In a message dated 08/23/= 2001 11:49:13 AM Central Daylight Time,
EVEHART33@AOL.COM writes:



I always read the refrigera= tor threads hoping to pick up tips to improve the
cooling ability. Some of the tips involved adding an extra cooling fan o= r
fans to remove more of the hot air that builds up behind the refrigerato= r
and
presumably aid cooling.I don't know how I overlooked this before but I r= ead
in a recent post that the Dometic RM 182 is designed to cool a maximum o= f
only 40F below the outside ambient temperature. I've been checking mine = on
120VAC and propane and find this figure to be roughly accurate. Has anyo= ne
added the extra fans and improved on this figure?




Hi Ken and Listers,

I have just recently, this month, installed two fans to the refrigerator=
circuit. One inside and one additional at the rear of the unit. My
information was gathered from the following informative site.

http://vanagon.com/info/articles/Refrigerator/Reefer_Madness.htm

Thanks to Derek Drew for the articles and all the leg work.

I also installed the two reading thermometer that is mentioned. One prob= e
situated in free air at the top of the fridge. The second ambient van te= mps.
Here are the results, taken a couple of weeks ago when it was really hot= .

120 volt system.  
Ambient in van. .             Fridge
      95                 =                45.8         =  
      88                 =                39
The thermometer registers the min. and max. temp. also. As follows.
Min. 75.                     =           24.1
Following day.
      96.                 =               32.3     10AM.
      99.                 =               43.2      4.30 PM
      91.                 =               40.6.     8.30 PM
      85.                 =               31.       10.00 PM
The Max for the day was103.
Min. 70.  [overnight.]             24.0

I did the trial last night, again, on 120volt.
      86                 =                30.        11. AM
      81                 =                30          1= .00 PM.
The day is overcast, no direct sun on the van. These figures would incre= ase
if the sun was beating down on the left side panel, I'm sure.

The propane figures were close, unfortunately I didn't record them.
Having the thermometer makes you more obsessive with the temp in the fri= dge.
I did a test today. Had the door open for 10 seconds and it increased th= e
temp. by 8 degrees. So if you want any thing out of the unit do it PDQ.
All the above figures are with an EMPTY fridge.

Here are Radio Shack parts numbers that I used.
273-240   Micro Fan, 1- 9/16" square. 5.3 cfm. Fitted above the cool= ing fins
inside.
273-243B  Cooling Fan 3" Airflow  26cfm
Rated at 0.08A and 0.16A.
Note. Radio Shack offer more options for fans on their web site. Cheaper= too.
Mine are from their stores.. Not all on the web site are available at th= eir
stores

The rear fan was connected to the load side of the heatswitch then contr= olled
by it's own switch, which I mounted on the fascia panel of the fridge in= side.
This gives me the oportunity to switch off the additional fan at night, = if I
wish.
The inside fan is controlled by a second switch again mounted on it's fa= scia
panel.
Nothing is visible from the outside. The noise level is minimal. Though = I
haven't spent over night. On removal of the unit, I increased the insula= tion
at the rear of the fridge.
Foil covered insulation from Ace.Hard.

Prices aprox,
Fan 1 $15
Fan 2 $15
2 micro-switches. $5.00
Thermometer. $20.00.

Well worth the effort in my view.

Brian Kelly.
86 Westfalia.