SidecarFlip wrote:
Depending on the make of fridge (in my case a Dometic), mine was also noisy for a couple reasons...
One.. I was a cheap fan. There are quite an array of fans available and Dometic uses the cheapest, sleeve bearing fan available. I would suggest replacing it (as I did) with a FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) fan with a computer designed blade. The FDB fans are silent in operation and a computer designed blade will reduce air flow noise. I picked up a couple on Flea-Bay for 10 bucks each, they make no noise whatsoever. But..
Two: You need to pay attention to how the fan(s) are mounted. Just like a FW pump thats mounted solidly to the substructure of the camper, the fan will transmit operational noise and the camper fram will amplify it. You need to isolate the fan from transmitting operational noise/vibration to the camper itself.
I did that by adding rubber grommets to the fan mounts. While it don't dampen everything. between the FDB fan itself and the rubber grommets in the mount, my fan noise is very minimal.
Personally, I prefer not to hear that noise when I'm sleeping at night. During the day not a big issue but at night, I want quiet. Before the modification (new fan(s) and mounts, I was turning off the fridge at night so I didn't have to listen to the fans.
Pretty cheap fix really, just takes some time on your part.
Hey Sidecar thanks and yes the fridge is a dometic with one cheap high rpm fan that runs a lot , the original fan is rated at 75 cfm so I was thinking of putting two 50 cfm lower speed fans in since the bracket is made to mount to 92 mm fans on it , lower speed and a bit more air. I am surprised at how much noise the original fan makes and your right it is a pain at night . I have been researching this since I posted this morning I did not know there were so many types and sizes of these case cooling fans I will defiantly go with the FDB fans , thanks
Mike
