Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 08:01:54 -0700
Reply-To: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject: Re: Refrigerator Fans
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Mike,
I considered adding a fan inside my fridge... like Derek Drew mentioned in
his article Refrigerator Madness. But I didn't have the time (or the wiring
knowledge at the time). So I bought one of the battery operated Fridge Mate
fans that are sold at RV stores for use inside the fridge. Getting air
movement over the inside cooling fins and around the food is EXTREMELY
important to getting the most out of the fridge. It really helps a lot. At
first I didn't like the fact that the battery operated fan took up what I
thought was useable food storage space inside the fridge. But after using it
for two seasons my current thoughts are that it is not taking up useable
space at all. Really, in order to get air circulation (the purpose of the
fan) you need to leave space for the air to circulate; if you pack the food
too tightly there is no room for the air to circulate around the food so the
food doesn't get or stay cold (even if you have a fan inside). Well, it
turns out that by locating the battery operated fan strategically in the
center of the center shelf it not only circulates the air up an over the
cold fins, it also by its location keeps the center of the fridge open for
air circulation back down and around the food. In other words, the fan
serves as a physical reminder to keep that air space open for circulation,
thus thwarting the natural temptation to pack more food in there. Also there
is no wiring job and no possibility of it running your battery down. Anyway,
that's my 2 cents.
Bill
90 Westy Syncro
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 9:43 PM
Subject: Re: Refrigerator Fans
>Volks -
>
>I have my refrigerator out on the bench in my shop. As I mentioned in
>a couple of posts last week, I couldn't get it to light on gas, so I
>removed it to tackle the problem.
>
>While it's out I'm going to take advantage of the very timely and
>helpful posts several people have sent about adding extra fans.
>
>The outside ones seem pretty straightforward, but the little one
>inside puzzles me. How do you control the power? Do you need to put
>in a switch to turn it on or off? Is there someplace in the
>refrigerator circuit where you can get power only when the
>refrigerator is chilling?
>
>Oh - and I found out what my problem was with the gas. My previous
>Westy was an '83, and the control panel on the one in the '87 has lots
>of jazzy symbols rather than words. I checked the manual, and found
>that the lighting procedure is the same, so I turned the gas valve to
>On like it said. On is the position with the O next to the gas flame,
>right? The vertical bar at the top must be Off.
>
>Ah well, so much for interpreting VW symbolism. I had the gas valve
>turned off every time I tried to light it. Not too surprising that it
>didn't work.
>
>At least now the burner has been thoroughly cleaned, and I have a
>chance to do the fan upgrade.
>
>I also wrapped some fiberglass insulation around the exhaust stack,
>securing it with a couple of wraps of wire. It should let the stack
>warm up faster, and keep the flame from going out so easily when it's
>just starting.
>
>Now if someone will just help me out with the best way to wire the
>inside fan? I just picked up a tiny Radio Shack 12v fan that ought to
>just fit.
>
>Thanks for the help!
>
>Mike Finkbiner
>
>'87 Westy - which now has lots of new tubing on top of the gas tank,
>and doesn't leak any more!
>
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