Keeping the fridge cooler

[clev]

I posted on SOITC last year a fix to help the fridge keep cooler. I’m getting ready for a Vegas trip and it will be well above 100 degrees. So, I added 2 additional fans to assist the cooling process evev more.

[Cummins12V98]

I assume it's a RV Frig?

[clev]

Yes, it’s the gas/electric Dometic. The picture is the top vent area.

[Bob Denman]

It's looking pretty good!
Adding better ventilation can never hurt!

[clev]

Good morning, Bob. I’m having a bit of a delimma on hookup. I thought that I had found the thermostat wire on the 2 OE fans, but it was the relay to the t/stat. The t/stat is located way high on the back of the fridge and is inaccessible. I’ve ran a wire beside the fridge , into the spice rack cabinet, and am considering a toggle switch.

[Cummins12V98]

I controlled my computer fan with light switch. I just let it run when it was hot out.

[wingnut60]

clev,
On my previous '05 Suites, I took the oem fan out and replaced with 2 computer fans--and took the t-stat out of the circuit. Put an on/off switch down in the lower vent area.
Turned out the fans needed to run most of the time, so just left them on unless storing the trailer.

[clev]

Wing, how did you get to the fans and t/stat? Did you pull the fridge out? I’m keeping the oe fans, they seem to work pretty good. Paired with the 6” fans that I just installed, cooling should be great.

[clev]

Cummins, do you have both oe fans and computer fans?

[wingnut60]

clev,
My '05 fridge was in the slide with upper/lower vents. The t-stat was attached to the upper coil frame. Just wired around it. Found the source wire in the lower area and put an on/off switch down there, accessible just by taking the vent cover off. The fans were mounted on perforated angle bracket directly across the upper vent opening and pulled air up/out over the coils.
The oem single fan didn't work well, if at all, and the t-stat was suspect also as to cutin/cutout temp. The computer fans worked well, were ball-bearing, and could not be heard inside.

[clev]

Thanks, wing; yours is different from mine. I have not been on the ladder, but my wife tells me that the fans (2) are located about half way down between the top and bottom vent covers. They work pretty well as you can feel the heat coming out of the vent hole when they kick on. There are no wires above them, so the t/stat has to be in the same area. I found the source wire from the relay in the bottom vent and will tap in to it for power to the switch.

BTW, all the posts that I've made about installations and repairs, have been done by her. She just finished a complete buffer wax job, top to bottom, to clean up the mess that Camping World made. I supervise and help as I can, but she does most of the work.

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by clev

Cummins, do you have both oe fans and computer fans?

I did on my 07.5 MS. A big thing is to stuff insulation around all the voids looking down from the top opening. Reason is to get the air to suck up thru the areas it matters. Wish I still had the pics from then. The insulation stops cavitation of air flow.

I had one small axial fan mounted directly behind the upper cover so it would suck air up and force it out. Worked GREAT!

[clev]

Good morning, cummins, and thank you for the reply. It appears that we are of the same mind on a lot of things. After we cut out the restrictive panel behind the top vent, we filled both sides of the fridge , top to bottom, with insulation. We also totally rebuilt the cabinet on top of the fridge as it’s shelf hung over the cooling fins.

[clev]

My wife and I just finished install the ceiling fan AND a switch for controlling the outside fridge fans. Everything is working great. Looking forward to getting out of here next week.

The toggle switch is just to the left of the LED temp display.

[clev]

OK; trying this again. I always have difficulty posting pictures.

[Djrmar6]

Hello. Can anyone answer a problem question. My frig isn’t getting cold. Freezer is. It IS level. Just used it 2 weeks ago and was fine. Thank you for anyone that can help. We are new RVers so don’t know much.

[clev]

First, Dj, a little more info. What type of fridge do you have? Have you adjusted the temp to a lower setting? Are the rear cooling fans kicking on? And any other info that you can provide.

[Djrmar6]

Norcold gas/electric. Hubby says fans are running. From what he can tell anyway been on since about 5:30 pm. But it is very hot here today. Maybe just going to take longer than last time. Thank you for quick reply

[captmetal]

i have norcold gas/elec fridge, it takes a awhile for the fridge to get the initial cold, but once it is cold i have to turn the temp down to 3 to keep it from freezing stuff in the fridge.

the transition from electric to gas and back is auto, but it does take a while to get up to speed so don't switch to often

and you need stuff in there to get cold, it does not like to chill a empty box of air

[Djrmar6]

Thank you everyone for your response. It is finally cold. Just took longer than I expected. Love this forum. Been so helpful to us. Only owned our motor home dince January and this site has helped several times. Thank you again.