suavecarve
LIFE MEMBER
If the skill level is below drilling a hole by even borrowing a drill or asking someone to do it for you (if it is required) then I really wouldnt really bother.
Top tips for keeping your fridge cold
- Thread starter Toady
- Start date
What’s veg?
My wife has just decided she fancies a glass of wine. Then realises she hasn’t got any in the fridge. Still has to physically check though 
. So then rummages in the “cellar” (where the hab batteries are) pulls out a bottle which must be about 20 degrees C, and shoves that into the fridge. This is at 1pm, whilst the fridge is already knocking its knackers off as a supermarket was visited earlier, and it’s 38 degrees here. I’m surprised the fridge hasn’t decided to go home. 
. So then rummages in the “cellar” (where the hab batteries are) pulls out a bottle which must be about 20 degrees C, and shoves that into the fridge. This is at 1pm, whilst the fridge is already knocking its knackers off as a supermarket was visited earlier, and it’s 38 degrees here. I’m surprised the fridge hasn’t decided to go home. 
- Jul 6, 2009
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we can run our fridge through the inverter, not the most efficient way of using 12 volt. But when on mains it’s temperature controlled On 12 volt it just runs all the time unless you have the provision on your solar regulator. But with 700 watts of solar not too worried.
- Jul 6, 2009
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It’s that green rabbit food why people carry anything that takes up beer room amazes me??What’s veg?
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What and where is thermal paste??Ditto temperatures here yesterday Andy, and with the fridge on 240v, (thermal paste renewed last year), control on two thirds setting and fans running, we were showing 7° on the digital display.
I too use a 12v/240v cool box for my beer.
Cheers
Jock.
JockandRita
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At the back wall on the interior of the older fridges Dave, there are metal fins. When removed, there is a thermal paste which is applied at the build stage. This often dries out thereby making the cooling process much less efficient.
Removing and replacing the old paste with new, really can make a difference, as I and others have found.
Search for posts on the subject, especially one by tonka with photos on how to go about it.
Cheers,
Jock.
Last edited:
What’s all this about paste? I’ve no idea what you are talking about!
Ooops, just read JockandRitas response. I understand now. Thanks.
- Mar 6, 2019
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Oh how things have moved on. When I was a kid, we used to have a caravan. The fridge was a cupboard that sat outside and was made of a chalk like material. It had a hollow on the top which was for water. One of the jobs of us kids was to keep water hollow. As the water drained through the material, it kept the contents a little cooler.
before that, we had a bucket of water under the van to keep the milk cool. In the height of the summer, butter was poured rather than spread.
before that, we had a bucket of water under the van to keep the milk cool. In the height of the summer, butter was poured rather than spread.
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tonka
LIFE MEMBER
3way fridge thermal gel replacement ?
As previously discussed have received the tube of thermal gel and dismantled the fridge cooling fins which shows no sign of the old gel.Where does the gel (copper paste ) go.. between the screws or where it goes around the black tubes? Also does it go on tubes before the freezer plate slides...
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Better put it back in winter or the fly population of UK will move in.Remove the fly mesh from fridge grills
GeordiePair
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- Jul 13, 2022
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We have a thermometer which sends the current fridge temperature to your phone via Bluetooth. Helps to monitor when alls well or otherwise without opening the fridge door unnecessarily.
Amazon product ASIN B08DL5NN58
- Mar 6, 2020
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I posted a reply on this thread ( https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...ambient-conditions.221670/page-2#post-4598496 ) post 53.
( sorry dont really know how to point to a reply on a thread ).
I installed 2 fans under the evaporator fins on the back of my thetford n4000 series tall fridge/freezer. They were fitted blowing upwards in the positions marked on the back of the FF by the manufacturer where it shows positions for up to 3 fans to be attached to the back.
My solution was to support the fans with a simple aluminium frame which supports the fans in the right position using 2 existing mounting screws to avoid warranty issues .
You do however need to remove fridge to fit them.. see photo's.
The fans come on when the 55deg C thermal switch shown clamped to the hot pipe leading to the finned part switches on.
gwyntaxi
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- Jun 9, 2009
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Fit a fan in the bottom vent to blow cool air up towards top vent also you can fit a permanent fan to the top vent grill to extract the warm air.
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OP
OP
I have the same fridge temperature.
