Best Fridge Cooling Fan Kit?

[The Nomad]

Best Fridge Cooling Fan kit?

I have fitted a "Brunner" brand twin fan fridge cooling fan kit to a couple of my motorhomes over the years.

But I have recently heard of several cases of their kits packing up after very little use.
They are of a price, and thus I assume quality, at the bottom end of the market.
They are certainly pretty flimsy, and are a long way from silent when running.

So.... Any recommendations please from people who have actually bought and are using any of the various other, more highly priced, Fridge cooling fan kits, as to which really are the best to fit, in terms of efficiency, quiet operation, and reliability?

(I know some people have made up their own fans/thermostatic control systems, but I do want only to hear reviews on any of the top-end shop-bought specific kits that are available - thanks.)

 

[Jim]

I'd be interested in answers here, the fan on my yank fridge is getting noisier (or I'm getting more irritable ) . I think it's on the way out.

 

[daveandsan]

I would go for the CBE kit, fitted one on our Hobby with Dometic fridge last year
Simple to fit, quiet and runs on manual or automatic.

 

[bigtwin]

I would go for the CBE kit, fitted one on our Hobby with Dometic fridge last year
Simple to fit, quiet and runs on manual or automatic.

Any chance of a hyperlink or a few more details?

Thanks

Ian

 

[daveandsan]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263798067935?ul_ref=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F710-53481-19255-0%2F1%3Fff3%3D2%26toolid%3D10044%26campid%3D5338268676%26customid%3Dd4765096-bd5c-4a35-b362-0ab06e7c88e8%26lgeo%3D1%26vectorid%3D229508%26item%3D263798067935%26srcrot%3D710-53481-19255-0%26rvr_id%3D1626086564006%26rvr_ts%3D1e86a8a01650add8ae87ee84fffb8137&ul_noapp=true
Sorry don’t know what happened there.
Edit, looks ok

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[funflair]

Any chance of a hyperlink or a few more details?

Thanks

Ian

This thread includes the link to a site in Netherlands I think.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fitting-cbe-fridge-fans.156720/

Martin

 

[clanjones]

Second the CBE kit. @funflair started a thread last year on his installation and it was very useful.

We have been using ours for a week in very hot temperatures and it works well and is very quiet. Runs on auto or manual. It has 2 speeds on auto and you can vary when it kicks in.

The CBE kit matches what we have so all in all very pleased so far.

A couple of pictures of the installation.

 

[peterc10]

I would agree about the CBE kit. Easy to fit and use and has certainly kept our fridge cooler over the hot summer.

 

[Riverbankannie]

I’ve just bought the CBE kit from the Netherlands. Ordered late Saturday so probably not processed until Monday and arrived yesterday. tracked delivery and was delivered by parcel force. Payment by PayPal so easy to do. Total cost including delivery €54.50.

 

[Dorset Diver]

If using the CBE kit from where do you pick up the 12v supply? Is there a socket already behind the fridge?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Riverbankannie]

If using the CBE kit from where do you pick up the 12v supply? Is there a socket already behind the fridge?

That’s what we are trying to discover, see my other thread
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...to-dometic-controller-type-p-860-help.181177/
However, the fan control ideally will be sited inside the habitation area so it may be more convenient to find a 12v feed inside somewhere. There is a long lead suppplied from the control to the fan assembly so can pass that through back of a cupboard to behind fridge. Will post up how we did it ......when and if!

 

[funflair]

If using the CBE kit from where do you pick up the 12v supply? Is there a socket already behind the fridge?

I just pulled the lower vent off and checked with a voltmeter and yes 12v was there.

Martin

 

[daveandsan]

If using the CBE kit from where do you pick up the 12v supply? Is there a socket already behind the fridge?

Did the same as @funflair, took the lower vent off and found a permanent live feed. Couldn’t find somewhere to attach my multi meter, so had to prod the end in what a thought was a live cable and bingo.
Then just a matter of taking a fused spur off.

 

[TCG]

Hi
I have recently fitted the dometic kit, the fan does not sit on the upper vent, but fits halfway down, sucking air in and pushing it out, it comes with a thermostat switch that clips on the fridge feed pipe. the good thing about it is the power feed is already there in the fridge electrics (12 volt Out)

 

[Guigsy]

I'm going the DIY route. A £3 cheapo Chineseium controller and a pair of Arctic F12 fans. Cost £11 all in. I'll report how I get on when they arrive.

