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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> fridge temp?
Post Info TOPIC: fridge temp?
mesquite47


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fridge temp?
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the fridge in the 5er is cooling ok but not as cold as S&B fridge I have noticed advertisements for a small circulating fan you can but inside. Has anyone used these or just a gadget. I like my milk really cold. any suggestions?



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Jack Mayer


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The fan will help.

If you have an older model fridge most don't get as cold as a residential refigerator. However, my new (2010) 4-door Dometic cools VERY well. I keep the fridge at 35 and it stays there....nice and cold. And ice creme is actually rock hard.

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Bill Adams


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Those circulating fans are going to do little or nothing to get the fridge cooler but there is a slight chance that you might be able to keep a more even temperature throughout. A fridge needs to cool to at least 41 degrees for safe food storage so check what actual temps you are getting. Some users find better success adding a fan or 2 to the outside cooling coils (at the top blowing up) to keep the air in the dead space moving.

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Laura and Bunk


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One of the first things I bought while checking my new/old toy out is fridge/freezer thermometers (mine is 4door so I bought 2 to switch around) and oven thermometer just like I use at home to check for optiimum temps. Saves a lot of guesswork.



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NorCal Dan


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A couple things you can do...one is to make sure the fridge side of the coach is not in direct sunlight. You can also move the thermister on the fins to make it colder.

If you have the temp setting as low as it will go and the fridge is not cold enough I think I would have it checked. In the 2 rigs we've owned I could freeze the fridge section if I set the temp too low.


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Dr_Snooz


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I have really good luck opening my outside cover and placing a small clip-on fan to blow air up the stovepipe. After about a day, I have to turn the thermostat up a notch. More permanent solutions involve mounting a special 12v fan in the pipe to come on whenever the fridge is on. I have some old computer case fans I'll be rigging up for that when I get a chance. 



-- Edited by Dr_Snooz on Sunday 24th of July 2011 11:42:39 PM

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Sushidog


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In an evaporation type refrigerator, the difference in temperature between the evaporator coil and the condenser is what makes the refrigerant (basically ammonia) circulate. This is why heat is applied to the evaporator side. Placing your cooling fan at the bottom is not nearly as efficient as placing it to exhaust by the top condenser coil. To improve your fridge's efficiency, it helps to keep the overall temp below 100 degrees in the back of the fridge, by keeping air circulating in the natural convection pattern. I replaced the single, noisy (45db) stock fan with much quieter, high-tech, fluid bearing dual fans that together move more air than the single, original fan.

The original fan had a thermo switch (called a fan limit switch) designed to come on at around 100 degrees F and go off around 90 degrees. The Dometic part # for the fan limit switch is 3104723.006. The part # for the whole Dometic power ventilator assy is 3108705.751. There is a rocker switch inside the camper too. Be sure to fuse the fans, just to be safe.

This is my old set-up:
http://i51.tinypic.com/1ympn5.jpg

After about 3 years the rubber mountings decomposed and failed due to heat and vibration, so I replaced them with a pair of solid mounted fans. They draw air across the entire condenser coil, rather than just part of it. These new fans have 3 speeds, so in hot weather I can turn them up for better cooling and when it's cooler turn them down for less current draw and noise (25-30db).

Here's a link to my new Antec TriCool fans: http://www.coolerguys.com/840556093114.html

And a pic: 
http://i55.tinypic.com/2epqa0w.jpg

The stock fan moved 88cfm, whereas the pair of new fans push 78cfm on low, 112cfm on medium and 158cfm on high. On medium, together they draw .03amp less than the single stock fan yet move more air. Perfect for boondocking with a single battery as I have.

I also mounted a small 25mm, 12v fan inside the fridge to circulate a little air over the inside cooling fins. It takes up less space than the little blue battery powered fan I once used and the batteries won't wear out at the worse possible time. It's wired to a rocker switch inside so I can still turn it on and off on demand (together with the outside fans.)

Here's a pic of the inside fan:
http://i53.tinypic.com/io3vr9.jpg

They both work great together. My fridge/freezer will keep meat, fish and ice cream frozen hard in the hottest weather set on 3-4. In the heat of summer, my milk will ice up in the fridge when set on 4. I've never had to turn it to 5.

Chip



-- Edited by Sushidog on Tuesday 26th of July 2011 08:30:11 PM

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