PC 12 v fan to aid fridge cooling

[otherclive]

I was spaeking to a vanner who told me that to improve his fridge cooling he fitted a PC 12v fan , and in very hot weather his van's fridge ran much more efficiently. If anyone else has done this i would like to hear of their experience. Perhaps it is something that PC could feature in its DIY section.

 

[Sproket]

You could have a look at one of these,

12v fan with thermo sensor switch

and fitting it behind the top vent to help extract hot air, some people fit two ....

 

[otherclive]

Sprocket,

thanks that looks just the job. I will try one out.

Cheers

Other Clive

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Clive

Yes its a great idia. I installed a couple of computer fans on the upper inside grill for the fridge. These are approx 2" square and I attached them using number plate impact pads. They are very quiet and they suck out the rising heat from the back of the fridge. Last year in France they really proved there worth and we had to turn the fridge down as everything was begining to freeze. I bought a thermostat control kit from Maplins which is adjustable between 18o and 30o. I have mine set to 25o approx,so any warmer it kicks in. I don't know if its better to draw the air out or force the air in as you can wire the fans in either direction, but my logic was heat rises,so assist the circulation by drawing it out.

Any way it works and it does not cost a lot to install. Two fans unless you can get them from a scrap computer as I did with roller bearings on the fan will cost you about

 

[Chrisbee]

Hi Von Ryan, can I ask where you fitted the thermostat?

 

[Mikey1]

The fan that Sproket mentioned cuts in at 50C which is very hot best to cut in before that say 25C.

Buy the best quality 12v fans you can afford,still only around

 

[AlanJ]

Hi

I fitted one of these Vento dual fans which are designed for the job -

http://www.the12voltshop.co.uk/Shop/cell-phones/fridge-fans/
to the fridge top vent with a couple of cable ties. It has manual & auto operation and built in adjustable temp control.

Just come back from the South of France and it worked perfectly in helping fridge temps.

Regards

Alan

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Chrisbee

I mounted the stat just behind the fridge panel where there seemed to be the greatest heat source whic is very close to the upper fridge vent. As mikey said go for the best fans you can find,I use one's with metal ball bearings. They are almost silent to the extent that you have to be standing right next to the vent outside to hear them!

Von Ryan

 

[Mikey1]

Its the cost of these which is the downside,as these are left exposed to the elements in the vents they sieze up,hence the use of the cheaper option.

 

[ChrisUK]

I had one of these fitted by my dealer earier this year, by my dealer as I could not see how to fit one without removing the fridge to get at the wires and the van is still under warrentee. I can not say that it made a lot of difference but it is one of these useless Thretford fridges.

Always blow the air out, if you blow in you increase the possiblity of blowing CO into the van, particularly with Thretford fridges (a dangerous design in my view of having the gas flue within the van wall).

 

[Mikey1]

Yes agree with your comment about having the flu not venting outside like the Dometics (Something to do with Patents)

Only an issue if using gas though

I do wonder how the Thetford fridge/freezers cool down on Swift twin axle vans as the vents are the small size at least Elddis fit double sized vents to help remove the spent gas and hot air