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Fan for Fridge [message #174245] Thu, 21 June 2012 22:33 Go to next message
Carl S. is currently offline  Carl S.   United States
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
Senior Member

Starting a new thread to address this shift in direction.

"WD0AFQ wrote on Thu, 21 June 2012 09:36

I run a small fan in my refer vent from solar. It is on during daylight and goes off when sun goes down. Never have to worry about it and it moves a good bit of air. Everything else is run from the on board batteries, which are charged with the roof panels.
Dan
in the gmc all week and loving it



Dan,

Where did you place that fan?

Why did you feel it should be added?


Thanks!

Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
Chico California""

I also installed a small solar powered fan in the roof vent above the fridge. I got the kit, including a new vent cover, from my local RV supply. It is made by Camco:

http://www.camco.net/#app=3619&5b41-selectedIndex=0&98a3-selectedIndex=0

At the suggestion of the mechanic that works at said local RV supply, I mounted it in the frame of the roof opening for the vent. I took a picture of it when I installed the 3-way fridge last year. It is not a very good pic. Overexposed, but if you turn your screen just right, you can see it:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/norcold-refrigerator-installation/p40444-looking-up.html

The RV mechanic said the fan would work best in that location and draw the most air over the coils. I like to think it works well. Anyway, it can't hurt except for my wallet.


Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
Re: [GMCnet] Fan for Fridge [message #174253 is a reply to message #174245] Thu, 21 June 2012 22:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
G'day,

Rob "Overkill" M. here!

Here's what I did:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showfull.php?photo=43958

Regards,
Rob M.


-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Stouffer


I also installed a small solar powered fan in the roof vent above the fridge. I got the kit, including a new vent cover, from my
local RV supply. It is made by Camco:

http://www.camco.net/#app=3619&5b41-selectedIndex=0&98a3-selectedIndex=0

At the suggestion of the mechanic that works at said local RV supply, I mounted it in the frame of the roof opening for the vent. I
took a picture of it when I installed the 3-way fridge last year. It is not a very good pic. Overexposed, but if you turn your
screen just right, you can see it:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/norcold-refrigerator-installation/p40444-looking-up.html

The RV mechanic said the fan would work best in that location and draw the most air over the coils. I like to think it works well.
Anyway, it can't hurt except for my wallet.
--
Carl

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Fan for Fridge [message #174261 is a reply to message #174253] Fri, 22 June 2012 00:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bukzin is currently offline  bukzin   United States
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Registered: April 2004
Location: North California
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So the idea is to add cooling and thereby
reducing the energy the fridge needs to do it job,
is that correct?



Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
Re: Fan for Fridge [message #174271 is a reply to message #174245] Fri, 22 June 2012 07:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GeorgeRud is currently offline  GeorgeRud   United States
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Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
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Somewhere I remember reading that you really should only have a small ( 1 inch or so) space behind the cooling coils so a good air flow will help remove the heat from the coils. Fans certainly will provide the same function, but I wonder if anyone has actually blocked the area behing the fridge to decrease the space and increase the efficiency that way?

George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Fan for Fridge [message #174276 is a reply to message #174271] Fri, 22 June 2012 07:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Steven Ferguson is currently offline  Steven Ferguson   United States
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Nearly all of the newer RVs have zero clearance behind the fridge to force
all convection (or in Carl's case, forced air) past the coils.

On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 5:08 AM, George Rudawsky <GeorgeRud@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> Somewhere I remember reading that you really should only have a small ( 1
> inch or so) space behind the cooling coils so a good air flow will help
> remove the heat from the coils. Fans certainly will provide the same
> function, but I wonder if anyone has actually blocked the area behing the
> fridge to decrease the space and increase the efficiency that way?
> --
> George Rudawsky
> Chicago, IL
> 75 Palm Beach
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>



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Fathom the hypocrisy of a nation where every citizen must prove they have
health insurance......but not everyone has to prove they're a citizen.
Steve Ferguson
Sierra Vista, AZ
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Re: Fan for Fridge [message #174278 is a reply to message #174271] Fri, 22 June 2012 08:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bryant374 is currently offline  bryant374   United States
Messages: 563
Registered: May 2004
Location: Pleasant Valley, NY 12569
Karma: 1
Senior Member
I also have used a solar powered fan to assist in moving the hot frig air.

The link below provides the dimensions for a vent, it was included in the installation package when I replaced my Norcold frig.
Bill

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/miscellaneous-bryant-stuff/p43274-epson002.html


Bill Bryant
PO 1976~PB (owned 34 years)
1914 Ford (owned 70 years)
1965 Corvette (owned 39 years)
GMC Motorhome History
Re: Fan for Fridge [message #174280 is a reply to message #174245] Fri, 22 June 2012 09:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bukzin is currently offline  bukzin   United States
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Registered: April 2004
Location: North California
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Senior Member
Carl S. wrote on Thu, 21 June 2012 20:33

Starting a new thread to address this shift in direction.

"WD0AFQ wrote on Thu, 21 June 2012 09:36

I run a small fan in my refer vent from solar. It is on during daylight and goes off when sun goes down. Never have to worry about it and it moves a good bit of air. Everything else is run from the on board batteries, which are charged with the roof panels.
Dan
in the gmc all week and loving it



Dan,

Where did you place that fan?

Why did you feel it should be added?


Thanks!

Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
Chico California""

I also installed a small solar powered fan in the roof vent above the fridge. I got the kit, including a new vent cover, from my local RV supply. It is made by Camco:

http://www.camco.net/#app=3619&5b41-selectedIndex=0&98a3-selectedIndex=0

At the suggestion of the mechanic that works at said local RV supply, I mounted it in the frame of the roof opening for the vent. I took a picture of it when I installed the 3-way fridge last year. It is not a very good pic. Overexposed, but if you turn your screen just right, you can see it:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/norcold-refrigerator-installation/p40444-looking-up.html

The RV mechanic said the fan would work best in that location and draw the most air over the coils. I like to think it works well. Anyway, it can't hurt except for my wallet.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So, did you notice a difference before and after the fan?

Thanks




Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
Re: Fan for Fridge [message #174282 is a reply to message #174280] Fri, 22 June 2012 09:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
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Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.
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Senior Member
Certainly you will notice a difference with air moving upward. I did not take temp readings. Not sure how to have a controlled test. I like to know the air is getting out. I doubt much energy is saved but in my case, the fan's energy is free.
Dan


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
Re: Fan for Fridge [message #174294 is a reply to message #174282] Fri, 22 June 2012 10:51 Go to previous message
Carl S. is currently offline  Carl S.   United States
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
Senior Member

The idea is to increase airflow over the coils on the back of the fridge. The fan draws air up from the sidewall vent, across the fins and out the top vent.

In my case, I was doing a new install, converting from the original AC/DC Norcold to a three way Norcold. I built a baffle in the back of the compartment so that there is less than i/2" clearance to the fins on the condenser(?)coil.

The power for the fan, like Dan's, is free. I have no idea if it really makes a difference, since I did not have a heat absorption refrigerator before doing this. I do know that the new fridge works VERY well. The freezer will freeze water bottles and ice cube trays overnight or less.




Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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