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Topic ClosedFun with Fans and Fridges
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fwunder View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 Oct 2013
Location: New Jersey
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Posts: 1676 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Fun with Fans and Fridges
    Posted: 22 Aug 2018 at 11:26am
Hi Dave,

My mod was pretty simple. I tapped the DC power block @ the bottom of the fridge. I used enough wire and a couple of inline connectors so I could remove the top cover and lay on ground or disconnect easily If I wanted to. The fan has a switch on it and a 1 amp inline fuse. It was just something I had in my gadget box that I used a couple of wire ties to attach to grill. 





I also switched out the fan limit switch (thermo disc) with a lower temp one. The only wiring difference there was larger spade connectors.



Hope that helps.

fred
2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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Subzilla View Drop Down
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Posts: 302 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2018 at 12:30pm
Ditto to tapping into the power block.  These fans don't pull much power so I just wired them all together (upper fans and lower fans) plus threw on an in-line fuse close to the power block tap.  I actually replaced the factory temp sensor with one from one of the websites that is suppose to be better.....not so sure....once on, it stays on all of the time and never seems to shut down...hence my switch install.  Adjustable ones exist out there....  
  https://rvcoolingunit.com/-Improve-your-Cooling-Performance-items-C320215.aspx?sid=298

This website also has a similar baffle I made and added.  
Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4
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Wood River Pod View Drop Down
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Posts: 153 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2018 at 9:40pm
Mark, 
Would you please post some pics of your fan (in & out) mod along with your "channel" to route the air though the fins.  I and I'm sure others would be most appreciative.  
Thanks
Jeff
Smith's in Hailey
Early 2017 179 HRE

Wood River Mods
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DavMar View Drop Down
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Posts: 592 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2018 at 10:21pm

Hey Fred,

When I saw your photo where you tapped in for voltage for you fan I had to just smack my forehead and go dahhh, along with how stupid can I be! But thanks so much for sharing the photo!

Hi Mark,

So, you too also wired all your air intake fans and exhaust fans from the same point that Fred did?

Guys, please understand I’m just trying to help understand how you made your modifications not only for myself but anyone else who maybe interested on improving the refrigerator cooling.

Fred,

As for the fans inside the refrigerator did you wire directly to the interior light and if so do you have a photo or can describe how you wired these fans?

Did you both or anyone else know that with at least in the Dometic RM 8501 model if you converter dies then you loose all control over switching your refrigerator over to gas or battery power? Sad but true since there is no battery back up that powers the refrigerator controller board which allows you to switch. I contacted Dometic about this and they said this model has no battery backup control despite their own parts diagram showing this battery backup in their schematic, so all I can say is go figure?

All in all very interesting guys and thanks for sharing your information on these modifications.  

 

 

 
Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the
wonder dog.
2017 Rpod 180
2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4
Lexington, NC
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fwunder View Drop Down
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Posts: 1676 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Sep 2018 at 1:06pm
I wanted to follow up on my latest mod for this cooling thing.

I bought this little gizmo:




The probe fits nice and snugly under the new 50 degree celsius switch (122 fahrenheit) .



The thermostat is wired to exhaust fans with start temp set to 45 degrees C and stop set to 35 degrees C. I did test the thermostat calibrating it against my Thermopen. It seems very accurate. I added a simple push-button switch to power off the thermostat and fused the power feed with an inline spade fuse. I used spade connectors on everything so I could easily disassemble and/or try the thermostat with upper or lower fan. 

First impressions (in driveway):

Both fans start at their set temperature and stop at their set temperature. With outside temp at 85-90, slide in, four bars on panel and empty fridge/freezer - no problem maintaining 0-5 F in freezer and 36-38 F in fridge. The fans definitely make a huge difference. It's going to take some more playing around to determine optimal cut in/cut out temps for either fan. Since I'm just testing in the driveway at the moment I can't really say if the fans are cycling at all. Monitoring as much as possible, it seems the tube temp does not drop to cut out temps (35 C). We will be camping soon, so I should be able monitor closer. My gut feeling is that the fixed thermal switch @ 50 C (122) is a bit lower than it needs to be. The stock thermal switch is 70 C (158) seems too high. Somewhere in between is probably optimal. I may just end up wiring both fans to same thermostat. We'll see.

Happy Labor Day!

fred
2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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DavMar View Drop Down
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Posts: 592 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2018 at 4:14pm
Originally posted by fwunder

I wanted to follow up on my latest mod for this cooling thing.

I bought this little gizmo:

 I may just end up wiring both fans to same thermostat. We'll see.

Happy Labor Day!

fred


I'm impressed and intrigued! Fred, please let us know how all your Labor Day testing went and how your experiments are turning out. Hopefully the end result of all your work will be a separate tutorial for others like myself to follow.
Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the
wonder dog.
2017 Rpod 180
2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4
Lexington, NC
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backin15 View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Feb 2017
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Posts: 65 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Sep 2018 at 9:48pm
Which taps on the power block would I connect to if I wanted the auxiliary fans to come on with the main fan?
2015 179
2013 Xterra Pro 4X
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