Adding fan behind refrigerator...worthwhile??
I have 3 RVs and I seem to be addicted to adding stuff to them....lol. They each have a standard Dometic 2852 absorption refrigerator. They seem to be working as expected. I did replace the cooling...
Forum Discussion
Finally got around to adding some fans behind one of my Class C RV's refrigerators to try it out.
Two of these fans....
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FBP2ZM5
0.25amp, 15CFM, 32.8 dBA (Each)
$9 each
One of these thermostats....
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B2WTPJ3G
~$4
~$3 worth of other wire, zip-ties, etc.
$9 + $9 + $4 + $3 = $25 modification
Tested this on back to back days that had identical daytime high 90 degree temps.
Started with the refrigerator on for 24hrs prior to starting the test. Only opened the doors to check the temp after they had been closed for 24hrs.
With the fans OFF, at 3pm in the peak of the afternoon heat, the freezer was 11 degrees F and the refrigerator was 43 degrees F. (warmer than I would like)
With the fans ON (the next day), at 3pm in the peak of the afternoon heat, the freezer was 6 degrees F and the refrigerator was 37 degrees F.
Result: 6 degrees cooler with the fans on (thermostatically controlled) behind the refrigerator.
I consider it a win. I plan on adding one more fan (...might help another 1-2 degrees) and cleaning up the wires a bit. Will probably add to one of my other RVs that has a fridge that runs at about 40 degrees F during the heat of the day.
One last thing for me to figure out....I'm sure someone here can assist...
Currently, I am tapping 12v power off some easy to access wires (the orange and white wires coming from the right side of the photo). I thought they would only be hot (have power) when the refrigerator was on. I was wrong though...they are always hot/on.
Can someone tell me which of these wires is ONLY hot/12v when the fridge is turned on inside the RV? Is it the red wire that I marked with the yellow "A"?
Thanks!
-Chris
Two of these fans....
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FBP2ZM5
0.25amp, 15CFM, 32.8 dBA (Each)
$9 each
One of these thermostats....
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B2WTPJ3G
~$4
~$3 worth of other wire, zip-ties, etc.
$9 + $9 + $4 + $3 = $25 modification
Tested this on back to back days that had identical daytime high 90 degree temps.
Started with the refrigerator on for 24hrs prior to starting the test. Only opened the doors to check the temp after they had been closed for 24hrs.
With the fans OFF, at 3pm in the peak of the afternoon heat, the freezer was 11 degrees F and the refrigerator was 43 degrees F. (warmer than I would like)
With the fans ON (the next day), at 3pm in the peak of the afternoon heat, the freezer was 6 degrees F and the refrigerator was 37 degrees F.
Result: 6 degrees cooler with the fans on (thermostatically controlled) behind the refrigerator.
I consider it a win. I plan on adding one more fan (...might help another 1-2 degrees) and cleaning up the wires a bit. Will probably add to one of my other RVs that has a fridge that runs at about 40 degrees F during the heat of the day.
One last thing for me to figure out....I'm sure someone here can assist...
Currently, I am tapping 12v power off some easy to access wires (the orange and white wires coming from the right side of the photo). I thought they would only be hot (have power) when the refrigerator was on. I was wrong though...they are always hot/on.
Can someone tell me which of these wires is ONLY hot/12v when the fridge is turned on inside the RV? Is it the red wire that I marked with the yellow "A"?
Thanks!
-Chris
