Date:         Wed, 1 Sep 2004 15:32:30 -0700
Reply-To:     Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject:      Westy fridge fan
Comments: To: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <F5C0BDD4-FC4C-11D8-8E42-000A95E94AAC@uvic.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

I would hesitate to make any shrouding as it would likely cause the
fridge fan to run more often than otherwise.

The best replacement fridge fan I have found is the one sold at most RV
supply places. It used to be sold as a FridgeMate but now is sold by
Valterra and called a FridgeCool Vent Compartment Coil Fan.

It fits in the stock location and moves a little more air than the stock
fan, especially the early stock fans such as likely came on your 82. The
early ones had a current limiting resistor wired right next to the
motor. That kept the fan speed down and caused the fan to stay on longer
than it would have at full speed. You did not leave the resistor in the
wiring when you put in the muffin fan did you?

The Valterra fan kit is overpriced and comes with a couple parts not
needed that add to the cost. It includes a temp switch to cycle it on
and off automatically but the Westy fridge already has that. It also
comes with an on/off switch and switch mounting plate, as well as a lot
of wire so the switch can be mounted where desired.

The only parts of the kit that I use are the fan bracket, fan motor, and
fan blade. The kit is about $35 USD. The bracket needs 2 new holes
drilled into the back of the fridge as the stock bracket mounting holes
don't line up. This is no big deal.

Mark

Alistair Bell wrote:

> couple of things not covered in last posting...
> .......
>
> only thing i want to do after this trip is to replace fridge external
> cooling fan with one that moves more air. I stuck a smallish muffin fan
> back there replacing broken stock unit, and in the warm temps we had
> the new fan ran almost all the time during the day. Doesn't move enough
> I suppose. A while back a fellow list member raised this concern about
> muffin fans, now I have to agree with him. Mind you it was hot on this
> trip, but temps were those that could be expected elsewhere in the
> world :) Also thinking about Dennis Haynes old suggestion of making a
> shroud around cooling fin area to direct the cooling air more
> efficiently.
>