Fridge fans - sensor placement / temperature

[tonka]

I have recently bought and fitted a couple of fans to help assist the fridge with cooling.
They are in and working but i need some advise ref following.

1. Best place to locate the temperature sensor, pic attached.
2. Subject to above, recommended temperature to set the control board

Tips, advise welcome

 

[activecampers]

Thats a standard W1209 - just make sure its set to cool mode, not warm.

The fans are meant to force air movement and heat exchange when the air is warm. So set at, say, 5' above expected ambient and play from there. The temp is easy enough to change.. You can also set the delta so it doesn't go on/off/on/off too often

The sensor I'd have in the air space (not touching) the heat exchanger. As its that air you want to move.

Is that an absorption fridge? If so where is the flue? If it has 2 vents, put fans in the upper vent blowing out.
If its a compressor, just as high as poss (as the warm air will be higher up)

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Best to mount them on rubber rather than screw direct to the vent side as you will hear the vibration of the fans through the van when they are running.

 

[Reallyretired]

My sensor is on the inside of the van wall about half way up the fridge measuring the air temperature. Set to come on at 30C and off at 28C. Fans mounted in the top vent. Fans claim to be silent and seems to be true.

 

[Lenny HB]

You need to move the fans to the top of the vent so they draw the hot air out, looks like you might have them blowing in, those type of fans are more efficient extracting air.
I mounted mine with cable ties on the grill with a strip of aluminum across the top of the fans with the sensor on it. You also need to mount the controller in a waterproof box.

The temperature setting will need playing around with I find it works best if the fans come on when the air temperature is 25°, probably needs the controller setting 32° to 36°. I also set the hysteresis on the controller to 2°.

This was my install.

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[tonka]

Thanks on input...

It is an Absorbtion fridge Dometic RMD8555.
Fans are in the top vent and do indeed blow outwards. Drawing air from the bottom. I may look to move them later to a higher spot above the condensor.
No vibration from mounting and pretty quiet no vibration. (Jim its a Burstner )
I will play around with sensor location and also the temperature..
Now i know its a W1209 (was just a cheap ebay purchase) i will look at the available settings. Also consider a water/weather proof cover.

It seemed to run fine at the weekend but i had the sensor cable tied to a pipe so it ran constant !!

 

[Reallyretired]

I have attached fans to the grill with cable ties previously but the heat and sunshine makes them brittle. I now use stainless Steel wire with a crimp connector holding the ends tightly.
Could use stainless steel cable ties but the ones I have are too wide. They don't come in as many sizes as the plastic ones.

 

[Lenny HB]

I have attached fans to the grill with cable ties previously but the heat and sunshine makes them brittle. I now use stainless Steel wire with a crimp connector holding the ends tightly.
Could use stainless steel cable ties but the ones I have are too wide. They don't come in as many sizes as the plastic ones.

Always used nylon ones not had any problems so far current ones have been on 5 years.
Fridge side of the van is parked facing north at home, perhaps facing south would be more of a problem .

 

[Richard n Ann]

The vent is so big it's difficult to mount the fans so they are efficient. Ours filled the height of the opening so drew out the hot air quite well. I think I'd try and mount them on the fins in your situation so they draw air directly through... Or even underneath blowing up.

I had our sensor set on 42°c and pushed in the fins on the left hand side (ie cooler side) that way the fans aren't affected by ambient temperature and go off when the fridge is off on the thermostat.