Fan in Refrigerator?

[Isaacs]

I've heard of people installing tiny fans in their small propane refrigerators. What do they do, keep the temperature even? Reduce moisture?

It sounds like a good idea but it couldn't use too much power as I spend most of my time boondocking. Any thoughts?

[Hivoltage98]

Camco 44123 Fridge Airator https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006IX7TW..._BbSYybJSX14D3


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mike837go]

Those fans exist strictly for the profit of those making and selling them.

Convection keeps the entire refrigerator at about the same temperature.

As long as the refrigeration unit is functioning, your food will stay fresh.

I've been boondocking for 8 years now. Haven't had food spoil or drinks not cold enough.

Save your money. Fire up the fringe at least 24 hours before putting already chilled food in. Don't run out of propane.

Enjoy camping by not having to worry about another battery-powered device!

[bansai]

Agree with Mike.

I have about 247 items on my 'wish list' for the camper. A fridge fan is number 247 on that list.

Any fridge will have colder zones, and warmer ones. I keep the beer and dairy in the colder areas (usually at the bottom, towards the back), the produce in the warmer ones. I actually like a small degree -no pun intended- of variance.

[Jopopsy]

I don't know I've had one of those higher end ones that mount on the ceiling in my rig now for 2 years.

Its fallen off the ceiling no matter what I use - and that pisses me off.

BUT - I will say my fridge recovers temperature faster in the summer, and I get FAR less ice on the metal ribs then I used to.

[North of 49°]

I tried one, a cheap computer fan wired into the fridge light wiring, and stuck to the fins with double sided tape. Cost me all of $4, and I don't know if it did any good. You'd probably be better off putting a fan in the rear of the fridge above the coils to help with exhausting the heat.

[Isaacs]

Thanks for all your replies. I guess maybe I'm just looking for a problem that doesn't exist. That gives me one less thing to do when I return from the sunny (at the moment) South!

[Jagiven]

I have a hardwired fan, with an alligator clip that connects to the cooling fins in the back of the frig, this completes the circuit. I have not checked the power draw, I am sure it uses very little power uses very little power.

I think it works quite well. At home when we power up the frig, it takes just hours to cool to set point verses a full day. We use to get frost on the coils, now we do not under any conditions. Without the fan, we had issues with the vegi drawer on the bottom freezing. This is no longer an issue.

I bought mine on Ebay years ago, it was two computer fans in a custom stamped metal housing. It was fairly cheap, and has worked very well. I have to admit, it is starting to make noise, so I am not sure if the bearings are going or if there is another issue. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

Ours look a lot like this one. I ran the wire down the condensate drain and connected the main 12V power feed for the frig.

[North of 49°]

The average 120mm computer fan is something like 0.4 amps, and can be up to 3,000 rpm. But those are the big ones; the 89mm fans draw less. When a fan was making noise, I would peel the sticker off and underneath is a rubber plug. Pry that up and there's the hub. A drop or two of 3-in-1 oil would make the noise go away for a while.

[NVGun40]

In part I agree with Mike837go. I too primarily boondock. In fact in all my years of camping and RVing, I have very rarely not boondocked. I personally have never had an issue of the refrigerator overheating.
Where I differ from Mike837go is regarding many reviews I have heard with the RV's in which the refrigerator is incorporated in a slide out. Normally, there is a vented panel for air intake at the bottom of the fridge, and the exhaust goes up and out of a vent through the roof. When operating, this is ideal because as we all know, heat rises, and a vent above the roof can create draw, thus helping air flow.
When the fridge is in a slide out, both the bottom vent and the exhaust vent are in the side and depending on how the trailer sits, with air flow and wind and in the heat. It can make a difference.

[norty1]

The best way is to think about what you want BEFORE opening the door.

Keeping it closed is the best way to keep the temps even.

[SloPoke]

Lots of differing opinions here...

In our prior motorhome, with a smaller fridge - we did have cooling issues in the hottest summer days, mostly because we had the fridge full of food. There were times when the air did not circulate inside the fridge and get to the bottom of the fridge.

