poor fridge performance in the heat

[yvonne6]

Does/did anyone else have this prob, our fridge did'nt work too well whilst on holiday in France this summer, the weather was exceptionally hot, during the night when it cooled down the fridge worked fine. is there anything i could do to improve it?

Yvonne

 

[Robtel]

I've experienced the same problems in the past while in France. Not just as bad this year with new van and bigger fridge. I've read on this forum in the past about fitting mini-fans same as those used in computers or some electrical items behind the fridge to aid ventilation but afraid my DIY electrical skills are not up to that. On a simpler basis it is recommended not to have your frige too full, keep the metal cooling fins clear and allow the cold air to circulate within the fridge. I bought one of those 12v cooling boxes and an adapter so that I could connect it to one of the van electrical sockets. I kept this out in the awning and used it for storing water and soft drinks, it kept them cool and freed up room within the fridge for perishable items. I also kept a smaller supply of drinks in fridge, when these were used I transferred the already cool drinks from box to fridge for really cold drinks

Robert

 

[sparkes]

Robert is correct about the fans. If you are up to a little 12v wiring then I will find the link for you. If not, put a desk fan in the awning and face it towards the bottom vent on the fridge and turn it on LOW

Steve

 

[Robtel]

Robert is correct about the fans. If you are up to a little 12v wiring then I will find the link for you. If not, put a desk fan in the awning and face it towards the bottom vent on the fridge and turn it on LOW

Steve

steve,

I would be interested in details of the link re cooling fans, your suggestion about the desk fan in the awning would'nt work for me unfortunately as fridge vents on opposite side. Thanks

Robert

 

[Mike_5041108]

Can certainly recommend the desk fan blowing into the inlet vent of the fridge ked very well for us this year in Burgundy. Our vents are on the "wrong side", but it was now real problem, just set up a table and an extension lead.

I could tell you just how effective a bag of frozen cauliflower florets are at chilling bottles of beer, but I think thats one for another post...........

Mike

 

[greenplum_5088396]

steve,

I would be interested in details of the link re cooling fans, your suggestion about the desk fan in the awning would'nt work for me unfortunately as fridge vents on opposite side. Thanks

Robert

Try these links that I kept for reference on the cooling subject

http://www.touringandtenting.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5022
http://www.talktouring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=214

 

[greenplum_5088396]

Try these links that I kept for reference on the cooling subject

http://www.touringandtenting.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5022
http://www.talktouring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=214

 

[John_5128806]

I bet that you had the thermostat control on maximum (?)

Never, ever, do that when it's hot.

On domestic fridges/freezers putting the control up to maximum if hot weather will simply get the works icebound - which effectively stops them form being effective, even though they seem to be functioning OK.

I lived in Spain for a long time, and this was a common problem caused by villa hiring holidaymakers. They would go shopping, get back to their holiday home, open the fridge/freezer door for a while and pile everything in. Then wonder why the fridge wasn't cold - so they would turn the thermostat control up to maximum.

Two days later the fridge would be working like a trojan trying to get cool, but the works were covered in ice which stopped them being effective.

Contrary to logic, you can only turn the fridge up when the weather is cold - when it isn't needed.

IN HOT WEATHER NO MORE THAN TWOTHIRDS!

I hope that this doesn't sound like a lecture - it isn't meant to be.

John S.

 

[Lutz]

I can understand your comments with regard to domestic compression refrigerators, John, but they don't apply to absorption types normally found in caravans. For these, the most important thing is to cool the hot air that builds up mainly above but also behind the fridge.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/search.aspx?MenuNo=390&MenuName=Fans&FromMenu=y&DOY=13m8
Have a look here

I have met a lot of people including my friend last week who don't know that you have to take the winter covers off.

This seems to happen a lot with Bailey who supply the covers as standard

I have fitted fans in the outlet when we went to Spain and you can get a square one that is about the height of the opening and will fit with 4 small brackets to the plastic.

I had manual switch with a warning light and just switched it on when it got hot

 

[WatsonJohnG]

http://www.dometic.com/templates/Product,3268,2428.aspx
Ventilator Set

Improves the ventilation for perfect performance

To achieve the maximum cooling performance an absorption-fridge must always be sufficiently ventilated. If the standard installation cannot be applied you can attach this small ventilator to the back of the cooling unit.

More images 1 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It speeds up the airflow and cools down the capacitor. Especially when high outside temperatures coincide with no shade whatsoever the ventilator set is very helpful.

The Dometic ventilator is thermostat-controlled and operates on 12V.

Extremely easy to install

The only product of this kind that complies with e1 regulations; therefore Dometic's guarantee for the fridge remains valid only in combination with this ventilator.

The filter can be removed without residue and disposed in an environmentally friendly way: in the domestic rubbish.

Enjoy perfect cooling comfort like at home with the new Dometic ventilator set!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

http://www.dometic.com/templates/Product,3268,2428.aspx

Ventilator Set

Improves the ventilation for perfect performance

To achieve the maximum cooling performance an absorption-fridge must always be sufficiently ventilated. If the standard installation cannot be applied you can attach this small ventilator to the back of the cooling unit.

More images 1 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It speeds up the airflow and cools down the capacitor. Especially when high outside temperatures coincide with no shade whatsoever the ventilator set is very helpful.

The Dometic ventilator is thermostat-controlled and operates on 12V.

Extremely easy to install

The only product of this kind that complies with e1 regulations; therefore Dometic's guarantee for the fridge remains valid only in combination with this ventilator.

The filter can be removed without residue and disposed in an environmentally friendly way: in the domestic rubbish.

Enjoy perfect cooling comfort like at home with the new Dometic ventilator set!

There was a pic but the website won't reproduce it

 

[Guest]

We live in France and ouridge was an issue, we met a retired head teacher who had rigged PC fans to draw air in from under their van (same as ours) and a second that expels air through the top vent.

I remarked on his beers being much cooler than mine and worrying that our fridge was faulty. He explained his modification and the next day as we arrived back he presented me with a cold beer and two fans and wire as I was very keen to try his mod. His wife was preparing dinner for us and within an hour the smaller in let fan was fixed over a floor vent and the larger expel fan was attached to the rear of the top fridge vent that just has one screw and pops off

We only have a small on and off switch, but the fans are near silent and can run on very hot continental nights. The difference it made within two hours was remarkable.

Less than 20 euros from a french PC store was one of our best caravanning buys. Fellow caravanner who cared about the temperature of our beer and wine has become a very good friend.

 

[Rod_5128213]

Sorry to barge in but I have been watching this thread with interest. I'm sure my fridge just has one vent ( not counting the flue vent ) which is about level with the top of the fridge. Where's the second one likely to be, will it be in the van floor?

Rod.

 

[Guest]

Think it's down to size of the fridge and age of the van.

Our van has two rectangular vents on the side of the van and there is a small floor vent as well.

 

[yvonne6]

Thanks to all the replies! John yes i did have the poor fridge on max (typical woman but because the husband's beers were'mt cold!!)not DIY in electrical matters so i will put the fan in the awning.

Yvonne

 

[Robtel]

There was a pic but the website won't reproduce it

I had a look at this and it seems ideal for the job. Only problem is that the website was Dometic international one and when you go to the U.K. one this accessory does not appear to be available.

Robert