Adding Fans to Norcold refers

[Jim]

Bought a '02 Winnie Journey back in February and it came with a 2 door Norcold Model N842IM. The rig only had 70K on it so nearly everything looks brand new and has had very little use. It appeared the original owner ate out while traveling.

I searched the internet and didn't find that model on any recall lists. Then called Norcold service. They didn't find it on any recall lists either. I put myself on their owners list, just in case they get around to recalling this model in the future (it's happened before as the refer law suit progresses against them, they keep adding models to the list).

In order to get ahead of the curve on what could turn out to be an accident waiting to happen, I've added a 4" pancake fan to stir air inside the refrigerator section so the refer doesn't have to work too hard under normal circumstances. But I'd like to also add additional air movement fans outside under the cover. And that's the purpose of this thread...

Does anyone have some advice to offer about placement of pancake fans, which I assume most people use? Have any pictures of your installation? Or is a 4" tube fan in the chimney the best route?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[SCVJeff]

Jim@HiTek wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
I'm using LED PWM dimmers off eBay. Fully assembled with knobs and terminals $4 delivered from China. Lemme know how the two speed works out, that might be another project.

BTW- I saw those fans on eBay for around $16 a few days ago

Amazon also has those fans for $19. Free shipping if you're a Prime member.

I looked at those dimmers on eBay and they are very inexpensive, but...I'm looking for a hands off approach so I think I'll just design a PWM (I have all the parts in stock) and have a couple thermodisks (also on eBay at a low price) trigger it.

your bench might be worse than mine. :C

Don't forget pix when done pleeze

[Jim]

DSDP Don wrote:
Jim.....just about any Norcold other than the 1200 LRIM 4 door have always worked well and cooled well. I don't think I would go too crazy adding components until you see how it works. The rear fan will probably beneficial on really hot days.

I do like the little computer fans that were placed inside and powered by the light, they keep the air moving.

Congrats on your new coach.

Thanks, Don! I'm really enjoying my newer coach...it only has 71,000 on it and though it's 14 years old, it really doesn't show it, mostly.

FYI, although I placed two fans in my older Dometic, in this Norcold I've only added one...and it seems to be doing the job even though we have 52% humidity here. I attached it to the ceiling on the right side of the refer section and set it back from the fins around 2" (compared to the 1/8" setback I used in the Dometic) to get more of an air splash on the other fins. So it seems with this setup, one fan works as well as two, so far.

I've been using the refer now full time since Feb. 8th, and as you say, it's worked and cooled well. No complaints.

[Jim]

SCVJeff wrote:
I'm using LED PWM dimmers off eBay. Fully assembled with knobs and terminals $4 delivered from China. Lemme know how the two speed works out, that might be another project.

BTW- I saw those fans on eBay for around $16 a few days ago

Amazon also has those fans for $19. Free shipping if you're a Prime member.

I looked at those dimmers on eBay and they are very inexpensive, but...I'm looking for a hands off approach so I think I'll just design a PWM (I have all the parts in stock) and have a couple thermodisks (also on eBay at a low price) trigger it.

[SCVJeff]

I'm using LED PWM dimmers off eBay. Fully assembled with knobs and terminals $4 delivered from China. Lemme know how the two speed works out, that might be another project.

BTW- I saw those fans on eBay for around $16 a few days ago

[Jim]

SCVJeff wrote:
I just added 4ea. Noctura NF-12 fans to the upper exhaust vent. After doing way more research than I ever thought could be done on fans, these were chosen because they are EXTREMELY quiet for their CFM airflow, they're IP65 environmentally rated and can live in temps of 250 degrees plus. All 4 at full speed can barely be heard with your ear in the outside vent, and not at all inside, all while easily holding a piece of paper flush to the vent from suction. I run them on a PWM speed control at about 30% and when in LaQuinta a few weeks ago ran them on full at 95+ with the sun on the fridge side and was struggling to keep is above 28 degrees on temp set 4. The plan is to tie the PWM controller and fans to an ARP and let it run the show as needed.

If I did it again I would probably use only two fans but overkill is always good with these fridges.

Very nice job, Jeff. I've added the fans to my Amazon wish list. Great of you to do the engineering on the fans for me already! I think I'd just use a home designed PWM with a switch selectable speed control setup out in the vent along with a thermodisk or two for overall control. First TD closes, the fans come on at 30%. 2nd TD closes, goes to 95%.

As was mentioned, extra fans probably aren't necessary for this 2-door model on a fixed wall, but, I like doing projects, and this one looks to be fun.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'm up in the cool NW ATM and will probably tackle this project in late June or so. Or even later, depends on weather.

[Executive45]

SCVJeff wrote:
Here we go again...
We got it, you have a compressor OK ?
Congratulations, we don't care

Someone needs coffee!! :B:B:B:B......Dennis

[SCVJeff]

Here we go again...
We got it, you have a compressor OK ?
Congratulations, we don't care

[crasster]

Another RV fridge story. YES you can add fans to it both inside of it and on the exterior. 12V computer fans work well and they have plenty of them on Ebay. For me, once I went to dorm & residential fridges, I've never looked back. I like frozen ice cream - it's really good on hot nights camping. You can even freeze a big block of ice before a day of driving and things will keep cold. Also you can run an inverter on a long day drive and run the fridge for an hour or so. All you can't do is boondock well...

[SCVJeff]

I just added 4ea. Noctura NF-12 fans to the upper exhaust vent. After doing way more research than I ever thought could be done on fans, these were chosen because they are EXTREMELY quiet for their CFM airflow, they're IP65 environmentally rated and can live in temps of 250 degrees plus. All 4 at full speed can barely be heard with your ear in the outside vent, and not at all inside, all while easily holding a piece of paper flush to the vent from suction. I run them on a PWM speed control at about 30% and when in LaQuinta a few weeks ago ran them on full at 95+ with the sun on the fridge side and was struggling to keep is above 28 degrees on temp set 4. The plan is to tie the PWM controller and fans to an ARP and let it run the show as needed.

If I did it again I would probably use only two fans but overkill is always good with these fridges.

[Executive45]

My install is in the link provided by 2oldman. PM if you have any questions....Dennis

[DSDP_Don]

Jim.....just about any Norcold other than the 1200 LRIM 4 door have always worked well and cooled well. I don't think I would go too crazy adding components until you see how it works. The rear fan will probably beneficial on really hot days.

I do like the little computer fans that were placed inside and powered by the light, they keep the air moving.

Congrats on your new coach.

[2oldman]

Jim@HiTek wrote:
Also, thanks for linking to my RV repair blog post! I added those fans as shown in that 2nd link to my old Dometic '94 refer a couple years ago.

lol i didn't notice

[Jim]

That's a great link, 2oldman. I like the quad fans inserted into the upper vent. My kind of project. I've found my refer, since it's not in a slide, does not require a fan like the refers in kitchen slides do, so mine didn't come with one. But I will probably add two (or four) anyway, just to be erring on the side of caution.

Also, thanks for linking to my RV repair blog post! I added those fans as shown in that 2nd link to my old Dometic '94 refer a couple years ago.

I've already added one fan to my newer Norcold. It also has an incandescent automotive bulb so it's also easy to wire up since it can be done inside the refer. I haven't finished the wiring job on that one so no write up on my blog yet. Soon though.

For anyone with a curious nature, Norcold has a fan kit for installation in those refers in a slide, and you can see how and where they installed it here: Fan Installation - See page 36

I just found this document link. The copy I had was only a users guide...this link is a service manual. Happy I found it so I can add it to my document file.

[2oldman]

Some ideas here

..and here