We used one of these: FridgeCool Fan with On/Off Switch - Valterra A10-2606 - Refrigerator Accessories - Camping World

It did work for us. We would have to leave what amounts to a vertical tunnel in how the food was placed on each of the shelves, and put the fan in the middle so it would circulate cooled air from the top fins back down to the bottom drawers.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

snip.... It was fairly cheap, and has worked very well. I have to admit, it is starting to make noise, so I am not sure if the bearings are going or if there is another issue. I would buy another in a heartbeat.....snip

X2

I have the same fan for 5 plus years. Most of my summer camping is boondocking and the fan has reduced frost build-up and does a better job of moving the cooled air around. Most of the cooled air drops along the back (rear) of the fridge and the fan provides an even temp environment, "especially" during the hot summer days. I proved to myself playing with a couple fridge temp gauges that the fan makes a difference......, fridge doesn't run as often.

Every year my fan starts making a little noise so I just peal back of the tape on the back side of the motor and let a drop of oil soak in for 15 minutes then I'm good to go.

I agree that a fan in the venting area of a sidewall mounted exhaust vent enhances exhausting air flow.

Bob

[DaveT]

I use one and the reason is to prevent food from *freezing* in the refrigerator. It helped quite a bit. Caveat: this was in a smaller fridge before I owned a Jayco, but I continue even today. Small insurance against a P.O. wife because the salad froze.

[rodro123]

I use the fan and do know that it works well. Warm air moves to the top without it the bins are colder 31 degrees without the fan the temp in the rest of frig at 38. The salad is not frozen any longer. Same temp in the entire frig. I keep it at 38. I also use a wireless thermometer in side the frig. When we leave for a week the frig is packed full.

[Seann45]

I also have to agree with mike837go. I camp in temps ranging from freezing to +100F and never had a problem with the fridge.. Put that money into fuel or a useful mod.

[John1928]

As you've seen from previous posts, a circulation fan definitely makes a substantial difference for some people and is completely unnecessary for others. That may come from variations in how the fridge is packed, different models, different venting arrangements, or some unknown X factor.

The takeaway should probably be, don't borrow trouble. Pay attention to your temps the first few times you use yours and see if they are consistent throughout without being unsafely warm and freezing cold in different areas at the same time. If you need to add a fan it's cheap and easy at any time so no particular need to worry in advance.

[MrJackSprat]

Originally Posted by bansai

Agree with Mike.

I have about 247 items on my 'wish list' for the camper. A fridge fan is number 247 on that list.

Any fridge will have colder zones, and warmer ones. I keep the beer and dairy in the colder areas (usually at the bottom, towards the back), the produce in the warmer ones. I actually like a small degree -no pun intended- of variance.

bansai whats #1,2,3 on your wish list?

[bansai]

Originally Posted by MrJackSprat

bansai whats #1,2,3 on your wish list?

Currently:

1. Swap out 75 amp hour battery for 2 Trojan 6 volts. (weld in new bracket to accommodate)

2. Complete 300 watt solar system install. I have about half the parts in my garage, just need to get installed.

3. Upgrade the blowmax tires.


My top 3 hasn't changed since I bought the camper, it's just taking a while to get done.

Number 4 is to trade in my current truck for a 350, but that's looking like next year now. Number 5 is to pick up a new generator since I'd get shot if I tried to pull out my current one.

Probably can see a trend here... I'm still a tent camper at heart and I want to take my camper off grid as much as I can.

Number 6, is currently to replace the mattress. I didn't have a problem with it last year, but I don't like it anymore.

Number 7, replace all incandescent bulbs for the marker lights with LED's.

I could go on and on.. I really do have a list as long as I indicated

[RAurand]

I use this one. It works a lot better than those small square blue ones. Have it Going on my 2nd summer with it. Fridge does cool down quicker and recovers quicker and never got ice on my cooling fins.
https://smartrvproducts.com/