Fridge fans. Tips & tricks please.

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Branston

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I have read posts in the past regarding fans for behind the fridge after the very hot period last summer but I would like tips and recommendations please from Funsters that have had success with fitting their own. Photos of them fitted would be an asset. Thanks in advance.
 
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You can buy a kit to do it or just buy 2 computer fans, some cable and a switch if your handy ?
Some buy a digital thermostat for switching, me included, but it's not strictly necessary.
Mount in the top vent to blow out and they will make a big difference to fridge performance.
You just need to take care to pick up the correct 12 volts supply from the connections on the fridge but if you have a multimeter it's not difficult
 
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Did mine DIY. with a couple of cheap computer fans off eBay and also added a temperature sensor that can be user set to operate at a pre-set temperature. YouTube has many videos on the subject, search caravan fridge fans.
 
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Compressor or absoption?
12v computer fans, and 12v W1209 thermostatic relay means you can program it to come on at 30' and off at 25' etc (ebay).
Trivial really. Fitting is the only real challenge and each van is different and will have different mounting options
 
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tonka said:
Did mine DIY. with a couple of cheap computer fans off eBay and also added a temperature sensor that can be user set to operate at a pre-set temperature. YouTube has many videos on the subject, search caravan fridge fans.
Click to expand...
As above
Mounted on aluminium angle screwed to the wood behind top vent and blowing out that vent
I haven't ever needed both of them on - although we don't go to southern Spain

IMG_20201209_140006.jpg

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I fitted 3 x 140mm whisper fans to the rear of our top vent and I have also fitted a fan in the fridge compartment to circulate the air to get an even tempreture throughout the fridge ...........

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....... and I use cheap 12v Chinese temperature controllers to switch our fridge vent fans on and off at the required temperature.

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When I fitted mine to the previous van I found that the computer fans were an exact fit for some plastic trunking with the top removed. Just slotted in perfectly and held firmly in place. Fix the trunking onto the back of the vent cover or into the hole 12v supply off the fridge a switch and thermostat if u like.
 
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As there is no actual ducting per se behind a fridge and my exhaust is through a roof vent, I surmise that, given heat rises, there would be little gain by fitting a fan. A horizontal vent is probably less effective and fan assist helps in hot conditions. Any Carthago owners fitted a supplementary fan?
 
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cyberyacht said:
As there is no actual ducting per se behind a fridge and my exhaust is through a roof vent, I surmise that, given heat rises, there would be little gain by fitting a fan. A horizontal vent is probably less effective and fan assist helps in hot conditions. Any Carthago owners fitted a supplementary fan?
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There must be vents to the top and bottom of your fridge to the outside? The fans are fitted to the top vent which helps to draw in additional colder outside air to the bottom of the fridge coolant system and the warm air out of the top vent. The fridge exhaust is not affected or altered in any way.
Works for our fridge, uses less gas and cools better.
 
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cyberyacht said:
As there is no actual ducting per se behind a fridge and my exhaust is through a roof vent, I surmise that, given heat rises, there would be little gain by fitting a fan. A horizontal vent is probably less effective and fan assist helps in hot conditions. Any Carthago owners fitted a supplementary fan?
Click to expand...
I have fitted one to the back of my fridge which also has a roof vent.When in Spain last year my fridge was not as cold as it should be I am hoping the fan will blow any warm air out quicker and assist with cooling.
Will have to wait until may when I am in Spain to see if it has made any improvement.

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I shall wait with bated breath before giving myself another "little job". Can you provide a pic of where exactly you installed it?
 
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I fitted mine directly in front of the finned heat exchanger - sucking air across the fins and out of the top vent
 
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cyberyacht said:
As there is no actual ducting per se behind a fridge and my exhaust is through a roof vent, I surmise that, given heat rises, there would be little gain by fitting a fan. A horizontal vent is probably less effective and fan assist helps in hot conditions. Any Carthago owners fitted a supplementary fan?
Click to expand...
You can fit them inside the top vent, alternatively you can fit them at the bottom but computer type fans work more efficiently sucking air rather than blowing so top is best.
 
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Here is my external fan install.
www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Lenny's Modding the new Gin Palace

@Lenny HB I've fitted an Honeywell CO detector today and the instructions say for a caravan or motorhome do not fit in the kitchen living area but where you sleep. It shows the alarm sitting on a shelf at the side of the bed, so I double sided taped mine to the overhead wall units. John. I...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk

And my internal fan.
www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Lenny's Modding the new Gin Palace

@Lenny HB how's the fridge fan modification performing, especially inconsideration of the higher French temps your are currently experiencing? Sorry missed your post, when we were in France it was 31, with the fans ruinning performance was just about acceptable, 8 deg at the bottom 4 at the top...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk
 
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I used a kit called Titan off Amazon. They have everything you need including a nifty controller (manual or automatic). Of course more expensive than DIY, but easy. Also worth looking at how Dometic (or whichever brand) recommend to install the fridge, particularly regarding the air flow up through the cooling fins. If there's a big space between van outer wall and the fins, air can miss the fins and not cool them as effectively. In one vehicle I closed that gap a bit so the air had to go through the fins.

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I used 2 5" computer fans attached to the top grill and a Chinese temperature controller. Total cost less than £20.
For ease of installation the temperature controller is behind the bottom vent, no problem as once set it never needs changing.
 
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I have a 240v domestic fridge with no vent. Would it make any difference just venting away from back of fridge or not worth the hassle?

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I’ve put a 240 volt fridge in place of my dead 3way and I put fans in the top vent. They‘re thermostatically controlled and vary in speed depending how hot it is behind the fridge (of course!). When it’s low 30’s outside and high 30’s inside (usually only happens when driving and I don’t turn on the air con) venting the back of the fridge is a good idea regardless of fridge type.
 
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