Fans for Fridge

[Jim Stoltz]

The trip I took this past weekend was the first using a fan kit I bought on eBay for the fridge. I had replaced the cooling unit and the freezer was getting super cold, but the fridge wasn't. It was cold enough, but on the edge (pushing 40-degrees). The problem was that the fins were icing up where the temp sensor thingy is (I'm sure there's a technical name). The fans are cheap and tap into the fridge light circuit and ground to the fins with an alligator clip. They keep the air moving so condensation - and therefore ice - does not form on the temp sensor. Worked like a charm. Fridge was nice and cold all weekend long, even though my newbie RVers couldn't grasp the concept of not standing in front of the fridge with the door open looking for food like you do at home. You need to know what's in there, where it is, grab it and close the door. The fans did make a pretty annoying vibration/warbling sound that was amplified at night when it was quiet. Small price to pay though. I recommend the fans if you're having cooling issues.

[John "T" Nordhoff]

 Yo Jim, for years Ive "considered" purchase of one of those fans but never broke down and bought one, although, my motorhome has a ton of aftermarket additions lol.  The problem my Dometic fridge has is the heat exchanger (those cooling fins at top) ices up after say 4 or 5 days and the first wife at least once a week has to use the hair dryer to de ice it after which it cools fine for several days until she ices over and doesn't cool as good. I always told my kids when they were young and in science a fridge DOES NOT put cold inside it, it takes the heat out. Those fins absorb heat and transfer it outside the box. Anyway, I may just try one to see if it stops the fins from icing up so quick. Anyone else have thoughts or experience on that ?????

 John T

[Jim Stoltz]

The theory is that the frost/ice insulates the temp sensor and fools it into thinking the fridge is cold enough. Supposedly with the air moving around in there the fins won't frost up. Mine was only a 2-day test and it didn't frost up.It would frost up within hours of turning it on previously. As you would imagine, the problem is made worse by opening and closing the door a lot as humidity is introduced. Mine might not be working as well as it should with the rebuilt cooling unit, but it would only frost up on the right side of the fins - right where the sensor is.

[John "T" Nordhoff]

  I just scoped them out on Flea Bay. They have an INTERIOR (around $13.50) model that attaches direct to the cooling fins (suspect what you have) PLUS an EXTERIOR unit (around $19.95)  that mounts outside the fridge and helps direct the hot air up and out the roof top vent. You know me I THINK I WILL BUY BOTH lol

 I think the interior unit right on the cooling fins will have to reduce icing and that's my main problem while the exterior air movement may help overall efficiency.

 Ive added a ton of aftermarket plus home made improvements to my RV the past 3 years (Rooftop Solar Panels, 4 Golf Cart Batteries, extra fresh water and extra black water storage tanks, water pressure accumulator tanks, etc. etc.) AND ALL HAVE HELPED but will I ever be done I DOUBT IT LOL 

 John T

[Jim Stoltz]

Yes I have the interior one. The hot wire for my fridge light had come loose because the connector corroded and broke. The wire is too short to crimp on another connector so I just removed the light fixture and twisted & taped the fan wire on. The outside fan sounds like a good idea, too.

[John "T" Nordhoff]

One more fridge fan question for ya Jim, my fan should arrive in the next day or so. Okay like I said, my fridges cooling fins ice up all across in maybe 4/5 days and I hope the fan helps that problem. I wonder if since the fan only covers maybe 1/3 of the fin area if the remaining fins still ice up or will the fan help over all the fin area?? What was your experience??

 John T

[Jim Stoltz]

Mine was only icing up on about 1/4 of the fins, on the right where the sensor is. I'm pretty sure the fans create enough air movement in there to keep all the fins clear of ice.