Fridge fans (2 Viewers)

[Spade]

Hi
I've just come across this as an option to add extra cooling to an motorhome fridge,
Seems to be capable to be run from either a 5v wire in or just use a powerbank.
I don't know how long a powerbank would last though.
What do the more knowledgeable people on here think.

This item was discontinued - Temu United Kingdom

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[StillGoing]

The link doesn’t work for me unless I register which I don’t wish to do.

 

[Jev88]

This might help as has been discussed before and home made models created....

Fridge Fans

 

[Two on Tour]

Hi
I've just come across this as an option to add extra cooling to an motorhome fridge,
Seems to be capable to be run from either a 5v wire in or just use a powerbank.
I don't know how long a powerbank would last though.
What do the more knowledgeable people on here think.

This item was discontinued - Temu United Kingdom

Find 120mm fan 3v 12v computer fan 120mm x120mm x 25mm cooling fan brushless cooler with speed controller for receiver dvr playstation computer cabinet cooling at Temu, part of our latest Electronics ready to shop online today. Shop now for limited-time deals

www.temu.com

No temperature control on it to switch the fans on and off to mantain a constant fridge temperature.

 

[scotjimland]

Exhaust fan(s) on the top fridge vent help to remove heat from the condenser on the back of the fridge.. which in turn improves the cooling, especially in hot climates, ..

you can as suggested make your own using 12v computer fans and a temperature probe to control, but, being lazy, I chose to fit a bespoke kit with a temperature sensor and controller..

In my opinion , a 5v fan and power bank would be a waste of money ..

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[oldiesontour]

If all you want is fans via an on off switch 2 computer cooling fans are cheaper and 12v and plenty on eBay from uk

 

[Lenny HB]

Temu say no more, I wouldn't bother just buy some decent quiet 12v computer fans and control them via a temperature control the will not use enough current to worry about.

 

[Rob Turner]

I wouldn’t bother with it personally.
You could either buy a Titan fan kit from Amazon or build your own kit which is relatively easy.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F2K5GCW?tag=mhf04-21

 

[Razamataz]

love MY fridge fans.........ice cold beer is a must....temp controlled and manually....if the sun is beating down on fridge side of van

 

[Bucket]

Lenny HB is right, a couple of pc fans cable-tied to the vents and wire in a cheap temperature controller from flea Bay. Dometic fridges even have a spare connection to power it. Hardly any skill or tools needed. My installation is a few years old now and I've noticed the controllers are now digital so I'm about to upgrade.

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[oldiesontour]

If buying a digital controller..panel mounted circa 21/2 X 1"+ beware some loose the settings if power removed ..some don't know..read the write up

 

[tonka]

Those fans are commonly available on ebay / amazon but the Temu price is also ok.
Forgot powerbanks etc, just wire into the 12v supply.
Also buy a W1209 thermal digital switch. This will allow you to set a temperature when you want the fan to operate. The system is same as what i fitted some time ago and works well. All parts were off ebay cost me under £10 but that was back in 2022.

12V Digital Thermostat Temperature Controller Sensor Relay Switch -50-110°C | eBay

LED Indicator: LED off indicates the relay off;, indicates the relay is closed. -Refresh Rate: 0.5s. press the "SET" button, press " + or - " to set the desired temperature (long press " + or - " to quickly increase or decrease).

www.ebay.co.uk

W1209 Case 12v Digital Temperature Controller Board Micro - Temu United Kingdom

Find amazing deals on 2pcs w1209 with case 12v digital temperature controller board micro digital thermostat 50 110 c electronic temperature module switch with 10a relay and on Temu. Shop on Temu to start saving.

www.temu.com

 

[ctc]

Got my fans from the council tip, free.

 

[Toady]

Titan fans from Amazon are great

 

[oldiesontour]

Those fans are commonly available on ebay / amazon but the Temu price is also ok.
Forgot powerbanks etc, just wire into the 12v supply.
Also buy a W1209 thermal digital switch. This will allow you to set a temperature when you want the fan to operate. The system is same as what i fitted some time ago and works well. All parts were off ebay cost me under £10 but that was back in 202

12V Digital Thermostat Temperature Controller Sensor Relay Switch -50-110°C | eBay

LED Indicator: LED off indicates the relay off;, indicates the relay is closed. -Refresh Rate: 0.5s. press the "SET" button, press " + or - " to set the desired temperature (long press " + or - " to quickly increase or decrease).

www.ebay.co.uk

W1209 Case 12v Digital Temperature Controller Board Micro - Temu United Kingdom

Find amazing deals on 2pcs w1209 with case 12v digital temperature controller board micro digital thermostat 50 110 c electronic temperature module switch with 10a relay and on Temu. Shop on Temu to start saving.

www.temu.com

Here's a photo of the ones I use about £5 temu/Ali .a bit more ebay ( top one built in on off switch )bottom is water level

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[Richard n Ann]

These tiny thermostats are good, I put one on the coolbox fans and bolted it to the condenser

1/5 Pcs KSD-01F N/O & N/C Thermal Switch 0â-150â Temperature Control Sensor | eBay

Applications: Suitable for space saving PC boards. Action temperature: 0°C~150°C, error ±5°C. Insulation resistance: Normal temperature and humidity â¥50MΩ. When using the product in circuits with a current not exceeding 5A, copper core wires with a cross-sectional area of 0.5-1mm² should...

