We will be on the road most of next with a reasonable period of time in Qld. One of the issues that I have seen posted is the ability for absorption type fridges to work efficently in the tropics. I guess it boils down to the fridges ability to move the heat from the rear of the fridge beit heat generated by the fridge it's self or the actual ambient air temp. One idea I was thinking about is to instal a fan ( may be something like a computer fan) above or below) the fridge to help move the air away from the fridge and hence allow it to work better in those temps. I guess one added function is to have the fan operate from a thermostate so that it only comes into play when needed. So there you go, any comments, advice on this idea or the topic generally would be most helpful.
Regards
briche
Vic said
12:59 PM Dec 21, 2011
Hi Briche,
I had one of those solar type ones from a caravan supplies place (can't think of the name of them, about $60-70.
I fitted it under the fins blowing upwards by first screwing it onto a thin board and then attaching the board to the back of the fridge with liquid nails just under the fins (was still secure when I sold the van 7 years later).
It was solar powered and had a small solar panel with a lead which could be unplugged from a leader cable which I fed out from my bottom fridge vent, with the connection just showing.
The rest of the thin lead (long) went to the small solar panel which I attached to another small think board with anti slip on the back so as not to damage the van surface and a small eye hook at the end of the board if I wanted to hang it from something.
Mostly I just moved the board somewhere on the surface of the van to follow the sun. Worked very well including Darwin and Derby in the humidity etc.
This is the same or similar to the one I had, there is a protective cowling around the fan blade, hard to see on this link;
-- Edited by Vic on Wednesday 21st of December 2011 01:18:09 PM
briche said
09:23 PM Dec 21, 2011
Hi Vic, thanks for the info. Had a look at the link and it looks pretty easy to understand. I'll follow it up and see how it goes.
justcruisin01 said
10:08 PM Dec 21, 2011
I have fitted two small computor fans to the inside of the top vent behind
the fridge, easy fitted with small cable ties. As heat rises I have fitted them to blow the hot air out through the vent. These are wired to the house battery via a toggle switch mounted in a cupboard . At this point in time it has not seen extreme heat to see the effect.
Two smaller fans are less noisy than one large, can barley hear these, just turn on when needed.
Cupie said
10:21 PM Dec 21, 2011
You might like to have a look at "tech info" on this site.
http://www.fridge-and-solar.net/find.htm
jimricho said
07:19 AM Dec 22, 2011
justcruisin01 wrote:
I have fitted two small computor fans to the inside of the top vent behind
the fridge, easy fitted with small cable ties. As heat rises I have fitted them to blow the hot air out through the vent. These are wired to the house battery via a toggle switch mounted in a cupboard . At this point in time it has not seen extreme heat to see the effect.
Two smaller fans are less noisy than one large, can barley hear these, just turn on when needed.
I have a single larger fan fitted and I'm thinking of replacing it with smaller fans as you have done and for the same reason. I haven't bothered with a thermostat, just a toggle switch like yours, but I can switch it to run from the tug's supply to the fridge when towing.
I feel that it does help a bit and perhaps a little more so if switched on early when hot conditions are anticipated.
PS: I had one of the solar units fitted but the little solar panel "carked it" and I haven't bothered to replace it, suspect water ingress. I glued a flat plastic block (thick plywood would be just as good) to the back of the fridge to support it, similar to Vic's installation. "One of these light-years" I may do something about getting it back into service.
-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 07:31:13 AM
Cupie said
10:11 AM Dec 22, 2011
I have done the following to improve fridge performance in hot weather
- Installed 2 x computer fans at the top to suck the hot air out. Controlled by an illumating switch .... using the house battery.
- ensured that there is no gap in the insulation surrounding the rear of the fridge cabinet. So that hot air can not gather there.
- made a curved duct across the rear top to help channel the hot air out of the top vent.
- Fitted baffles as described in the venting fridge article in the web site included in my previous post.
- fill any spare space in the fridge & freezer compartment with frozen water filled milk bottles or part filled wine cask bladders, or rolls of bubble wrap. I refreeze the water containers in camp kitchen freezers..
- Whenever we stop for a bit eg. getting ready to depart/ Morning tea/ lunch/ setting up at a CP, I turn the fridge to gas.
- Move all the important stuff like white wine & beer into the Engel in the tug.
- face the fridge side of the van towards the south when ever possible. Sometimes even shade that side with some shade cloth.
