fridges in the heat

[russ the rambler]

its 36 degrees where i am and the fridge has suddenly got less cold. Tried it on gas and hook up but no difference. Its not even colder in the morning when its cooler outside. I'm guessing its just too hot for it to cope?

 

[ManTheVan]

Mmm, sounds as if you might have lost some refrigerant…

 

[Podney]

Might help if you remove the external vent to let more air circulate,and try and shade that side of the van with canopy/awning.
Sorry if that’s teaching you to suck eggs!
The weather we’ve been having i.e.crap,I’d be very happy with 36% right now!

 

[russ the rambler]

Might help if you remove the external vent to let more air circulate,and try and shade that side of the van with canopy/awning.
Sorry if that’s teaching you to suck eggs!
The weather we’ve been having i.e.crap,I’d be very happy with 36% right now!

the other day i closed the grill because it looked like one corner was loose. I'll pull it out a bit and see what difference that makes, thanks

 

[peterc10]

its 36 degrees where i am and the fridge has suddenly got less cold. Tried it on gas and hook up but no difference. Its not even colder in the morning when its cooler outside. I'm guessing its just too hot for it to cope?

Usual I am afraid. They are only designed to cool 20 degrees below ambient. Can be improved by installing 12v computer fans at the top of the rear cavity to add ventilation. If you know a bit about electronics you can diy install them to come on and off with the heat. Otherwise you can do as I did and install a CBE ventilation kit which has all of the instructions needed.

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[rb62]

I know it sounds wrong but don't have it turned right up,we have ours at 3 out of 5

 

[russ the rambler]

thanks, yeah ill try turning it down. There was a large rectangular box on the top shelf and that might have blocked circulation in the fridge so i moved that - but the freezer doesnt freeze either. Just stick with it i guess thanks

 

[Neil S]

I have twin CBE extraction fans fitted to draw the heat out of the top vent
In 105f temperatures in France it coped very well with the freezer maintaining -16 and the fridge compartment at
+5 / +6 .
I would remove both top and bottom vents to increase airflow

 

[Floydster]

I have twin CBE extraction fans fitted to draw the heat out of the top vent
In 105c temperatures in France it coped very well with the freezer maintaining -16 and the fridge compartment at
+5 / +6 .
I would remove both top and bottom vents to increase airflow

 

[Neil S]

Yes it was stifling but we were on a
6 amp hookup so we had the hab aircon running

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[mitzimad]

fans will improve the situation they can be cable tied onto the rear of the top grill and wired to the fridge 12v input incorporating a switch into the circuit i did mine in spain 4 years ago and ive got a temporary switch behind the bottom grill which is a wago connector wire in to make it work, wire out for off

 

[Two on Tour]

In 105c temperatures in France it coped very well with the freezer maintaining -16 and the fridge compartment at
+5 / +6 .

Jeess, 105c, that's a world record temperature and an amazing fridge you have.

 

[Neil S]

Jeess, 105c, that's a world record temperature and an amazing fridge you have.

yep just saw the mistake I've corrected it

 

[RM_Marine]

So my fridge is running one 1 due to adding more thermal paste to the the back of the fins on fridge and freezer
But when it's very hot I take out the bottom and top vent to allow more circulation of air

I've brought the CBE fans but have yet to install

 

[gus-lopez]

the other day i closed the grill because it looked like one corner was loose. I'll pull it out a bit and see what difference that makes, thanks

You need fans in the top vent to extract & i would remove the vents completely. I usually have fly mesh under mine bt that traps a tremendous amount of heat so it is removed in summer. 40º c & fridge will be around 3-5ºc on shaded side. & long may it stay the same

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[Landy Andy]

thanks, yeah ill try turning it down. There was a large rectangular box on the top shelf and that might have blocked circulation in the fridge so i moved that - but the freezer doesnt freeze either. Just stick with it i guess thanks

Make sure you don’t block the temp sender that is mounted on the cooling fins in the back of the fridge, otherwise it won’t be registering the correct temp

I would also remove the top and bottom fridge grills in high heat, especially if you don’t have fans fitted.

 

[Lenny HB]

Most fridges don't work very well above 25° without a few mods. The latest Dometic 20 series are supposed to be better.
I have two computer case fans in the top vent controlled by a temperature controller and another one inside the fridge in front of the fins.

 

[russ the rambler]

"remove the top and bottom fridge grills"

so all this involves is taking off the grills outside and fitting them back again before we move off to the next site? Being a man that is completely useless at all types of DIY, its just a case of removing the grill and (easily) putting it back again?

Its just... i can imagine a world where i'm driving a couple of hundred miles to the next site with no grills outside, because they're too difficult to fit back again

just putting it out there....never underestimate some peoples lack of common sense. Thanks Russ

 

[Two on Tour]

so all this involves is taking off the grills outside and fitting them back again before we move off to the next site? Being a man that is completely useless at all types of DIY, its just a case of removing the grill and (easily) putting it back again?

Yes, as simple as that.

 

[Off da Grid]

Cheap as chips pc 12v fan 120mm that will sort the problem, fit it to the top grill as far away from the flue as you can get it.
Mines on a switch, we leave it on whilst driving when it’s hot.
It also makes a great drying fan for your clothes if you put your airier under it.
As said above the fridge will work better at set around the 5 o’clock position.
We have found that if you have a large freezer block in the freezer compartment it makes a big difference also.

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[Podney]

Yes,it really is very simple…….even I can do it!

Oh,just one word of warning…if it’s an older van and the vents haven’t been removed for a while,go easy on the turns thingys that hold them on.

 

[Off da Grid]

Also be careful that they are not stuck on with gunk.
Gently spudge them off with a plastic knife starting at the clip end.
The clips have broken on ours so I’ve screwed them on.

 

[Landy Andy]

"remove the top and bottom fridge grills"

so all this involves is taking off the grills outside and fitting them back again before we move off to the next site? Being a man that is completely useless at all types of DIY, its just a case of removing the grill and (easily) putting it back again?

Its just... i can imagine a world where i'm driving a couple of hundred miles to the next site with no grills outside, because they're too difficult to fit back again

just putting it out there....never underestimate some peoples lack of common sense. Thanks Russ

The question you need to ask your self is. “How much do I want cold beer, and a quiet wife”
After that you adapt and learn.

 

[russ the rambler]

thanks all - it cooled down a bit after this and i was more concerned with my (written off) awning so the fridge solved itself really. Still enjoying my hols...ferry back on sunday but it feels like we've been away for about 2 months so hey-ho...so glad we bit the bullet and went