FRIDGE INSULATION; ( RE- VISIT TO AN EARLIER TOPIC)
AL H said
11:03 PM Apr 2, 2013
Good to hear JC.
I have since- fitted insulwool around the fridge. I cut in louvres/vents HIGHER than the fridge instead of level with the top of the fridge. Made and fitted a chimney on top of the fridge cabinet to exhaust out the new vents.
Extended the flue above the burner to reach the vent.
Insulated the new flue extension.
Fitted more insulation either side of the area at the back of the fridge to reduce area so it creates a better draft.
Reduced the area at the back of the fridge to add to the draft through the condenser with polystyrene.
The polystyrene will help reduce the sun causing heat radiation through the side of the van.
Currently one fan above the flue side (works a treat!)
The panel on the side of the van covering the fridge was louvred all the way the up. I blocked the middle section so there was a top and bottom exit and entry.
I'm yet to do this but i will be doing definitely is fill the wall cavity's around the fridge region with the pressure pack spacesaver product to reduce the heat penetrated by the sun. I purchased those $4 digital aquarium thermometers off Ebay and the difference in temp the sun made in this area behind the fridge was quite substantial. I ran four of the thermometers throughout and it was quite interesting. Inside van temps will effect the fridge also even with insulation fitted.
So far the mods have been very well worth the effort.
Al.
-- Edited by AL H on Tuesday 2nd of April 2013 11:05:10 PM
-- Edited by AL H on Tuesday 2nd of April 2013 11:06:34 PM
Many may remember a couple of months back we had a thread on fridge problems by Blaze; out of that came the link to Waeco recomended instalation system.
This was closed due to the attacks of a certain person , now not here. enough on that.
Some may remember that I done the installation as recommended & offered the test results to those who wanted it, to which I supplied to about 30 members.
This test was done at home as stated, now we are on the road again & the real tests are now happening.
We have just been parked up for nine days in full sun, fridge running on gas.
To date the results are more than pleasing, & convinced that the failure by caravan /motor home builders to fit the insulating material as recomended is the missing link in the chain & this is the reason for so many fridges not working as they should.
During the nine day stay with day temps around 30deg, & fridge thermostate left where we ran it before it has been comming down to minus 3 to 4 deg of a night & holding on the minus side of zero until lunch time.
During the arvo the sun was on the fridge side of van & temps only rose to plus 3 to 4 deg. This was without running the heat extraction fans. Yesterday was a little cooler day & fridge remained in the minus figures all day. There are a couple of other members that have now done the same due to my experiment & supply of info & having very good results.
For something that I was told had nothing to do with the problems & was impossibile to do by this person I now have a unit that is working very well, material cost me nothing & only took an hour to do.
What else can I say but i'm impressed. .
JC.
jules47 said
04:07 AM Apr 3, 2013
Glad to see you vindicated JC - and also to see you back on the road - where are you guys headed? We are meandering up the East Coast.
justcruisin01 said
04:40 AM Apr 3, 2013
jules47 wrote:
Glad to see you vindicated JC - and also to see you back on the road - where are you guys headed? We are meandering up the East Coast.
Just left Hartwood festival, will be at the G/coast again with family at the end of the month for a few days, then head north for a few weeks & then back to the coast for third grand child. Maybe flip a coin after that.
JC.
Pete49 said
06:28 AM Apr 3, 2013
Al H be careful with the pressure pack stuff it can bulge out the panelling..saw it happen on a friends van. I used polystyrene on both sides and top of my fridge and changed the venting louvres as you did. Also put this system in http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=9173 and found I didn't need a fan to help venting. Makes you wonder how smart the builders aren't just a little thought and we wouldn't have to do it ourselves.
Pete
AL H said
03:45 PM Apr 3, 2013
Pete49 wrote:
Al H be careful with the pressure pack stuff it can bulge out the panelling..saw it happen on a friends van. I used polystyrene on both sides and top of my fridge and changed the venting louvres as you did. Also put this system in http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=9173 and found I didn't need a fan to help venting. Makes you wonder how smart the builders aren't just a little thought and we wouldn't have to do it ourselves.
