Fan/fridge mod..?

exjay1 · 07-03-2012, 05:51 AM

Sooo... is it putting a small 12v fan on the the cooling fins inside the fridge, just sitting in the bottom of the fridge to circulate the air or putting a fan in the access panel outside towards the top to help pull the warm air up/away and draw cooler air infrom the access panel? any pics of this mod?

Macrosill · 07-03-2012, 06:15 AM

On my motorhome I did both and the biggest help was the 3 muffin fans I added at the top of the fridge vent just under the cover on the roof. That fridge would get down in the below zero range in the freezer and in the teens in the main fridge.

I am going to see how cold the fridge in my new to me TT works before I go installing the fans in the fridge vent but I surely will place the fan on the vanes in the fridge.

3'senough · 07-03-2012, 08:37 AM

I did the muffin fans on the metal grills mod inside the fridge. Helps with frost and air circulation for sure. Got it on Ebay for about 14 bucks and ran the wire out the drain tube to pick up 12V. You simply put the aligator clip on the grates and it kicks on. Best part is that you can move it around to keep the frost down. I don't have pics sorry but search this forum and there are some.

exjay1 · 07-03-2012, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3'senough

I did the muffin fans on the metal grills mod inside the fridge. Helps with frost and air circulation for sure. Got it on Ebay for about 14 bucks and ran the wire out the drain tube to pick up 12V. You simply put the aligator clip on the grates and it kicks on. Best part is that you can move it around to keep the frost down. I don't have pics sorry but search this forum and there are some.

noobie question but i assume the fan is blowing on the fins, correct?

mcfarmall · 07-03-2012, 09:58 AM

Mine is. And like 3's stated, you can move it around on the fins to keep them defrosted. I'd like to rig up one that has about three- 3" fans that cover the whole heat sink and really get that air moving!

3'senough · 07-03-2012, 11:32 AM

Fan actually pulls air from fins and blows forward. So it's drawing air from teh fins.
You could cover it with 2 units which would eliminate the need for movements. I have not seen the 3 fan setup so cannot comment.

RedHorse1 · 07-03-2012, 11:37 AM

I like the fan that is avail on ebay. 12V and has an aligator clip that attaches to the fins. Sure keeps them frost free and the fridge does a great job of keeping our "beverages" nice and frosty.

Merlin · 07-03-2012, 12:30 PM

Anyone have some pictures?

RedHorse1 · 07-03-2012, 01:36 PM

I bought this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOMETIC-NORC...243fff&vxp=mtr

I had to use the "alternative install" method since my fridge light is magnetic. No sweat.

**Crabman** · 07-03-2012, 04:55 PM

Frig fan mod link:http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthrea...highlight=frig

exjay1 · 07-03-2012, 07:17 PM

^ Thanks for the link. Going to attempt this mod this coming weekend.

tlhdoc · 07-03-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlin

Anyone have some pictures?

I am uploading some pics of my instillation of the ebay fan. They can be found in my webshots site.

exjay1 · 07-23-2012, 06:06 AM

installed my fan yesterday in the fridge and tapped into 12v source behind the fridge but its constant 12v once the tt is plugged in. Im prob going to install a on/off switch in the access panel incase I have the TT plugged in but the fridge turned off. two questions: my switch will be wired in line (obviously) but does it matter if i put the switch on the ground wire or 12v wire? also I ran my wires from the fan to the rear of the fridge through a existing white tube that had some caps on them. whats the purpose of this tube, pressure relief?

Terry · 07-23-2012, 02:47 PM

The tube is the condensate drain. You need to be sure to use small enough wire that water can still flow.

The switch can be on either side, but positive is best. Mine is built in and on the negative

- I just clip and Unclip it from the fins.

exjay1 · 07-23-2012, 04:58 PM

thanks

tlhdoc · 07-23-2012, 05:27 PM

I have a few pictures on in my webshots album. It was a very easy mod to do.

glsimms · 07-25-2012, 07:03 PM

We went camping this past week-end and temps were 100+!! So I decided to order one of these after reading this and other threads about it!

krackeer · 07-25-2012, 09:56 PM

I tend to use propane for my fridge to preserve those precious 30 amps so that the wife and daughters have plenty of electricity for important things like hair dryers. Will the fan run if I am running fridge with propane?

Macrosill · 07-26-2012, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krackeer

I tend to use propane for my fridge to preserve those precious 30 amps so that the wife and daughters have plenty of electricity for important things like hair dryers. Will the fan run if I am running fridge with propane?

If you installed a 12v fan then it should run as the fridge still requires 12v when running on propane.

tnchuck100 · 07-26-2012, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krackeer

I tend to use propane for my fridge to preserve those precious 30 amps so that the wife and daughters have plenty of electricity for important things like hair dryers. Will the fan run if I am running fridge with propane?

If you hook up the 12V fan properly, yes, it will run.

While there is nothing wrong with running the refrigerator on propane the rational of "preserving the amps" for other things is unjustified. The refrigerator only uses about 2 amps. Better to consider the real power hungry items like the air conditioner and the water heater.

Personally I use electric options whenever possible. The site cost already pays for the electric.

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