Fridge Defend ARP Device

I have a question on this: How do you wire up the internal fans? The blue wire provides the power(12volt) but how did you ground it? I grounded mine to the black wire on the light, but I am concerned that I may have done this incorrectly. Since I did this, ironically, the thermistor is reading erratically at times. I changed the thermistor but it still is reading odd. It may have nothing to do with the fan install, but it is odd that this behavior with the thermistor began when I connected up the internal fans. I plan to disconnect the internal fans and see if the problem persists.
The problem I am experiencing is the thermistor after a few days will read very low (11 degrees) even though it is 50 in the frig, and therefore the cooling unit not being triggered to come on and cool the frig. Happens after a few days of running. Like I said, it may have nothing to do with this ARP device, but it is a strange situation. How did you wire up the internal fans on your install?

kmb1966 wrote:
I have a question on this: How do you wire up the internal fans? The blue wire provides the power(12volt) but how did you ground it? I grounded mine to the black wire on the light, but I am concerned that I may have done this incorrectly. Since I did this, ironically, the thermistor is reading erratically at times. I changed the thermistor but it still is reading odd. It may have nothing to do with the fan install, but it is odd that this behavior with the thermistor began when I connected up the internal fans. I plan to disconnect the internal fans and see if the problem persists.
The problem I am experiencing is the thermistor after a few days will read very low (11 degrees) even though it is 50 in the frig, and therefore the cooling unit not being triggered to come on and cool the frig. Happens after a few days of running. Like I said, it may have nothing to do with this ARP device, but it is a strange situation. How did you wire up the internal fans on your install?

I use the fan output (12 volt +)from the ARP for both my external and internal fans. It is just a 12 volt positive output. The ground is the same. This allows my internal fans to only run when the external fans are required. Not sure this is the best approach but seems to work well.

ASA Glamis wrote:

kmb1966 wrote:
I have a question on this: How do you wire up the internal fans? The blue wire provides the power(12volt) but how did you ground it? I grounded mine to the black wire on the light, but I am concerned that I may have done this incorrectly. Since I did this, ironically, the thermistor is reading erratically at times. I changed the thermistor but it still is reading odd. It may have nothing to do with the fan install, but it is odd that this behavior with the thermistor began when I connected up the internal fans. I plan to disconnect the internal fans and see if the problem persists.
The problem I am experiencing is the thermistor after a few days will read very low (11 degrees) even though it is 50 in the frig, and therefore the cooling unit not being triggered to come on and cool the frig. Happens after a few days of running. Like I said, it may have nothing to do with this ARP device, but it is a strange situation. How did you wire up the internal fans on your install?

I use the fan output (12 volt +)from the ARP for both my external and internal fans. It is just a 12 volt positive output. The ground is the same. This allows my internal fans to only run when the external fans are required. Not sure this is the best approach but seems to work well.

yes, I agree. That is what I did too, but where did you connect up the black wires of the internal fans?

kmb1966 wrote:

ASA Glamis wrote:

kmb1966 wrote:
I have a question on this: How do you wire up the internal fans? The blue wire provides the power(12volt) but how did you ground it? I grounded mine to the black wire on the light, but I am concerned that I may have done this incorrectly. Since I did this, ironically, the thermistor is reading erratically at times. I changed the thermistor but it still is reading odd. It may have nothing to do with the fan install, but it is odd that this behavior with the thermistor began when I connected up the internal fans. I plan to disconnect the internal fans and see if the problem persists.
The problem I am experiencing is the thermistor after a few days will read very low (11 degrees) even though it is 50 in the frig, and therefore the cooling unit not being triggered to come on and cool the frig. Happens after a few days of running. Like I said, it may have nothing to do with this ARP device, but it is a strange situation. How did you wire up the internal fans on your install?

I use the fan output (12 volt +)from the ARP for both my external and internal fans. It is just a 12 volt positive output. The ground is the same. This allows my internal fans to only run when the external fans are required. Not sure this is the best approach but seems to work well.

yes, I agree. That is what I did too, but where did you connect up the black wires of the internal fans?

The black wires have a a clip that is connected to the fins in the fridge. Any place that is grounded will work as the ground is the same anyplace.

I've been boondocking in cool temperatures and the blower circuit has not been coming on, so the fridge circulation blowers are off.

This affects propane use, so I lashed up a very simple option to control the circulation blowers from the fridge controller. It is working well.

See "OWNER OPTION: Operating the fridge circulation blowers from the fridge controller {OR} the Fridge Defend controller"

http://bit.ly/2Qyw9Ac

ASA Glamis wrote:
The black wires have a a clip that is connected to the fins in the fridge. Any place that is grounded will work as the ground is the same anyplace.

“Wire the blower by grounding it to the fridge internal light. Do not ground the blower to the cooling fins, this will result in corrosion of the cooling unit and premature failure.” - ARP https://www.arprv.com/rv-fix-fridge-circulation-fan.php#about

Given the very low current of the two blowers (less than 1/10 amp), this corrosion may be limited and/or take a long time to develop.

WesternHorizon wrote:
I've been boondocking in cool temperatures and the blower circuit has not been coming on, so the fridge circulation blowers are off.

This affects propane use, so I lashed up a very simple option to control the circulation blowers from the fridge controller. It is working well.

See "OWNER OPTION: Operating the fridge circulation blowers from the fridge controller {OR} the Fridge Defend controller"

http://bit.ly/2Qyw9Ac

After researching through the ARP directions, I lowered the temperature to which the blower comes on. I think it was defaulted at 125 and I lowered it down 1 setting. Now the fan comes on more often especially during cooler weather.

WesternHorizon wrote:
Worked up this illustration of controller wiring:

I have a question regarding this connection:
The Red Wire connects to the supplying 12 volt wire that was originally connected to the connector labeled "12V" on the refrigerator control board.
The yellow wire connects to the refrigerator control board where the supplying 12 volt wire used to be.
The Green wire connects to the supplying ground wire that was connected to the refrigerator control board labled "Gnd".
Question: What happens to that open connector spot on the refrigerator control board where that ground wire used to be connected?? do you leave it empty or do you twist in another wire and connect it together with the green wire? :h

kmb1966 wrote:

The Green wire connects to the supplying ground wire that was connected to the refrigerator control board labled "Gnd".
Question: What happens to that open connector spot on the refrigerator control board where that ground wire used to be connected?? do you leave it empty or do you twist in another wire and connect it together with the green wire? :h

The refrigerator control board still needs a ground to operate.

So that ground is left alone and another ground is connected to the ARP controller.

This is shown on the "system map" on the previous page.

Added a new section: "Changing the ventilation blowers temperature"

This has the exact key sequence to use.

http://bit.ly/2Qyw9Ac