Internal fridge fan install (1 Viewer)

[dpsuk999]

Over the last few days I’ve installed internal fridge fans. I decided to fit 2 50mm x 50mm x 10mm fans onto of the fins blowing down through the fins which should distribute the cold flow of air to the bottom of the fridge. I had to first remove the fins which was a simple job of removing 8 screws. Be aware though when you remove the fins you will have to renew the heat thermal paste which transfers the heat from the fridge to the cooling pipes.

This is the back of the fins with the old thermal paste on the back:

I switched the fridge on just to make sure all of the cooling pipe got very cold/frozen and it did:

I then mounted the fans on top of the fins and thread the 12v feed through the same hole where the temperature probe goes:

I then applied new heat thermal paste to the cooling tube:

I wired the 12v feed through a switch which I placed next to my external fridge fan switch:

All finished:

I’ve yet to properly test the air circulation but as a quick test I placed 2 wireless thermometers in the fridge, one on the shelf just below the cooling fins and one in the door. The difference between them was 1.8, I then switched the fans on and within 20 mins the door thermometer was exactly the same as the shelf one.

Dave.

 

[Figaro]

Did you need to remove the fridge to do this ?

 

[dpsuk999]

No, did it in situ. No need remove fridge, all is possible without the need to remove

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[Lenny HB]

Looks neat, I fitted a 120mm fan blowing onto the fins with a plastic box beside the fan with the temerature controller in it & switch. Suprising the difference it makes but the fridge does use more gas.
This was my install.

 

[dpsuk999]

 

[dpsuk999]

Just as a follow up on the thread, currently in Lake Garda with temperatures of 30+ and came from Croatia with temp of 33+ and I’m very pleased with the fridge temperature, fridge at 4.7 Andy freezer at -18 (the top temp is the compressor freezer I have in the garage)

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[dpsuk999]

 

[sallylillian]

Out of interest where did you get the thermal paste from? We have just got back from a similar route and I think I will try the internal fans.

 

[dpsuk999]

This is the paste I used, I bought 3 tubes and used just over one and a half tubes

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[Stewart J]

Dave where did you purchase the wireless thermometers from?

 

[dpsuk999]

Hi, I got them from eBay, they come direct from China so can take a few weeks but have had them for approx 3 years now and faultless

 

[Stewart J]

Hi, I got them from eBay, they come direct from China so can take a few weeks but have had them for approx 3 years now and faultless

Thanks I had found same and others on eBay last night, 3 just now ordered.

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[sallylillian]

Looks neat, I fitted a 120mm fan blowing onto the fins with a plastic box beside the fan with the temerature controller in it & switch. Suprising the difference it makes but the fridge does use more gas.
This was my install.

This thread caught my eye with the fan placement, I was always concerned about the space reduction in your install @Lenny HB so placing on top of the fins seemed ideal. But doh, looking yesterday I see why I cannot, our fridges are new (er) and do not have the top clearance which is a great shame as the logic of blowing down through the fins is insurmountable to my mind! So back to the Lenny plan A, did you have the fan sucking from the fins out or blowing from the fridge onto the fins?

 

[michndan]

Great idea have you got a link for the fans please?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Bear in mind the fans put out a small amount of heat. You might think it insignificant but when a coldroom or fridge goes down with the fans on it gets up to about 30°c.

IMHO your better off having the fridge colder at the bottom and warmer in the top for margerine etc. Also when you open the door the fan quickly sucks warm air in/blows cold air out. Each to their own though

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[dpsuk999]

The fins should separate from the pipe work fairly easy as the older the paste the more brittle it becomes, you may even find once you unscrew them, they just fall off.

Very easy task indeed

 

[sonar]

Mines a dometic. Hate them with a passion. But this has worked for near on 20 years and still works as it should so I have never seen a need for a fan.

could it be all the newer fridges are more efficient but get hotter .

 

[dpsuk999]

Not that I can remember, I certainly don’t remember any issues, the power wires simply passed through the same hole as the temp probe

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