Don't know if this helps but it makes me feel as though I have done everything that I can to make it work better.
I have given up trying to educate SWMBO on the importance of leaving the fridge door open for the absolute minimum of time.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 10:13:33 AM
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 10:14:40 AM
briche said
10:30 AM Dec 22, 2011
Thank you one and all. I see a bit of a common thread (sorry) emerging here so will take it all on board. Like the idea of the two computer fans behind the exhaust vent, sound like the easiest way to go as well as not having to get behind the fridge. We had an extra intake vent installed a while back when the 240 volt heater carked it to get access to the heater. As a result the fridge worked a little better I guess because there's more air getting to the fridge. Anyway thank you for your help. It is this sort of support that I love and being part of it is a joy. Happy Christmas to you all from Brian and Cheryl.
briche said
10:40 PM Apr 24, 2012
Hi guys, just to let you know I fitted two 80 mm fans to our 3 way fridge and fixed the hassles of operation in hot weather. Thanks for the advice. We are currently at the standown recreation park but will be moving further north as of Thursday. Thanks once again
Regards
Brian
Hi Briche,
I had one of those solar type ones from a caravan supplies place (can't think of the name of them, about $60-70.
I fitted it under the fins blowing upwards by first screwing it onto a thin board and then attaching the board to the back of the fridge with liquid nails just under the fins (was still secure when I sold the van 7 years later).
It was solar powered and had a small solar panel with a lead which could be unplugged from a leader cable which I fed out from my bottom fridge vent, with the connection just showing.
The rest of the thin lead (long) went to the small solar panel which I attached to another small think board with anti slip on the back so as not to damage the van surface and a small eye hook at the end of the board if I wanted to hang it from something.
Mostly I just moved the board somewhere on the surface of the van to follow the sun. Worked very well including Darwin and Derby in the humidity etc.
This is the same or similar to the one I had, there is a protective cowling around the fan blade, hard to see on this link;
http://www.caravanshop.com.au/?Nav=Pdt&category_id=12&sub_category_id=150
-- Edited by Vic on Wednesday 21st of December 2011 01:18:09 PM
I have fitted two small computor fans to the inside of the top vent behind
the fridge, easy fitted with small cable ties. As heat rises I have fitted them to blow the hot air out through the vent. These are wired to the house battery via a toggle switch mounted in a cupboard . At this point in time it has not seen extreme heat to see the effect.
Two smaller fans are less noisy than one large, can barley hear these, just turn on when needed.
You might like to have a look at "tech info" on this site.
http://www.fridge-and-solar.net/find.htm
I have a single larger fan fitted and I'm thinking of replacing it with smaller fans as you have done and for the same reason. I haven't bothered with a thermostat, just a toggle switch like yours, but I can switch it to run from the tug's supply to the fridge when towing.
I feel that it does help a bit and perhaps a little more so if switched on early when hot conditions are anticipated.
PS: I had one of the solar units fitted but the little solar panel "carked it" and I haven't bothered to replace it, suspect water ingress. I glued a flat plastic block (thick plywood would be just as good) to the back of the fridge to support it, similar to Vic's installation. "One of these light-years" I may do something about getting it back into service.
-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 07:31:13 AM
I have done the following to improve fridge performance in hot weather
- Installed 2 x computer fans at the top to suck the hot air out. Controlled by an illumating switch .... using the house battery.
- ensured that there is no gap in the insulation surrounding the rear of the fridge cabinet. So that hot air can not gather there.
- made a curved duct across the rear top to help channel the hot air out of the top vent.
- Fitted baffles as described in the venting fridge article in the web site included in my previous post.
- fill any spare space in the fridge & freezer compartment with frozen water filled milk bottles or part filled wine cask bladders, or rolls of bubble wrap. I refreeze the water containers in camp kitchen freezers..
- Whenever we stop for a bit eg. getting ready to depart/ Morning tea/ lunch/ setting up at a CP, I turn the fridge to gas.
- Move all the important stuff like white wine & beer into the Engel in the tug.
- face the fridge side of the van towards the south when ever possible. Sometimes even shade that side with some shade cloth.
Don't know if this helps but it makes me feel as though I have done everything that I can to make it work better.
I have given up trying to educate SWMBO on the importance of leaving the fridge door open for the absolute minimum of time.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 10:13:33 AM
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 22nd of December 2011 10:14:40 AM