Forum Discussion
Almot
Jan 18, 2014Explorer III
Bob Landry wrote:
in 15 years of selling and servicing Tundra, NovaKool, Vitrifrigo, Isotherm, and I'm sure there are others, I have never seen a detached cooling fan or condenser, ducted or otherwise. If anyone has one, I would love to se a photo.
Nobody said anything about "detached cooling fan". But there are passive condensers, look here.
Not "detached" from the fridge (which has never been said, if you look in the post that you quoted), but placed pretty far from the compressor. And there is a (optional?) compressor fan to install in the compressor nook, see this Service Memo: Installation of fan on R1600/R1900/R2600/R3000. Note again passive condenser on the back of the fridge on the 3rd photo - the fan is only for compressor, condenser doesn't need it.
These fridges are of course sold all over the world, this isn't something "not for exports". Which is only logical if you consider that most residential 120V fridges have same design - passive condenser at the back.
Vitrifrigo went even further, offering a detached compressor, meaning - completely detached from the fridge and connected to the system via long tube, so that you can place the compressor where air flow is better or where there is more room.
If my memory doesn't fail me, Dometic also has an option of a detached compressor with one of their boxes.
Bob Landry wrote:Not "all", but many. Those under say, 2.5 cu.ft typically have such a compact design where compressor and condenser are bundled together in a small nook. Such a solution is not the best for air flow, that's why fan is mandatory. I think the best would be to have condenser unfolded over larger surface AND a forced fan cooling. Though if passive condenser is large enough and the compressor has enough space around it, the fan becomes unnecessary.
They are all built on the compact footprint with the condenser mounted on the edge of the base plate and the fan located between the compressor and condenser drawing in air towards the compressor.
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