The problem is I am constantly monitoring the temperature, especially when the boss opens the fridge and then asks me “what shall we have for dinner?”
Lenny HB
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- Oct 18, 2007
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You should always fit the fans in the top vent. The type of fans used are more efficient sucking air out than blowing in.
Also if blowing in through the bottom vent there is a danger the airflow will have an effect on the gas burner making it less efficient.
Here you go, right click and copy the post number link top right of your entry (in your case #74) and paste it into your reply.
Pete
- Mar 6, 2020
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Sounds a good idea but the fins that get hot are very top of the rear of the unit and its only the finned part that needs cooling help in hot ambient temperature. Hence the fan kits sold by the manufacturers generally instruct for the fans to be fitted approx 100mm below the fins. This enables a small fan ( 6-8cm ) or smaller to be used, this size fan uses very little current and is placed where its most effective.
Fitting fans to the top and/or bottom vents needs large fans, use a lot more current, are very inefficient and considering the long hours they need to run for, including all night in very hot climates, is a drain on your battery if camping off-grid.
BUT, external fans fixed to vent grill opening are much easier to fit and maintain should one fail/wear out !
The fans I fitted are connected via a temperature controlled fan speed Module ( PWM controlled ) with the temperature sensor clipped to one of the fins half-way across its length so the fans speed up or down depending how hot the fins are getting.
The 2 12v fans I fitted draw about 100 - 200 mA and use a couple of A/H overnight to run when the solar panel is not producing.
- Mar 6, 2020
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I also agree with Lenny HB, I tried in the past using a large domestic 10'' fan blowing into the bottom vent opening with the grill removed ( this was on a campsite in very hot weather but on EHU ) and it made the refrigeration worse. I also think that the the workings below the hot fins part suffer if there is too much cooling of the gasses as they recombine into liquid towards the bottom of the pipework ready for re-heating.
Maybe this is the reason these type of fridges dont work very well in cold weather below 8 deg or so and require winter vent covers, especially the lower vent.
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And not just in the f%$&ing van!And I thot it was only Mrs Poppycamper who opened fridge door and spent ten minutes trying to decide what she wants to take out... even when door alarm is shouting at her..."CLOSE THE FECKN DOOR"
Looks like it is a universal woman's thing..
As stated above.... drives me mad.
Been off for a few years without any problems. Nothing in there for flies to be interested in.
Is it not right that you should never fit fans anywhere other than in the top vent extracting the hot air? I thought there may be a danger of combustion gasses being blown into the van if fitted at the bottom of the fridge aperture.
- Aug 18, 2011
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Was in Spain in June with temps in mid 30s,,My 20 year old fridge worked perfectly well with just a computer fan running on top vent..Ice cubes abundant at all times.BUSBY.
Anybody in the Manchester area fancy fitting fans for me. I have no idea when it comes to electrics. Bit cheeky i know but if you dont ask you dont get.
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We have only ever had compressor fridges in any of our vans so I have nothing to compare them too. With solar and two habitation batteries have never had any problems with the fridge temperature or running out of power, generally the hotter it is the harder the fridge works but the more effective the solar panels work at the same time.
What is the big attraction of 3 way fridges or is it simply that is what some manufactures install and its to expensive to change them?
What is the big attraction of 3 way fridges or is it simply that is what some manufactures install and its to expensive to change them?
Minxy
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- Aug 22, 2007
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They can obviously run off different power sources so if you have a lot of dull days with very little solar input the gas will keep the fridge going when the batteries could struggle. 3 way ones also cool to a lower temperature in very hot weather and hold it better.
Some compressor fridges only cool to X amount below the ambient temperature so not as good in very hot weather and believe it or not some don't like it when the inside of the MH/PVC is cold so you have to turn the heating on! Also we found that compressor ones can be noisy which is a pain overnight.
Some for ease of fitting/cost as no gas work required or external vents. This makes changing to 3 way very difficult/impossible and bound to be expensive if it can be done.
I think you're thinking about the limitations of peltier cool boxes there
Vapour compression systems can easily reach -30°c if designed properly. One chamber I worked on was set to minus 80°c
Minxy
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- Aug 22, 2007
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I'm talking MH ones, not flipping commercial ones!I think you're thinking about the limitations of peltier cool boxes there
Vapour compression systems can easily reach -30°c if designed properly. One chamber I worked on was set to minus 80°c
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