Has anyone installed one of these - article in Trailer Life October 2014?Does it work and did it help with frost buildup.Thanks

Yep I got one and it does work as advertised, little on the spendy side but I think the fans are a higher quality than the cheaper ones being promoted.

ClickyThe "Fridge Fix" is an expensive solution that can be done just as well with a couple of these fridge fan units for much less cost. I have two similar units in my Norcold fridge that work very well for keeping the frost off the fins as well as maintaining a much more uniform temp in the fridge. I've had these same two fan units in two different RV's since 2008, without a single fan failure.

Although this version is aesthetically more pleasing the economic version Dutch alluded to provides similar attributes. I viewed the article as well and thought someone sure is making a bundle of money for a few dollars of parts. Nothing wrong at all with that but I have used the less costly version for years and it has performed flawlessly keeping our fridge equally cool throughout and dramatically reducing temp recovery time from constant door opening. We have camped in very hot weather numerous times and have not seen any frost buildup since installing the dual fridge fans. Either version is a must have for RV fridges in general. Many complain about the cooling effectiveness of their Dometics and Norcolds, adding these devices go along way in stabilizing interior fridge temps and eliminating frost buildup under any type of camping weather.

All you need is to move air, not clamp extra stuff to an already inefficient fin. Most of these solutions spot focus cooling only on a few fins. This fan blows left to right and essentually takes no space since its up and behind the light. All it does is move air in a circular pattern around the box.

I like your solution Jeff, how did you mount the fan to the roof of the reefer or to the fins itself? Did you try different locations along the fins before you settled on placing it in the middle of the fins?

Fridge-Fix by Smart RV Products - has anyone installed?

toddb
Explorer
Jul 01, 2015
Gunpilot77 wrote:
Can anyone tell me how to get the light to turn off without actually closing the door? Finding the correct wire using a multimeter would be a piece of cake if I could accomplish that.

Can't you just push the switch to power off the light?

This is my second version, spec'd out a quiet fan with decent volume of air.
crshman
Explorer
Jun 27, 2015
I have one, it was definitely pricey for what it was (and I hadn't seen this thread for the DIY ideas) but it works well and definitely keeps the fridge cooler.

I also noticed that the cool down time is substantially reduced when running with fans over the cooling fins.

Would I buy it again? For the price probably not, I'd DIY. But the concept is great!
Gunpilot77
Explorer
Jun 26, 2015
Can anyone tell me how to get the light to turn off without actually closing the door? Finding the correct wire using a multimeter would be a piece of cake if I could accomplish that.
Gunpilot77
Explorer
Jun 26, 2015
Thanks, but I'm looking for instructions so the fan turns off with the light on. Wiring for always on isn't what I'm looking for.
rekoj71
Explorer
Jun 26, 2015
when I pulled my light apart I found one wire was always hot, and the other wire went to the switch to provide a ground for the light when the door was open. The fins are also a ground so My computer fan is just always on.
Gunpilot77
Explorer
Jun 26, 2015
SCVJeff wrote:
Its mounted to the ceiling with double stick tape and powered through the light, so when the door opens the fan shuts off.

I just removed mine from the old RV and tried to install it in the new one. It has a Norcold frig. For the life of me I can't get it to work with the door closed. I also can't find the instructions from when I bought it years ago. Would you refresh my memory about where the wire attaches to the light?
toddb
Explorer
Feb 24, 2015
sorry I didn't have any issues but here they are:

approx 6* temp drop at the bottom of the fridge.
shooted
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
toddb wrote:
I built this for my 16yr old fridge. The overnight lows were pretty close during both tests, around 87*. The data recorder was placed on the first shelf up. I'm very happy with it, but I think a smaller fan would suffice, I'll make another with a 100mm fan and see how that goes this spring.
photo and test results

Hi toddb,

Your link prompts a sign in request.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Feb 23, 2015
I use an old computer fan installed right above the light switch.

Also have one of these installed in the outside compartment blowing up over the coils.

Our fridge is over 11 years old and has worked flawlessly since day one. It stays cold even in 90Deg temps and with the sun on the fridge side. I think at least part of that longevity and performance is due to the fans.
Barney
toddb
Explorer
Feb 23, 2015
I built this for my 16yr old fridge. The overnight lows were pretty close during both tests, around 87*. The data recorder was placed on the first shelf up. I'm very happy with it, but I think a smaller fan would suffice, I'll make another with a 100mm fan and see how that goes this spring.
photo and test results