Pete
Thanks Pete for the advice on the pressurepack stuff. I'll have to find an alternative as I have to get around framing etc in some places.
My flue extension works similar to the kit you provided the link to. I made it out of an old tent pole, then insulated around the flue extension. Admittedly mine doesn't exit to the outside, but just at the fan.
Al.
glassies said
02:33 AM Apr 4, 2013
stop makin me jelous jc and leonie ,grrr on you, but you know you had better let us know if you are stopping in this area or even up the back lol,have a great time travelling and hear from you soon or else """"""
justcruisin01 said
03:54 AM Apr 4, 2013
glassies wrote:
stop makin me jelous jc and leonie ,grrr on you, but you know you had better let us know if you are stopping in this area or even up the back lol,have a great time travelling and hear from you soon or else """"""
HA HA, can I try the (or else) might be nice, LOL
Posibily up your way again in May. Will keep you posted.
JC.
hako said
04:37 AM Apr 4, 2013
Thanks JC - have insulated side of fridge with insulwool on your advice. Fan comes next. Recently had 3 weeks away with fridge temps very stable on 12V and 240V. Previously we've had lettuce at the back of the fridge freeze but not anymore maybe because it doesn't need to work so hard? Haven't tried the gas yet. Regards Denis
briche said
05:17 AM Apr 4, 2013
Hi Jim, great to see you on the site again. Must admit we have not been all that active ourselves as we have been fairly busy with my daughter who has moved house with the usual work to be done. We are getting ready to leave for SA in a about 10 days so we have been gettIng the rig ready for the road.
Changing subject, well done with the results of your tests, etc just goes to show quite often it's the simple fix that does the job.
On this same subject, I wonder if you could resend me via email the mods, etc so I can perform them on our fridge. For some reason I don't seem to know where I have saved them so I need .for you to serend them if you don't mind.
Trust all is well with you guys and noted that you are on the road again. How long are you likely to be out there ?
Looks like an addition to the family is on the way, trust all goes well in that area. We are intending to head into NSW after we leave SA to catch up with one of Cheryl's sisters in Suffok Park before we head back to Melb so we will drop in and say hello if you are going to be home about about late Nov/ early Dec, we see how it all pans out.
Take care out there and we will try and we will try and do the same.
Regards to you both
Brian and Cheryl
Beth54 said
07:47 PM Apr 5, 2013
Don't forget I'm 'just up the road' from the Gold Coast, and would love to meet you and Leonie again for a cuppa and a chat.
I'm not going anywhere for the time being. Too many hospital appointments coming up.
I'm also pleased that you were vindicated.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Friday 5th of April 2013 07:47:44 PM
justcruisin01 said
02:28 AM Apr 6, 2013
Thanks Brain, all going well here. Dont know how long we will be away, just take it as it comes but will be home later in the year.
I will email you the details soon, I'm on the wrong PC to do it tonight as this one does not have it stored, need toget back on my own pc.
Good to hear JC.
I have since-
fitted insulwool around the fridge.
I cut in louvres/vents HIGHER than the fridge instead of level with the top of the fridge.
Made and fitted a chimney on top of the fridge cabinet to exhaust out the new vents.
Extended the flue above the burner to reach the vent.
Insulated the new flue extension.
Fitted more insulation either side of the area at the back of the fridge to reduce area so it creates a better draft.
Reduced the area at the back of the fridge to add to the draft through the condenser with polystyrene.
The polystyrene will help reduce the sun causing heat radiation through the side of the van.
Currently one fan above the flue side (works a treat!)
The panel on the side of the van covering the fridge was louvred all the way the up. I blocked the middle section so there was a top and bottom exit and entry.
I'm yet to do this but i will be doing definitely is fill the wall cavity's around the fridge region with the pressure pack spacesaver product to reduce the heat penetrated by the sun. I purchased those $4 digital aquarium thermometers off Ebay and the difference in temp the sun made in this area behind the fridge was quite substantial. I ran four of the thermometers throughout and it was quite interesting. Inside van temps will effect the fridge also even with insulation fitted.
