Fridge Fan

I have had fans on my last two campers and it really helps. I had mine blowing towards the exhaust vent to improve the natural convection. Both had a temperature sensor to control the on/off but I didn't like the loss of control so I left the sensor for a fall back but added a switch and only turn it on when I'm parked with the sun on the frig side or when it is very hot. I keep an eye on the fridge temperature with a remote thermometer and if I see it climbing I turn on the fan. I do this to lower the current draw on the battery, if we are plugged in I only turn it off at night (assuming it is cool outside) to get rid of the constant hum while sleeping.

My previous camper had frig that was show it's age and I had 3 fans on 2 different switches, turning on 1 center or all 3 depending on need. Got a few more years out of the frig that way. I use low current draw fans, you can find them if you look, that have almost the same air flow but 1/2 or less current.

Sorry!
I was talking about adding fan to cooling unit not inside refer.
Inside the refer the fan, should get air movement as the cold air comes off the fins and goes down.
One of the big problems with cooling in the refer compartment is over loading and pushing items tight to the rear so the cold air cannot move down.
Which type of fan would have to be determined by what you are trying to accomplish and what type of problem you are having.

I have one of the $16.25 fans on my fridge. It blows toward the fins.

The refers work more on convection type air movement. The refer will be more efficient with more air moving over the cooling unit.
You can restrict the area between the rear of the cooling unit and the refer cooling unit to make it more efficient and cool better. There should only be about 3/4 to 1 inch space between the cooling unit and exterior wall. This can be blocked with the use of insulating foam board glued to the structural area around the refer lower vent opening.
Another place to aid cooling is at the top. Make sure that the area above the refer is blocked off so the rising air will go out the top vent. This is really important if the refer is in a slide out.

murphy38 wrote:
This may be the wrong place to post this not sure. I am looking to add a 12v fan to the fins on my fridge but not sure if the fan should blow at the fins or away from the fins?

Should be no difference. This is one mod l am yet to do. Have the fan already (eBay) but when the fridge is on or accessible we are camping so the mod can't be done.

Since these fridges work off of heat, wouldn't this be counterproductive? I know people put a small fan inside the fridge to help circulate the cool air for more consistent temps throughout.

Heat rises! Up through the cooling unit from the bottom.

Not likely it matters much.