Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2015 07:01:40 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Propane and refrigerator success
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk1ySOK4=a1_Nhnu-q0sjjuaNHAFTjvSC84gFHMa9wfD4Q@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I wish I had done more testing back when I first put one in. I don't have a city water port on my van anymore so I can't install another fan and record some numbers.
I think it has to have a good effect by removing more of that hot air from behind the fridge. Even if the van interior is warmed up by the sun, it doesn't get as hot as the back of the fridge.
Alistair
> On Jun 28, 2015, at 6:31 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I remember this mod from when you did it. Does it keep the interior of the fridge cooler (not so likely IMHO) or the interior of the van cooler (it almost has to--running the fridge inside the van is just the same as running a heater in there) or both, or neither?
>
> Jim
>
>> On Sun, Jun 28, 2015 at 8:28 AM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> "One little trick that has not been mentioned"
>>
>> Ha! wait, this isn't the joke thread.
>>
>> Some pics of my old city water port with fan here
>>
>> https://shufti.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/westy-city-water-port-fan-mod/
>>
>>
>> Alistair
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Jun 28, 2015, at 3:10 AM, Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM> wrote:
>> >
>> > There is one little trick that has not been mentioned here that will improve the efficiency of the fridge. Installing a fan in the side of the van that takes the heat from the fins behind the fridge and pumps it outside ! The original design has that small fan behind the fridge sucking fresh air from under the fridge, hence the space and grill at the booting the fridge, and pumping that heat up and out into the van through that grill work being the stove~sink top. Unless you have a good supply of fresh air, slide door open and the skylight wide open, the circulation is impeded especially on very hot days. I have found that by installing a fan in the place of the fresh water hook up, which BTW happens to be right in line with the rear fins of the fridge, running that fan improves the operation of the fridge by a large margin. I have even found that while in Mexico on our winter hiatus, that running that fan all day, even while driving, keeps the fridge at proper cooling for all foods. How I did this was to cut the back side of the city water outlet to accommodate a 4” computer fan and fit a small micro switch so that if the flap were closed the fan would not run, the flap can be held open with a small prop or if needing it run continually while driving, remove the door altogether. I took power for this fan from the power source at the LED light indicator panel on the front of the stove~sink cabinet and also installed a small push button switch next to the LED light panel to control the fan if the door was taken off. This has proven time and again to be the biggest improvement in keeping the fridge operating successfully in hot weather.
>> >
>> >
| 
