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Carb_Cleaner's avatar
Carb_Cleaner
Explorer
Sep 09, 2014

Exterior Fridge Fan Installed - Quick and Dirty

A couple of L brackets secured to the wall, some zip ties, a dual throw/single pole switch and an in-line fuse.
Fan from Ebay (MyNewFan), Electronicshaus.com, 120mm (4.75") ball bearing, 90cfm, .18 amps. Clicky It barely fits. The top of the fan fits between a couple of the exterior vents. If it didn't lay that way, it wouldn't fit. I realize some flow is sacrificed due to my bracket arrangement. I might have been better off with two, smaller fans, but here we are. If two fans would push more air and/or draw less current, I'm open to suggestions. I found a route for the wires into my under-step utility area, but I got impatient about drilling a hole and figured good enough (which never is) for now. I used a dual throw switch because I have a snap switch, 85 degrees, for the other power source. The DTSP switch permits a constant ON over-ride, OFF or thermostat controlled. I haven't installed the snap switch thermostat, yet. It's on the list. I understand you need to secure the snap switch to metal for proper function. Any suggestions or hints about that would be cool, too.
I finished my abbreviated install the night before a trip, with a flashlight. Raise your hand if you've had to complete a last minute project in the dark, on a ladder, while your SO bounces the camper around loading stuff and asking questions about spare keys or other annoying stuff.






The red, ring terminal is the fan's ground. I used a two-into-one splitter off of the existing, positive 12 Volt to gain a terminal for the in-line fuse. It can be disassembled with no evidence of its existence.
  • Thanks for the idea. After some research, I just finished doing a 120mm fan in the fridge and three in the outside vent. I had four, but....one lacerated thumb and one broken fan blade, and I was down to three. Lol
  • Carb Cleaner wrote:
    Raise your hand if you've had to complete a last minute project in the dark, on a ladder, while your SO bounces the camper around loading stuff and asking questions about spare keys or other annoying stuff.


    Pretty much every project I've done in the last 17 years. PREACH IT! :)

    Oh, and nice writeup.
  • Plain ol' packaging tape. I never would've thought of that. I have some HVAC foil tape around here, somewhere.
  • I installed some aftermarket fans a few years ago. They used a thermostatic snap switch that was attached to one of the lower cooling tubes near the heating unit. They were attached with 1/2 inch wide strapping tape - the kind with strong threads in it used for taping up boxes. Just laid the switch on the tube and wrapped the tape around it and the switch unit. Worked for two years til I replaced the cooling with the Amish unit and new fans. (By the way, that was the smartest move I've made in a while.)
  • Your zip-tied, lower fan in your thread was an inspiraion for my hasty install. Once I found the constant hot 12V on the fridge, everything else fell in place. I think it works nicely, for the effort I put in. I'm certain it helped during the 100 degree days in Daytona (running on propane), but I have no numbers to back it up. The fridge was definitely struggling. However, the beer was cold enough and the ice cream was really easy to scoop. I like your builders' cloth/fender washer/fan assembly at the top, too.

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