Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2019 20:11:12 -0400
Reply-To: Jack R <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jack R <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Dometic Fan - big difference
In-Reply-To: <BYAPR12MB36407574859C5E807577145CBADC0@BYAPR12MB3640.namprd12.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
This past winter, I placed a cheap computer cooling fan between the fridge
cabinet, and the sink cabinet, blowing air across the back of the fridge to
the normal exhaust. Simple modification, with the fridge out. I didn't
have to cut any cabinets, and easily spliced a switch into the 12v power.
This past weekend, 84 degrees outside, 32 degrees in the fridge. I had the
coolest fridge since I've owned my 84 Wolfie, 32 years! It worked
wonderful, very little noise and very simple to install. It actually made
ice in the ice cube trays!
I did place two screws through the cabinet wall, and put wing nuts on the
other side, so I can easily remove it to get the fridge in and out.
At the cost of about 3 hours work, and $8 for the fan, $2 for the switch, it
has provided great rewards. First time camping without a cooler, so nice to
have the extra space.
For those who can access Google Photos... see link.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fn5E7UxfT4XxES7K6
Glad I did it, also cleaned up everything behind the fridge, and repainted
the inside.
Link to painted fridge
Before: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ELjvBg98rBnZ3SYd9
After: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2TQq8PJneBQy4TCt5
I have the paint code, if anyone needs it.
Here's a photo of the fridge fully loaded.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/2DWp3ht2qbg3FEAMA
Jack
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Boan
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2019 7:39 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Dometic Fan
That is the point made in the article, that it helps mainly in warm weather.
I was thinking about this mainly after camping last week at Heyburn State
Park near Coeur d'Alene. It was warm at night, and the fridge pumping warm
air into the van added to the heat.
Do you recall what fan you used? Is it the same as added to the fridge
itself?
On a related note, I do not think that the argument about the original
engineers coming up with most of the simple solutions is always true. The
original design also had cost restraints that may lead to less costly but
less consumer-friendly solutions, like venting inside the van.
Dave B
Boise
________________________________
From: vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@cox.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2019 7:22 PM
To: David Boan <dboan@OUTLOOK.COM>; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Subject: Re: Dometic Fan
I've done it to several vans in my family over the years. It helped all
of them, when camping in warm weather. It also reduces the amount of
running of the main fan. It isn't a fix for fridges that aren't already
working well, it just lets well working fridges do better in hotter
weather than they otherwise would.
Mark
David Boan wrote:
> I just came across Frank Condelli & Associates article on fridge
maintenance (See http://www.frankcondelli.com/fridge.htm ), and one of the
upgrades they recommend is to put an exhaust fan for the fridge in place of
the city water hookup (or cut a new hole if you use that hookup). The idea
is that this will vent the heat from the fridge outside rather than inside,
which is the current setup. My questions is has anyone done this? What
size fan did you use and where did you find it? Was it worth the effort?
>
>
> Thanks
> Dave B
> Boise, ID
>