So far the mods have been very well worth the effort.
Al.
-- Edited by AL H on Tuesday 2nd of April 2013 11:05:10 PM
-- Edited by AL H on Tuesday 2nd of April 2013 11:06:34 PM
Many may remember a couple of months back we had a thread on fridge problems by Blaze; out of that came the link to Waeco recomended instalation system.
This was closed due to the attacks of a certain person , now not here. enough on that.
Some may remember that I done the installation as recommended & offered the test results to those who wanted it, to which I supplied to about 30 members.
This test was done at home as stated, now we are on the road again & the real tests are now happening.
We have just been parked up for nine days in full sun, fridge running on gas.
To date the results are more than pleasing, & convinced that the failure by caravan /motor home builders to fit the insulating material as recomended is the missing link in the chain & this is the reason for so many fridges not working as they should.
During the nine day stay with day temps around 30deg, & fridge thermostate left where we ran it before it has been comming down to minus 3 to 4 deg of a night & holding on the minus side of zero until lunch time.
During the arvo the sun was on the fridge side of van & temps only rose to plus 3 to 4 deg. This was without running the heat extraction fans. Yesterday was a little cooler day & fridge remained in the minus figures all day. There are a couple of other members that have now done the same due to my experiment & supply of info & having very good results.
For something that I was told had nothing to do with the problems & was impossibile to do by this person I now have a unit that is working very well, material cost me nothing & only took an hour to do.
What else can I say but i'm impressed.
.
JC.
Just left Hartwood festival, will be at the G/coast again with family at the end of the month for a few days, then head north for a few weeks & then back to the coast for third grand child. Maybe flip a coin after that.
JC.
Al H be careful with the pressure pack stuff it can bulge out the panelling..saw it happen on a friends van. I used polystyrene on both sides and top of my fridge and changed the venting louvres as you did. Also put this system in http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=9173 and found I didn't need a fan to help venting. Makes you wonder how smart the builders aren't just a little thought and we wouldn't have to do it ourselves.
Pete
Thanks Pete for the advice on the pressurepack stuff. I'll have to find an alternative as I have to get around framing etc in some places.
My flue extension works similar to the kit you provided the link to. I made it out of an old tent pole, then insulated around the flue extension. Admittedly mine doesn't exit to the outside, but just at the fan.
Al.
in this area or even up the back lol,have a great time travelling and hear from you soon or else """"""
HA HA, can I try the (or else) might be nice, LOL
Posibily up your way again in May. Will keep you posted.
JC.
Regards
Denis
Hi Jim, great to see you on the site again. Must admit we have not been all that active ourselves as we have been fairly busy with my daughter who has moved house with the usual work to be done. We are getting ready to leave for SA in a about 10 days so we have been gettIng the rig ready for the road.
Changing subject, well done with the results of your tests, etc just goes to show quite often it's the simple fix that does the job.
On this same subject, I wonder if you could resend me via email the mods, etc so I can perform them on our fridge. For some reason I don't seem to know where I have saved them so I need .for you to serend them if you don't mind.
Trust all is well with you guys and noted that you are on the road again. How long are you likely to be out there ?
Looks like an addition to the family is on the way, trust all goes well in that area. We are intending to head into NSW after we leave SA to catch up with one of Cheryl's sisters in Suffok Park before we head back to Melb so we will drop in and say hello if you are going to be home about about late Nov/ early Dec, we see how it all pans out.
Take care out there and we will try and we will try and do the same.
Regards to you both
Brian and Cheryl
Don't forget I'm 'just up the road' from the Gold Coast, and would love to meet you and Leonie again for a cuppa and a chat.
I'm not going anywhere for the time being. Too many hospital appointments coming up.
I'm also pleased that you were vindicated.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Friday 5th of April 2013 07:47:44 PM
Thanks Brain, all going well here. Dont know how long we will be away, just take it as it comes but will be home later in the year.
I will email you the details soon, I'm on the wrong PC to do it tonight as this one does not have it stored, need toget back on my own pc.
Al
JC