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06-01-2014, 10:45 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 92
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Refrigerator fan - what to connect it to?
So after dealing with frozen veggies in the refer our last trip out, I would like to check into installing some kind of DC fan inside the refer to even out the temps. I understand the concept and all, but can't figure out how to power the fans. Surely they don't run constantly? Do you connect them to the light so they run when you open the door? That doesn't seem like enough to be effective. Do you need some kind of a thermostat?
Any help would be appreciated.
Wayne
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06-02-2014, 01:36 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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I installed one in my TT a few years ago. I ran the power wire from the fan into the light plug connector (hot side) inside the frig. The fan runs all the time, but when I'm not using the frig I just un-clip the fan (turns off) and set it on the top rack..., the alligator clip is the ground for the fan operation.
My BIL also put a fan in his Eagle FW frig, but the light operates differently (magnetic switch) so we couldn't use the plug connector. We ran a wire down the condensation tube and spliced it into a hot DC wire on the back side of the frig (accessed from the outside).
Bob
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2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
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2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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06-02-2014, 08:58 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Missouri City, The Republic of Texas
Posts: 5,063
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle
I installed one in my TT a few years ago. I ran the power wire from the fan into the light plug connector (hot side) inside the frig. The fan runs all the time, but when I'm not using the frig I just un-clip the fan (turns off) and set it on the top rack..., the alligator clip is the ground for the fan operation.
My BIL also put a fan in his Eagle FW frig, but the light operates differently (magnetic switch) so we couldn't use the plug connector. We ran a wire down the condensation tube and spliced it into a hot DC wire on the back side of the frig (accessed from the outside).
Bob
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Yup, our previous and current TTs were wired down the little drain tube.
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Cheers,
T_
2013 F-350 CC SB 2WD 6.7PS
2013 Eagle Premier 351 RLTS
-SOLD- 2012 X23B
-SOLD- 2003 Ford Expedition 5.4, Bilstein shocks
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06-02-2014, 09:59 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,780
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I bought one on line that clips to the heat sink, which acts as the ground$10, and was easier to do than to find the parts. I think it cost about . To power it I ran a small wire up the condensation drain from the outside access panel. I do not recall the power point I used, but it was the DC power supply to the Frig controls. When I want the fan I clip it to the heatsink, when I do not want it I unclip it and set it on the shelf. Works great!
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06-02-2014, 10:34 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Regina SK Canada
Posts: 634
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I bought a battery operated one that works great!
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 2013 Jayco Flight 33RLDS ( Parking this at seasonal site)
2013 F150 EXL Screw 5.0 4x4 3:55 locking ( not towing the above trailer with this truck)
Spending my children's inheritances on my toys!
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06-04-2014, 11:21 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 92
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I see. So it does basically run all the time. Didn't realize that. Thanks everyone. Will start looking around. Sounds like a worthwhile mod.
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06-05-2014, 05:03 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
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The bearings in my clip on twin fan unit are starting to fail. I salvaged a bigger 12V fan from a frequency drive we replaced at work on one of our machines. There is a possibility that I might wire the freq drive fan in permanently and put a switch on it.
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2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
2011 F150 4x4 SCREW Ecoboost, Max Tow, Integrated TBC, 3.73 LS axle, Firestone Ride Rite airbags.
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06-05-2014, 06:12 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 2,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle
I installed one in my TT a few years ago. I ran the power wire from the fan into the light plug connector (hot side) inside the frig. The fan runs all the time, but when I'm not using the frig I just un-clip the fan (turns off) and set it on the top rack..., the alligator clip is the ground for the fan operation.
My BIL also put a fan in his Eagle FW frig, but the light operates differently (magnetic switch) so we couldn't use the plug connector. We ran a wire down the condensation tube and spliced it into a hot DC wire on the back side of the frig (accessed from the outside).
Bob
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Did the rain tube this time around and when my fridge gets shut down the fan does also on the selected circuit. The fan also uses the alligator clip to complete the circuit so you can simply un-clip the fan and it will shut off when not in use. My light was not always hot but only when the door was opened which is why I had to go that way.
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2014 375 BHFS Eagle Premier
2014 Ram 3500 Longhorn DRW CC
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Yamaha EF3000iSEB
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06-05-2014, 07:45 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 1,326
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3'senough
Did the rain tube this time around and when my fridge gets shut down the fan does also on the selected circuit. The fan also uses the alligator clip to complete the circuit so you can simply un-clip the fan and it will shut off when not in use. My light was not always hot but only when the door was opened which is why I had to go that way.
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This is what I did too. This was one of the first mods I did, super E-Z......
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2017 Some Other Brand (SOB)
2013 Jayco Jay Feather X23B (She Gone)
2014 Ford Expedition
Gerard 
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06-11-2014, 05:46 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
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__________________
2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
2011 F150 4x4 SCREW Ecoboost, Max Tow, Integrated TBC, 3.73 LS axle, Firestone Ride Rite airbags.
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06-14-2014, 10:46 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 92
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Thanks for all the replies. Added one to my trailer today. Couldn't use the fridge light since it wasn't always hot so sent a wire down the condensation tube. Hopefully this means no more frozen ears or corn in the veggie drawer.
Not sure about using these full time when boondocking. Two fans at .1A each is 4.8A per day. We will see what actual usage looks like.
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06-15-2014, 07:56 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waynem
Thanks for all the replies. Added one to my trailer today. Couldn't use the fridge light since it wasn't always hot so sent a wire down the condensation tube. Hopefully this means no more frozen ears or corn in the veggie drawer.
Not sure about using these full time when boondocking. Two fans at .1A each is 4.8A per day. We will see what actual usage looks like.
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I bought a battery operated frig fan at Walmart runs on 2-d batts. It works great and you don't have to worry about using camper battery.
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Eagle Super lite 284bhs
2013 Tundra crew max
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