Oh no! The beer is getting warm... (1 Viewer)

Jan 27, 2013
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So a few weeks back I headed off to Le Mans for the race. It's not that far south and it wasn't that warm at around 24-26º but my fridge (a Dometic 8 series two door) really struggled to keep anything cold during the day.:Sad:

So when I got back I did a bit of digging on the interweb and found a double fridge fan on LA Leisure. They're made by an Italian company not Vento as per the web page and the control panel was different from the image but that didn't worry me much.

So you hook it up to a 12v supply, screw the fan to the carcase and fix the sensor. This makes it more complicated than your average DIYer can handle but it wasn't that difficult despite poorly translated instrukshuns :ROFLMAO:

I didn't want to have the control panel inside (it's not that pretty) :winky: so I fitted this outside behind the top vent. I remove the vent and switch it on and it works a treat on the automatic setting switching the fans on when the temperature in the void behind the fridge gets too high and off again when it drops.

I'd thoroughly recommend this to the funster community :thumb::thumb::thumb:
 
OP
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hilldweller

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From Aug 2007

What is the temperature on that little thermostat ?

What you have there is a couple of computer fans and thermostat. Not sure what the electronics box does. All that is needed is an on/off switch to save the leisure battery when the fans could be running continuously and you might not have the spare capacity. Our Electrobloc controller cuts the leisure battery when it's voltage gets too low.

But what you paid seemed decent value if you didn't have the fans lying around.
 

pappajohn

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looks like a couple of computer cooling fans but well designed and made.
Any idea of air displacement ?

I use a 100mm computer fan to cool a small 12v air compressor and that really moves some air.....can feel the draft 18" from the fan.
 

Nigel&Debbie

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from your picture, are the fans positioned in the most efficient place? Are they pushing air in to the cavity or are they sucking it out.

The theory is that cool air enters the void via the lower vent, and it then replaces the air that has been warmed by the heat exchanger, which leaves the void via the upper vent. That's the theory.

If your fans are pushing air into the heat exchanger, they are in fact working against the above principle, and therefore less efficient. It would be more efficient to place them below the actual heat exchanger and have them assist the natural cooling process as opposed to working against.

If they are sucking air out, this is better than above, but not as good as pushing cool air up through the exchanger and out via the top vent.

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DuxDeluxe

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Slightly off topic but we are away this weekend and your posts were a reminder to make sure our fridge was working. I'd be blackballed from the entire sailing fleet if we served warm beer.

So many thanks for the timely reminder:thumb:
 

BwB

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Nice gadget.

It appears from their graphic that one fan blows in and one blows out. I'd be inclined to turn one fan so they both blow out (of the fridge vent). The width of the fridge heat exchanger means you'd get more benefit.

In Australia I used a computer fan and a cheap solar panel on the roof. When the sun came out the fan worked. Didn't use any of the leisure battery :) The fridge operated correctly during the night so the fan was not necessary. The same set up would be suitable here I expect (if your fridge was giving you trouble).
 
OP
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Phew that was a little busy

So sorry not have replied to any questions on this I have either been at work or out in the van making the most of the weather.

So...

Both fans are blowing "out"

This means cooler air is being drawn in via the bottom vent (and to a certain extent via the top vent too).

The temperature sensor came already riveted on the bracket so I couldn't read the stamped temperature settings. I did test everything before installing and I suspect it comes on between 40 & 50C (which you would think is quite high until you take the top vent off and you'll understand quite how hot it is in the void).

I have no idea of the volume of air these fans move. You can quite easily feel the air movement when you put your hand in front of the vent. The most important thing about the fans is the noise... You can't hear these. But I very much hear the fan on my computer at work :Sad:

As for positioning. The fans are mounted on a flat, secure surface. They are equidistant between the heat exchanger and the louvre. Yes it would be more efficient to blow air onto the heat exchanger rather than drawing hot air off but that would mean a more complicated installation. Remember the fridge manufacturer doesn't provide any fans so it's a great improvement on nothing!

Even with the recent weather has meant that if I choose, gas or mains everything in the fridge stays cold or frozen. :thumb:

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TheBig1

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2x 90mm fans off EBay, some wire, cable ties and a switch. about £6

£38 is a rip off:winky:
 

BwB

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As for positioning. The fans are mounted on a flat, secure surface. They are equidistant between the heat exchanger and the louvre. Yes it would be more efficient to blow air onto the heat exchanger rather than drawing hot air off but that would mean a more complicated installation. :thumb:

Sounds like you've cracked it! :thumb:

Small point (in case I wasn't very clear in my previous post) - much safer for the fans to be blowing out of the top vent.

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Techno

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I too did my own PC case fans and to be honest they are crap without a speed controller. Far too noisy! I've just bought the purpose made ones and thanked the OP :thumb:
 

Techno

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Sounds like you've cracked it! :thumb:

Small point (in case I wasn't very clear in my previous post) - much safer for the fans to be blowing out of the top vent.

Yes indeed. If your fridge like many is badly sealed from the hab area you can force CO through the holes/cracks if forcing air through the bottom vent
 

Techno

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For those who wont shell out :roflmto:
This will help :thumb: Link Removed

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Techno

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I only last week upgraded my AES fridge to the 8505 £950 was a bargain! check out the next best and RRP prices :ROFLMAO:
CA_08031317503533-L.jpg

CA_08031317482490-L.jpg

CA_08031317464482-L.jpg
 
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Oct 29, 2008
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I have 2 80mm computer fans running on a switch and they are pretty quiet. If you buy the better quality computer fans they are quieter than the cheaper ones.
 
OP
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I too did my own PC case fans and to be honest they are crap without a speed controller. Far too noisy! I've just bought the purpose made ones and thanked the OP :thumb:

Honestly how much do these people pay for a motorhome? Halfpenny of tar and all that eh? :ROFLMAO:

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OP
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I only last week upgraded my AES fridge to the 8505 £950 was a bargain! check out the next best and RRP prices :ROFLMAO:
CA_08031317503533-L.jpg

CA_08031317482490-L.jpg

CA_08031317464482-L.jpg

Is there nothing you won't tackle? I thought I was keen but you put me to shame
 

Techno

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No I'll tackle ALMOST anything :roflmto: Longest job was the 4hr round trip to Grimsby.
Then the fun started as both fridges are too big to go through the hab door :Doh:

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Heyupluv

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I only last week upgraded my AES fridge to the 8505 £950 was a bargain! check out the next best and RRP prices :ROFLMAO:
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CA_08031317482490-L.jpg

CA_08031317464482-L.jpg

Techno....You now have the same Fridge & freezer as we have in our Rapido....just becareful, on the freezer door the plastic/nylon lock mechanism with the metal latch sticking out...GETS condensation inside and freezers up solid..I mean solid ice....and no way of opening as the lock is inside..fill the lock with vaseline or a none freezing lubricant
 

Techno

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The frame heater should free it off ?

Or while parked you can disable the auto lock
 
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