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
FWIW, I feel that having fans at the top, and setting it up so they work to pull air through the coils, will inhibit the air flow if the fans aren't running, so you'd have to run the fans all the time. It may work more efficiently, but IMO the fans would have to run constantly to keep temperatures down. I have my fans down at the bottom just for that reason.
you need less fans as it is a more lamaner air flow. when a fan isn't turning there is still plenty of flow alowed through it, especialy since you might be putting one or two 4X4" fans at a opening that is about 8X16" its kind of like pushing a rope vs pulling it, the smoothest way to direct air flow where you want it is to put the one side in a vaccum and using baffels to direct it, the other way is to put a bigger or multi fans below and force it at the baffel but not all the air will go throuhg the baffel which is why you need more.
But if you don't completely cover the opening you're trying to pull air through, you're just going to pull air from around the sides of the fans, not up through the opening. That's why fans are shrouded. And, I agree you'll get some air through the fans if they're not running, it's not going to be very much as the fan blades will block any straight through air flow.
you keep getting fixated on a fan that is the same size as the opening. once again one small fan in a large space is not going to block any airflow. don't forget also that if you read the instalation instructions for most fridges the back of the condenser is suposed to have a baffel extending from the wall to within 1/2 to 1/4" of the baffel so you are restricting the flow right there. I have a factory fan in my fridge that is hooked to a thermostatic switch so it comes on when ever the temp gets above a specific value(don't ask me what it is haha.) they are not at the top, they are just above the baffel. the intent is to draw a smooth flow of aire accross the fins of the condenser. turbulant flow is less efficient at removing heat. mind you , there is a way to do it with the fan/fans at the bottom and that would be to build a wide linear nozzel that the fanse are sealed to that direct the air through the fins, but thats a lot of work. the easiest way is to remove the cover on your top vent and then reach down and mount it just above the baffel blowing up. before even adding a fan though make sure that baffel is in place. I have seen several units that were having fridge issues and when we looked the baffel was either mossing or installed to far away from the fins alowing air to bypass them instead of flowing throuhg them.
And you keep missing my point. 🙂 One small fan in a large space won't block any air flow, but it also won't increase air flow much, if any, because air will simply come in around the side of it. That's why fans are shrouded. The baffle doesn't restrict air flow so much as direct the air flow, which is why there are issues when the baffle is missing, or placed incorrectly. We'll just have to agree to disagree. 🙂
