Texas fan

[Vicki A.]

For all of you "in the know"... Does the Texas fan have a shut off switch or is it on a thermostat?
Headed out this AM on our maiden voyage and had an uh oh. I have had the fridge running several times at storage never a problem (except not cool enough), had it plugged in a home last night and this morning, everything running fine. I get to the camp ground and this awful sound was coming from the upper fridge vent area. I turned off the fridge, but the noise continued for at least 45 mins. I could hear the Tx fanning humming along and then for 5-10 seconds it sounded like an old squirrel cage fan gone wrong.
The noise seems to have stopped, so I will wait a bit and try again. Any ideas anybody?

Thanks all!

[padlin]

Mine has both. Reace tells me to leave the power on all the time and let the thermostat do it's thing.
If you think it's the fan making the noise, our on/off switch is inside the outside access cover.

[Vicki A.]

Thanks Bob!

[Vicki A.]

Turn the fridge back on a couple of hours later....yep, the Tx fan .
Turned that off and turn the fridge back on,will see what happens!

[Kountrykamper]

Not sure where Reace is mounting the fans but it's probably the plastic blades hitting the housing. Ours did the same thing the first time I turned it on and I was able to pull up in the blade slightly and slide the fan blade up just a hair on the motor shaft and give it clearance. If it's in the top of the fridge area the roof vent will have to be removed but if it's in the bottom you should be able to get to it.

[jamie beers]

I've never heard my Texas fan, but have been camping in 100 degree weather with fridge struggling. I never really checked things out at the time, but people seem to notice their Texas fans running. I suppose I should have heard it if it was running. Can everyone hear their fan? I think that in my trailer there's no switch, that the fan is thermostatically controlled to come on at 90 degrees or something like that?

[Kountrykamper]

There should be an on/off rocker switch in the outside lower vent area. It also has the thermodisc built into the fan that turns on at 100 and off at 80

[CADreamin]

Yes, we can hear the fan when it comes on (and off) and, no, I don't think there's a switch (I think someone on the forum said there used to be a switch but that there's isn't one in the newer builds ... not sure). My opinion is that if it's a fan that's meant to come on when the temp reaches "overload", then let it. I don't need to be mucking with the system so why bother with a switch.

[Kountrykamper]

The fans come with a switch so when they are banging at 3:00am you can turn them off. They are just a plastic fan that will bang someday.

Amazon.com: Valterra A10-2618VP FridgeCool 12 Volt Exhaust Fan: Automotive

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by CADreamin

Yes, we can hear the fan when it comes on (and off) and, no, I don't think there's a switch (I think someone on the forum said there used to be a switch but that there's isn't one in the newer builds ... not sure). My opinion is that if it's a fan that's meant to come on when the temp reaches "overload", then let it. I don't need to be mucking with the system so why bother with a switch.

I picked up a new 21 last week and it has a fan switch just inside the lower vent.

[CADreamin]

Will have to check as it's good to know where everything is. Thx.

[Vicki A.]

I will finally get a chance to look at the fan tomorrow and hopefully find out what is wrong.
Can anyone tell me how the top vent is removed, what kind of tools I would need? I would like to be able to take only half a tool box with me!

[Kountrykamper]

Originally Posted by Vicki A.

I will finally get a chance to look at the fan tomorrow and hopefully find out what is wrong.
Can anyone tell me how the top vent is removed, what kind of tools I would need? I would like to be able to take only half a tool box with me!

Vicki

You can remove the top cover fairly easy by removing the silicon caulk in the 4 screw holes then removing the 4 square drive screws. This will only allow you to view whats going on through the screening of the base. You will not be able to get to anything without removing the base which requires removing 8 rivets and the sealer around the base.

[Vicki A.]

Originally Posted by Kountrykamper

Vicki

You can remove the top cover fairly easy by removing the silicon caulk in the 4 screw holes then removing the 4 square drive screws. This will only allow you to view whats going on through the screening of the base. You will not be able to get to anything without removing the base which requires removing 8 rivets and the sealer around the base.

Thank you!

[Vicki A.]

Was able to get the cover off, there is nothing obvious going on. I turned the switch back on to see what it might do, but it is not warm enough right now to set the thermostat to go - guess we will be making another trip to the repair shop!

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by Vicki A.

Was able to get the cover off, there is nothing obvious going on. I turned the switch back on to see what it might do, but it is not warm enough right now to set the thermostat to go - guess we will be making another trip to the repair shop!

Try blowing up at the fins with a hair dryer on high..........

[Vicki A.]

Originally Posted by tractors1

Try blowing up at the fins with a hair dryer on high..........

That is a good idea Charlie! The biggest problem I have is also the smallest...even on an 8' ladder, at 5'1" , I can't get above the unit high enough to do anything! Now if I had someone holding the ladder I would be okay, but I am doing this alone... Twenty years ago I was 14' up on an extension ladder when it slipped, don't to try that again!

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by Vicki A.

That is a good idea Charlie! The biggest problem I have is also the smallest...even on an 8' ladder, at 5'1" , I can't get above the unit high enough to do anything! Now if I had someone holding the ladder I would be okay, but I am doing this alone... Twenty years ago I was 14' up on an extension ladder when it slipped, don't to try that again!

Not down from above, try blowing UP from the lower vent access. If you follow the wire from the switch up to where the sensor is, you might be able to heat it. If you can't get close enough tape a stick to the hair dryer to probe up there..........