Frige Fan?

[Dave_H_M]

A couple of years ago I installed a dual computer fan in the frige.

it worked great and just clipped into the shelf.

I have been floundering around trying to find the info again since mine is now very noisy and going south.

if anyone has a quick referral for that fan I wuld appreciate it. thanx

[bobmacc]

My experience with computer type dual fin mounted fans is inconclusive. I have had two mounted since last fall. In low humidity weather, they seem to be reasonably effective. We have just returned from two months on the road in humid weather and I had problems with moisture condensing and freezing on right side fins and on the thermistor. This resulted in the fridge control circuits thinking the temperature was fine hence the fridge would not run and the inside temperature increased to 40-45 when it should have been about 36. Turning off the fan and getting rid of the ice restored operation to normal and the temp to 36. I still have them installed and will continue to use them occasionally. Has anyone else had a similar experience with fans and fin icing??

[MEXICOWANDERER]

For some this option works better than for other folks. Yours seems to perform on the high end of the scale.

Permanent magnet computer type fans, the ones that index point to point when spun with a finger are the most efficient. I used an 18 volt connected directly to my solar panels. Worked like a champ. Available up to 120vdc for MPPT systems to aid air circulation to the condenser. Inside a tiny fan will draw a miniscule amount of battery power 24/7.

Until I switched to Vestfrost, the performance of thousand dollar absorbsion gas refrigerators turned out to be a joke, even with multiple fans and multiple replacements thinking I got one of more bad units. The only gas unit that ever did anything was a Dometic FC-140 chest freezer with a tiny 1.5 cubic foot capacity.

[fifthwheeltrave]

Have any of you tried this device? Here is the guys link

We hate to sound like a broken record, but it has completely eliminated the problems with our refrigerator. No ice, and stuff get cold fast... We actually bought it from the fellow that makes it. We hated the refrigerator in our trailer because every time we opened the door, it would take forever to cool back down...

Now, there is so much air movement inside, my veggies, soda and groceries cool down in minutes...

Just thought we would throw this out there... Good luck!

[Dave_H_M]

ctpres wrote:
Oil it! Nothing to loose at this point. Center of fan blade has some kind of sticker or label. Remove it and you should see a hole in the middle. One or two DROPS - in center - of best quality, light weight oil you can find. Run for a few hours with the hole up. Bet you a cup of coffee no more noise. Almost all small muffin fans can be oiled. Good luck.

Well i finally got around to it. pres you get the prize. I oiled it with marvel mystery oil and it purs like a kitten. :C

[landyacht318]

While I understand the desire to just hook a fan to a solar panel, I think the fan is better off wired to the battery and the solar panel to the battery as well.

I know my muffin fans have handled 16 volts no problem, I don't know how they would like the ~22 volt open circuit voltage of the 12v solar panel.

I use a voltage controller on my fans as a speed control:

http://www.amazon.com/12V-2A-DC-To-Converter/dp/B000KGIDOY/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_1_2

Or just use a fan that comes with its own speed controller:
http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-FM121-Control-Designs-120X120X25mm/dp/B000BWEIFU/ref=sr_1_1?s=elec...

[TechWriter]

Hudsoner wrote:
Talking about fridge fans. Is there any outfit that sells fans do help cool the back side of the fridge? The side that is accessible from the outside of the RV that has "the works"?

I put two thermally-controlled 50cfm fans at the roof vent. here's my install.

[Hudsoner]

That is good info to know about the solar fan.

If one would use the guts of a solar security light, they seem to be pretty good (I have some working for several years). They have some buffer batteries, and could thus handle some clouds. I think they run on 6 volts. What voltage do muffin fans have?

[HiTech]

austinjenna wrote:

Has anybody tried the vent hood with the solar fan build in, do those things work good enough?

If you are talking about this setup from Camco Clicky dont waste your money. I bought 2 of them dirt cheap and I am glad I never paid 90 bucks for them. The solar panels are complete garbage. The first one turned yellow and starting cracking within 2 months and then just didnt work. I replaced it with the second one I had and the same thing happen. I wrote Camco because a solar panel should be made to be outside but they could have cared less.

Needless to say I would never reccomend them to anyone. Buy your own quality small panel and make it yourself instead.

