the fan for the refrig runs all the time

I have my refrigerator in the slide out. This year, my RV mechanic wired the two fans that he installed so that they would run all the time. It has helped with the recovery time after travel - the refrigerator gets colder faster. I have learned that refrigerators in slide outs can cause a lot of problems.

Remove upper sidewall vent/cover.

Look on right hand side of condenser fins (top set of fins).

Fan thermalfuse (t-stat) would be installed there if one is used.
Typically thermalfuse turns fan(s) on when condenser fin temp is 130*F and off at 115*F

Look down from upper vent to see fan(s)......center of fridge just above absorber tubes (large diagonally slanted tubes)

rbp111 wrote:
I bought a new trailer that has a "big" refrigerator (two doors in the frig and two for the freezer). I have had two prior rvs both with small refrigerators.

My question is really very basic. The fan in the refrig runs all the time. It never shuts down as the previous ones did. Is this normal?

In the refrigerator or behind the refrigerator?

It runs even with the refrigerator turned off?

My old trailer's frig was a side wall vent.
In hot weather the fan would run all the time.
Just by removing the top louvered vent, I could increase the convective cooling enough for the fan to stop. But then of course it was exposed to the birds, bees and rain and such. So it was strictly a temporary solution.

Giving the make and model of the item in question is always helpful if you want a good answer. Your fridge sounds like a Norcold. No the fans should not be running all the time if everything is correct and the temp outside is not hot or you unit is in the sun on the fridge side. Open the top vent door to the fridge to find the sensor. You will need a ladder. Also check that there is no airflow restriction to be seen. The baffles at the top can sometime fall down if not mounted properly.

Refrigerators in slides have a harder time cooling themselves because the vent is in the side wall instead of the roof.

If it is warm/hot outside, the fan will most likely run all the time.
It's the nature of the beast. But, many folks replace the vent stack fan with a much quieter one than the original (which tends to be noisy).

Yes, the refrigerator is in the slide.


I will look up the manual to see if there is a temp sensor or not and where the item is. But it is not located and where it is easily noticed.

Is the frig in a slide?

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on if the fan has a temp sensor to turn it on and off or is it wired to run when the fridge has power. What does your manual say?