Fridge cooling fan mod
Hello everyone, I thought I'd share my experience with building and installing an exterior fan mod for my Dometic RM2351 fridge in our travel trailer. I'm doing this in the hopes that it will keep...
Forum Discussion
To everyone - thanks for chiming in and for your advice!
Thanks! Yeah that's a great idea. I'm going to go by Home Depot and look at insulation options and plan to pack that space with something of that sort. I prefer to not use fiberglass, as I don't like the risk of getting it all over my arms/hands. :)
Thanks very much Bob - that was very helpful!
Thanks. I also plan to install a piece of sheet metal on the top, as prescribed by bob_nestor via Dometic's Innovation Ventilator System guidelines. Why Gulfstream (the manufacturer) didn't do this is beyond logical, and was clearly to cut costs. There should be a law against idiotic design choices like this!
I have not, but I'm not sure that would help at all. Right now the directional chutes direct the air directly out of the top vent and exhaust hot air away from the entire system. I may try it in conjunction with adding a top sheet metal baffle, though.
Ideally, this is what I wanted to do - but there's just no room to install the fans in that position. :(
Yes, planning to install some sheet metal baffles to aid in this.
LOL! I most certainly am. The unfortunate thing is that I only realized this as a real problem 3 months after my warranty expired, so they won't address it. That said, the dealer likely would address if I made enough noise, but honestly... once I factor in the cost of gas for me to tow it to my dealer, the loss of time, etc... it's easier for me to just do this myself.
I've considered this. Thing is, I already had two of the 80mm fans laying around and adding the other two cost me $16. But with my current 80mm fan array, they're pushing ~120 CFM! I can't see how increasing this would help at this point. I think I just need to remove the dead space, add sheet metal baffles to directly the air, and say a few Hail Marys, throw salt over my shoulder, and roll the magic 8-Ball for this to work at this point. :)
pfidahospud wrote:
Nice writeup! I really appreciate you sharing your results, even if they weren't as good as hoped. I have a very similar side-venting setup and improved the dead space issue using regular fiberglass insulation. It does keep the counter top above the fridge MUCH cooler, so that's got to help some
Thanks! Yeah that's a great idea. I'm going to go by Home Depot and look at insulation options and plan to pack that space with something of that sort. I prefer to not use fiberglass, as I don't like the risk of getting it all over my arms/hands. :)
bob_nestor wrote:
Dometic actually did some engineering on refrigerator cooling improvements and they have a design called the Innovation Ventilator System. They recommend that RV manufacturers follow those designs when installing a refrigerator, especially in areas where top venting isn't possible. Unfortunately many (most?) RV manufacturers have chosen to ignore those designs.
I also did a science fair project on the Domentic installed in my Class B following Dometic's design guidelines. I also tried a few other things and learned quite a bit about what limits performance on these refrigerators. If anyone is interested, my findings can be found at:
Chillin' with Bob
Thanks very much Bob - that was very helpful!
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Close off that dead air space...it is killing you cooling abilities.
That dead air space should be completely blocked off.
AtomicChicken wrote:
You'd need to block off the remainder of the vent where the fans are installed to prevent the fans from pulling air in from that top vent where they are mounted and then immediately discharging it.
Thanks. I also plan to install a piece of sheet metal on the top, as prescribed by bob_nestor via Dometic's Innovation Ventilator System guidelines. Why Gulfstream (the manufacturer) didn't do this is beyond logical, and was clearly to cut costs. There should be a law against idiotic design choices like this!
flash82 wrote:
Besides closing off the dead space, have you tried it without your "directional chutes"?
I have not, but I'm not sure that would help at all. Right now the directional chutes direct the air directly out of the top vent and exhaust hot air away from the entire system. I may try it in conjunction with adding a top sheet metal baffle, though.
'tiredTeacher wrote:
One more thought. It is more difficult to PULL air across those coils than it is to BLOW the air. On my Pop up, I put the fan under the coil and blew the air up and out, drawing from the lower vent. I also added a baffle to separate the lower compartment from the upper.
Teach
Ideally, this is what I wanted to do - but there's just no room to install the fans in that position. :(
beemerphile1 wrote:
More important than those fans is to bend some sheet metal to force all air flow through the condenser coils rather than around them and also eliminate the dead air space.
Yes, planning to install some sheet metal baffles to aid in this.
beemerphile1 wrote:
Make sure to send a thank you letter to your RV manufacturer for screwing their customers with a lousy design and poor installation.
LOL! I most certainly am. The unfortunate thing is that I only realized this as a real problem 3 months after my warranty expired, so they won't address it. That said, the dealer likely would address if I made enough noise, but honestly... once I factor in the cost of gas for me to tow it to my dealer, the loss of time, etc... it's easier for me to just do this myself.
proxim2020 wrote:
Just a thought, you could move up to 120mm fans. They'll have just about the same draw, but more cfm.
I've considered this. Thing is, I already had two of the 80mm fans laying around and adding the other two cost me $16. But with my current 80mm fan array, they're pushing ~120 CFM! I can't see how increasing this would help at this point. I think I just need to remove the dead space, add sheet metal baffles to directly the air, and say a few Hail Marys, throw salt over my shoulder, and roll the magic 8-Ball for this to work at this point. :)