I'm actually tempted to build my own controller with an Arduino/ESP. The Arctic fans have PWM control, so the Arduino could smoothly rev them up and down to the desired speed. If it works, I could upgrade it so it has WiFi... phone controlled with logging and graphing anyone? I'm sure I could make it for a lot less than £60!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[scotjimland]

I'm going the DIY route.

I went down the DIY route using KISS principal

2 x computer case fans and an ON/Off switch.. less than £10 .. when it's hot, I switch on, when cold I switch off.. simples

 

[Guigsy]

I went down the DIY route using KISS principal

2 x computer case fans and an ON/Off switch.. less than £10 .. when it's hot, I switch on, when cold I switch off.. simples

Arctic to temperature controlled fans that just about tick over up until 35C, then ramp up their speed to max at 45C. Maybe a pair of those and a switch would give you best of both worlds?

 

[Richard n Ann]

I'm going the DIY route. A £3 cheapo Chineseium controller and a pair of Arctic F12 fans. Cost £11 all in. I'll report how I get on when they arrive.

I'm actually tempted to build my own controller with an Arduino/ESP. The Arctic fans have PWM control, so the Arduino could smoothly rev them up and down to the desired speed. If it works, I could upgrade it so it has WiFi... phone controlled with logging and graphing anyone? I'm sure I could make it for a lot less than £60!

I've got a circuit diagram for mine if you want it. It uses a 555 chip and TIP32 transistor, it can switch up to 4A (with heatsink) so well over specced, will last forever also uses next to no power on standby.

 

[Silver-Fox]

I just pulled the lower vent off and checked with a voltmeter and yes 12v was there.

Martin

That’s where I’d be looking for a feed, keep it simple

 

[thidwick]

I'm going the DIY route. A £3 cheapo Chineseium controller and a pair of Arctic F12 fans. Cost £11 all in. I'll report how I get on when they arrive.

I'm actually tempted to build my own controller with an Arduino/ESP

This sounds like the way forwards.
The f12 fans are only £3.70 ish each. A simple temp sensor and controller would also be cheap. £50 and £60 seems very expensive for what it is. I’d like to hear how you get on Guigsy.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Snowbird]

Here is an old thread on the subject of fridge fans.
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fridge-fan.87900/

 

[Riverbankannie]

Hi
I have recently fitted the dometic kit, the fan does not sit on the upper vent, but fits halfway down, sucking air in and pushing it out, it comes with a thermostat switch that clips on the fridge feed pipe. the good thing about it is the power feed is already there in the fridge electrics (12 volt Out)

Can you tell me which is the 12v out position on the P-860 control on back of fridge?
Ours looks like this (didn’t come with a cover)

 

[TCG]

Can you tell me which is the 12v out position on the P-860 control on back of fridge?
Ours looks like this (didn’t come with a cover)
View attachment 248136

hi
our fridge is the RMD 855 and looks nothing like yours sorry

 

[Allanm]

I had 2 Brunner kits, they both packed up within a few weeks. I bought a CBE kit, works great and almost silent, as opposed to the Brunner fans ...........
This is a video of my second Brunner fan kit which developed the same fault as the first one
They were bought 2 years apart

 

[Badknee]

This thread includes the link to a site in Netherlands I think.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fitting-cbe-fridge-fans.156720/

Martin

Top bit of kit this and a doddle to fit.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[daveandsan]

This sounds like the way forwards.
The f12 fans are only £3.70 ish each. A simple temp sensor and controller would also be cheap. £50 and £60 seems very expensive for what it is. I’d like to hear how you get on Guigsy.

The kits probably are expensive for what are, but when you are like me who (a) don’t have a clue what I am doing and (b) want something simple to fit, they are the way to go.

 

[hilldweller]

I could upgrade it so it has WiFi...

Just by using ESP8266 instead of Arduino. Same price, just as easy.

 

[Guigsy]

Just by using ESP8266 instead of Arduino. Same price, just as easy.

Yeah... How easy is PWM fan control to do? I've got a 3D printer to build fan mounts and an enclosure and everything... Geeky Google search mode initialised...

 

[Riverbankannie]

hi
our fridge is the RMD 855 and looks nothing like yours sorry

I’ve found a thread on ...whisper “caravan talk”. To which I had to sign up to read it. However helpfully had photos and now can see where the 12v out is. However seem to need a special connector to plug in.

 

[hilldweller]

Yeah... How easy is PWM fan control to do? .

PWM is incredibly easy. The fan motor would have to be suitable, good old DC no problem but the modern AC ones could be a problem. If it has a PWM input then I can't see a problem. For a 12V fan you's need a single transistor level shifter.

But KISS rules. Forget WiFi just throw in an Arduino Nano. If you want to impress folk add an OLED.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}