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Rob Turner]

Real easy to build your own kit and less than £30

 

[MisterB]

I like the display, does it automatically turn the fans on and off via a temperature sensor?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Real easy to build your own kit and less than £30

View attachment 902612View attachment 902613

It's great the fans aren't on the louvres, it means you can take the louvres off for extra ventilation

 

[Montezuma]

The simplest, and I mean the very simplest, (Electrics is a Black Art to me) method is, as I have done, to install a couple of old PC cooling fans, wired into the 12 volt circuit, with a simple on/off switch. I also have a warning light in the circuit, as I am forgetful, and may not remember that I have switched it on.

Nothing automated, and nowt much to go wrong.

I dunno if it matters whether the fans are installed in the upper or the lower vent, i.e pushing the air through from the bottom vent, or sucking it through from the top, but there is bound to be somebody with an opinion as to which is best.

Mine is installed in the top, as that had the best access to a 12 volt circuit.

The important thing is to make sure that the fans are working in the correct sense.

I have only had cause to use it when parked up with the Spanish, or French, sun blazing down on the side of the motorhome where the fridge is located.

I do try to position the vehicle so that side of the motorhome is exposed as little as possible to direct sunlight, but on many Spanish sites such positioning is not possible.

All very simple, but quite effective.

The fridge in question is a Dometic RML 8555, and the distance between the lower and upper vents is quite considerable. This may be something to consider, . . . . . and then again, it might not ?

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[Two on Tour]

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 temperature throughout the fridge ...........

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

 

[Bucket]

Real easy to build your own kit and less than £30

View attachment 902612View attachment 902613

Wow, 3 fans, you're the man.....!

 

[Guigsy]

Just spent most of the day designing and printing this:

The idea is:
-it's angled the fans so the airstream lines up with downward facing vents in the cover a bit better
-I'm trying to cover a fair amount of the vent to force more airflow
-the angle gets the fans away from rain a little bit, water will run away from the fans,
-it ducts it so the airflow won't just circulate back around the sides of the fan
-the fan gets pretty close to the condenser.

I've printed a very draft print (4% infill, so it's light, but still surprisingly stiff) with some cheapo filament. So this was intended as a test fit. So I might adjust the design a bit more and reprint... in white...

Possible improvements:
-The attachment cable ties work, but I think I could adjust the height of the hooks so it drops down a bit and the cable ties are a bit shorter. I couldn't think of a better method. But it seems secure.
-I might put more hooks and more cable tie points, because why not.
-Might also add cable tie loops to keep the wires out of the way.

And I still need to design and print something to mount the control board...

 

[Two on Tour]

Just spent most of the day designing and printing this:
View attachment 907215
The idea is:
-it's angled the fans so the airstream lines up with downward facing vents in the cover a bit better
-I'm trying to cover a fair amount of the vent to force more airflow
-the angle gets the fans away from rain a little bit, water will run away from the fans,
-it ducts it so the airflow won't just circulate back around the sides of the fan
-the fan gets pretty close to the condenser.

I've printed a very draft print (4% infill, so it's light, but still surprisingly stiff) with some cheapo filament. So this was intended as a test fit. So I might adjust the design a bit more and reprint... in white...

View attachment 907216
View attachment 907218
View attachment 907219
View attachment 907220

Possible improvements:
-The attachment cable ties work, but I think I could adjust the height of the hooks so it drops down a bit and the cable ties are a bit shorter. I couldn't think of a better method. But it seems secure.
-I might put more hooks and more cable tie points, because why not.
-Might also add cable tie loops to keep the wires out of the way.

And I still need to design and print something to mount the control board...

Nice bit of work, but I would be inclined to reduce the top and bottom borders of your fan mounting around the fans as to me, they are doing nothing other than restricting areas of the grille that the air could be flowing through in times when the fans are not in operation.

 

[Rob Turner]

I like the display, does it automatically turn the fans on and off via a temperature sensor?

Yes, I think i set them to come on at 24° but not sure.
Temp is easily adjustable and the job took an hour or so.

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[Guigsy]

Nice bit of work, but I would be inclined to reduce the top and bottom borders of your fan mounting around the fans as to me, they are doing nothing other than restricting areas of the grille that the air could be flowing through in times when the fans are not in operation.

Yeah. I did think that. But then it also improves the efficiency when the fans are running because less air will be sucked in around the sides. There's a product from Australia that completely covers the vents, except for the fans, which apparently is very good. Probably not very useful if the fans fail though.

 

[cyberyacht]

I was thinking about adding a fan(s) to my fridge/freezer but didn't get around to it. It was OK whilst in Seville at 33C so I'll probably not bother.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I was thinking about adding a fan(s) to my fridge/freezer but didn't get around to it. It was OK whilst in Seville at 33C so I'll probably not bother.

I had the same experience in Benidorm when the van was new, but I fitted fans to try and make the fridge more efficient and reduce gas usage

 

[cyberyacht]

My understanding is that fans make them use more gas.

 

[Lenny HB]

My understanding is that fans make them use more gas.

Yes forces fridge to work harder, I really noticed it with an internal fan.
Small price to pay for cold beer.

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