for the remote wireless transmitter (and apparently the base station as it has the same number)

Herb

2002 Allure #30690

Quote from: RBellaw
[quote author=]
> Bob, Where was the 12v source, kind of fan, and where did you buy
the wireless sensors.

Quote

Several models of base stations and wireless sensors are
available from

Quote
"www2.oregonscientific.com" or one of their internet dealers.
Some models are also

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11819
The 12v source is a plastic block on the rear of the fridge with 2 positive and 2 negative terminals on it.

I used a 3" 12v fan from Radio Shack.

I bought my Oregon Scientific wireless sensors and control panel from Camping World. The control panel gives me the option to set high and low alarm limits for each sensor separately.

Bob Kumza

2003 Intrigue #11581

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11826
Bob Kumza's message about the 12v fan inside the refrigerator caught my attention and raised a couple of questions. What kind of fan did you install ... a commercial product or one that you built from a modular fan?? How did you bring the 12v from the back of the refrigertor into the refrigerator compartment? Where in the refrigerator did you install this fan to keep the ice off the cooling fins? Thanks for answers.

Steve Bufty

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11841
I used a standard 3" 12v fan from Radio Shack (about $19).

I ran the wires under the refrig and in the front door through the right front corner. I plan to drill a tiny hole through the bottom rear of the fridge when I find out where I can do so without damaging the cooling system.

I have tried several fan placement locations. So far the most effective has been on the top shelf, in the middle of the vanes, at a 45 degree angle, blowing downward across the vanes. I get 100% reduction in ice and significant improvement in cooling efficiency in this location.

My next experiment is to build a clear plastic L shapped shroud to cover the top 1/2 of the vanes and to install multiple 3" fans blowing downward with individual switches for each fan. That way, I can totally control how many fans are running and have a built-in backup when one fan fails (which they do after about a year of continuous running). When the outdoor temperatures exceed 100 degrees, I think I might need to run more than one interior fan to extract as much efficiency as possible from the cooling system.

Bob

P.S. I have also installed two 4" 12v fans from Radio Shack blowing upward in the rear exterior of the fridge. I run one or both of these only when the temperature exceeds 90+ degrees. It improves air flow across the back of the coils and helps the fridge run much cooler.

Quote from: Steve Bufty\[br\
]
Bob Kumza's message about the 12v fan inside the refrigerator

caught my

Quote
attention and raised a couple of questions. What kind of fan did

you

Quote
install ... a commercial product or one that you built from a
modular fan??

Quote
How did you bring the 12v from the back of the refrigertor into the > refrigerator compartment? Where in the refrigerator did you

install this

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11842
Quote from: rvrobert2003
> I used a standard 3" 12v fan from Radio Shack (about $19).

I ran the wires under the refrig and in the front door through the > right front corner.
Since I haven't the ability to move the fridge to run the wires under it, and don't feel like paying someone to do it, does Radio Shack sell battery-operated fans that will do the same thing?

Carol

'04 Inspire Genoa 51046

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11849
From: "rvrobert2003" rkumza@...>

(snip) > I have also installed two 4" 12v fans from Radio Shack blowing upward in the rear exterior of the fridge. I run one or both of these only when the temperature exceeds 90+ degrees. It improves air flow across the back of the coils and helps the fridge run much cooler.

In a previous RV, I installed a solar cell powered fan (source: CW) in the fridge's rear exterior, which blew air up and over the coils when sun shined on the solar cell, which was secured to the top of the refrigerator vent cover. That made a lot more sense to me then using a 12V fan, since the fridge worked well 'cept when sun was strong. And I used that strong sun to power the fan!! It just makes sense.
Why am I not using a fan in our Intrigue fridge's rear exterior? Because the fridge seems to work very well without one. I may do it anyway .

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11850
From: "jennylindca" jennylind2000@...> (snip) > Since I haven't the ability to move the fridge to run the wires under it, and don't feel like paying someone to do it, does Radio Shack sell battery-operated fans that will do the same thing? Camping World sells 'em and they use two D-cell batteries. They work well.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11861
Carol; I never moved the fridge. I just slipped the tiny wire down an existing hole in the back of the fridge, then along the top of the compartment where the drawers are, then in the front corner of the fridge. It was easy.

Quote from: jennylindca
[quote author=rvrobert2003"

> I used a standard 3" 12v fan from Radio Shack (about $19).
>

> I ran the wires under the refrig and in the front door through

the

Re: Refrigerator Fans

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11862
The key to any fan working well is the volume of air it moves. I tried the solar powered fan on the back outside and the 2 D cell fan on the inside and they moved so little air that they were about worthless. When I held my hand above them, I could hardly feel any air moving. The Radio Shack fans I used (3" inside and 4" outside) move a LOT of air. The cubic feet per minute rating is on the fan package. When I hold my hand a foot away from either, I feel a blast of air. That's why they work so well.

Bob

Quote from: Dick Campagna
> From: "rvrobert2003"

(snip) > I have also installed two 4" 12v fans from Radio Shack

blowing

Quote
upward in the rear exterior of the fridge. I run one or both of > these only when the temperature exceeds 90+ degrees. It improves > air flow across the back of the coils and helps the fridge run much > cooler. >

In a previous RV, I installed a solar cell powered fan (source:

CW) in the

Quote
fridge's rear exterior, which blew air up and over the coils when

sun shined

Quote
on the solar cell, which was secured to the top of the
refrigerator vent

Quote
cover. That made a lot more sense to me then using a 12V fan,

since the

Quote
fridge worked well 'cept when sun was strong. And I used that

strong sun

Quote
to power the fan!! It just makes sense.

Why am I not using a fan in our Intrigue fridge's rear exterior?

Because

Quote
the fridge seems to work very well without one. I may do it

anyway .

Re: Refrigerator Fan

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11949
the other option is to wire it to the refrigerator light. I have done this without a problem.

Doug Yunker
99 Allure 30374