I really like the idea though. It would make a great item to hook to the dump load of a solar controller, or build a quality set up with a small dedicated solar panel. As long as the fridge does not need the fan to operate and it is just there to increase efficiency, using direct solar to run the motor is a great idea. If you computed the increased efficiency of not storing solar energy in the batteries then taking it out, and added in the increased efficiency of the fridge, it could be one of the most efficient/fastest payback solar systems you can install on an RV.

Does the fan speed on these type of muffin fans vary with amps available? Say if you give it 30 % of it's desired current, will it just run slower without damage?

Jim

[austinjenna]

Has anybody tried the vent hood with the solar fan build in, do those things work good enough?

If you are talking about this setup from Camco Clicky dont waste your money. I bought 2 of them dirt cheap and I am glad I never paid 90 bucks for them. The solar panels are complete garbage. The first one turned yellow and starting cracking within 2 months and then just didnt work. I replaced it with the second one I had and the same thing happen. I wrote Camco because a solar panel should be made to be outside but they could have cared less.

Needless to say I would never reccomend them to anyone. Buy your own quality small panel and make it yourself instead.

[Hudsoner]

beemerphile1 wrote:

Hudsoner wrote:
Talking about fridge fans. Is there any outfit that sells fans do help cool the back side of the fridge? The side that is accessible from the outside of the RV that has "the works"?

Different subject than the OP but since you asked;
You may not need fans at the rear, the most common problem is poor installation. It can often be solved by adding baffles to direct the air flow where it belongs.

Study these pictures and see if yours is installed correctly and how to modify your installation.
http://rvmobile.com/Tech/Trouble/vent.htm

I installed fans and baffles in my pop up. I may take the fans back out because it appears they are unnecessary and I seldom run them. The baffles are the way to go.

Thanks for the link. I have to look at my unit once the weather gets a little warmer. With our current condition I could use the fridge as a heater, cause it will never reach the single digit (or lower temps) we currently have.

[Dutch_12078]

Hudsoner wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Hudsoner wrote:
Talking about fridge fans. Is there any outfit that sells fans do help cool the back side of the fridge? The side that is accessible from the outside of the RV that has "the works"?

I have a "Valterra FridgeCool" fan mounted in the vent at the top of my fridge vent stack. It's thermostatically operated, and makes a noticeable difference in hot weather.

Thanks, that seems to be a good idea.

Has anybody tried the vent hood with the solar fan build in, do those things work good enough?

I've seen too many overcast days and dark nights when it was still plenty hot enough to affect the fridge to want to rely on solar to power the fans.

[beemerphile1]

Hudsoner wrote:
Talking about fridge fans. Is there any outfit that sells fans do help cool the back side of the fridge? The side that is accessible from the outside of the RV that has "the works"?

Different subject than the OP but since you asked;
You may not need fans at the rear, the most common problem is poor installation. It can often be solved by adding baffles to direct the air flow where it belongs.

Study these pictures and see if yours is installed correctly and how to modify your installation.
http://rvmobile.com/Tech/Trouble/vent.htm

I installed fans and baffles in my pop up. I may take the fans back out because it appears they are unnecessary and I seldom run them. The baffles are the way to go.

[Tango__AE7UI]

Hudsoner,
I installed 3 computer fans on a homemade frame at the top of the reefer stack to exhaust the heat.
The reefer is ion the rear wall of the fifth and gets a lot of sun.
12 volt power is available at the rear of the reefer or as I did run them off solar panels on the roof.

[Hudsoner]

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Hudsoner wrote:
Talking about fridge fans. Is there any outfit that sells fans do help cool the back side of the fridge? The side that is accessible from the outside of the RV that has "the works"?

I have a "Valterra FridgeCool" fan mounted in the vent at the top of my fridge vent stack. It's thermostatically operated, and makes a noticeable difference in hot weather.

Thanks, that seems to be a good idea.

Has anybody tried the vent hood with the solar fan build in, do those things work good enough?

[Dutch_12078]

Hudsoner wrote:
Talking about fridge fans. Is there any outfit that sells fans do help cool the back side of the fridge? The side that is accessible from the outside of the RV that has "the works"?

I have a "Valterra FridgeCool" fan mounted in the vent at the top of my fridge vent stack. It's thermostatically operated, and makes a noticeable difference in hot weather.