|
|
04-23-2019, 03:20 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: 2010 17B “MATT”, then 2017 19 “Lilly”
Posts: 1,584
|
Refrigerator Drain P-Trap
I discovered something today that might help anyone who is trying eke better performance out of their refrigerator. The drain tube on our Dometic fridge does a loop-de-loop before being fastened down at the base of the refrigerator compartment. I didn’t think anything of this until today when I straightened it out (to run a wire for a new powered interior fridge fan I’m installing) and it dumped a bunch of water out of this loop. That’s when it occurred to me that this loop was acting just like a p-trap, creating a barrier to air exchange between inside and outside of fridge. Clever! This could easily evaporate over time though, so my thought was that it might not be a bad idea to pour a cup of water down the drain from inside the fridge at the beginning of the season, in order to ensure the air lock is there, for anyone looking to get max performance from their fridge. Assuming your drain line routing also has the same loop, of course. Easy to check from the exterior access hatch. Cheers!
__________________
💩-p+☕️+n
|
|
|
04-23-2019, 04:01 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
|
That drain should also fill every time your unit defrosts/sweats or sheds it's ice after use. How is the fan operating?
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
|
|
|
04-23-2019, 04:47 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,373
|
I used one of these fans in my 17V 5 cu ft refrigerator, as well as my 21, and in both cases, it works well at distributing the "cold" from the fins. Much better than the battery versions. If you dry camp, look for one that doesn't have lights...
|
|
|
04-23-2019, 11:22 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Westcliffe, Colorado
Trailer: 2010 EggCamper (#083); 2017 Escape 21 (#053); 2016 F-150 5.0L FX4
Posts: 1,765
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye
I used one of these fans in my 17V 5 cu ft refrigerator, as well as my 21, and in both cases, it works well at distributing the "cold" from the fins. Much better than the battery versions. If you dry camp, look for one that doesn't have lights...
|
Jon, I didn't see what fan you're talking about. Can you post again? Dale
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 04:56 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21'
Posts: 197
|
Interior fridge fan
We have an interior fridge fan for $24.50 CAD on our build sheet. Is that a new option not available in 2017 or 2018?
__________________
Bill and Brenda
2014 21',
2018 GMC Sierra with Max Tow Package
Nova Kool RFU6800
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 06:01 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
|
I believe the optional interior fan is one of these Camco battery operated fans. There are 12v permanent mount fans available, I have had mine for the last 3 Escapes, held in place by velcro and I just get new velcro from the manufacturer. Mine is like the second picture
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 06:24 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21'
Posts: 197
|
Glad I asked, glad you answered.
27% one star on Amazon.
Thanks again, Jim.
__________________
Bill and Brenda
2014 21',
2018 GMC Sierra with Max Tow Package
Nova Kool RFU6800
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 07:10 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lanesboro, MN, between Whalan and Fountain, Minnesota
Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ - (2018 Escape 5.0 sold)
Posts: 2,174
|
This is the Camco refrigerator fan we received from ETI when we picked up our 5.0 last October.
Trouble is, we already had one. We wanted a fan in the rear to help exhaust warm air out the top of the camper. Oh well.
Enjoy,
Perry
__________________
Those who know everything use pens. Intelligent people use pencils.
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 07:33 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
|
"Texas" fan option which I believe is no longer being offered. The newer refers do not need them supposedly.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 07:54 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,373
|
The fan on the right in Jim's photos is similar to the one I've used. There are a bunch of them sold on eBay.
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 08:07 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Westcliffe, Colorado
Trailer: 2010 EggCamper (#083); 2017 Escape 21 (#053); 2016 F-150 5.0L FX4
Posts: 1,765
|
The little blue box-shaped one on the left in Jim's post is the one ETI offered and we purchased with our camper in February 2017 for $21 CAD ($16 US at the time). It seems to help distribute cool air in the fridge faster during initial cool-down, and during meal prep when the fridge is opened more frequently, but it uses two "D" cell batteries that don't last long in the cold environment inside the fridge, and we haven't found any "D" sized lithium batteries. We plan to keep putting alkaline batteries in it and using it until we get something better. The little sliding on/off switch can be a bit finicky at times, but we always eventually get it working (so far).
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 08:17 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: 2010 17B “MATT”, then 2017 19 “Lilly”
Posts: 1,584
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by War Eagle
The little blue box-shaped one on the left in Jim's post is the one ETI offered and we purchased with our camper in February 2017 for $21 CAD ($16 US at the time). It seems to help distribute cool air in the fridge faster during initial cool-down, but it uses two "D" cell batteries that don't last long in the cold environment inside the fridge, and we haven't found any "D" sized lithium batteries. We plan to keep putting alkaline batteries in it and using it until we get something better.
|
I have the same one and the same concerns are what led me to a hard-wired option. This one was used/recommended by others so is what I’ve just put in:
https://rvcoolingunit.com/Dometic-Ev...-P5444060.aspx
Based on how much air it moves, I think it’s going to work *much* better than the little blue battery box. Construction looks good. Plus, the light is a nice bonus! And no more D cells. I did have to splice some wire onto the pigtail provided, however, as it was too short for the drain tube routing I used to get power. The clips that attach to the cooling fins hold tight. Hopefully I’ll never want or need to remove the unit. It won’t let go without a fight. Lastly, I was pleased at how low profile the unit is, at ~1/2” thick.
__________________
💩-p+☕️+n
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 09:04 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: 2010 17B “MATT”, then 2017 19 “Lilly”
Posts: 1,584
|
Here’s the pic of the hose and power setup for the fan. Also cross posting the pic, per request, on that other thread on self-inflicted electrical troubleshooting.
__________________
💩-p+☕️+n
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 10:16 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,146
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by War Eagle
Jon, I didn't see what fan you're talking about. Can you post again? Dale
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye
The fan on the right in Jim's photos is similar to the one I've used. There are a bunch of them sold on eBay.
|
From Jon's website I found a picture of the fans he used in both his trailers.
While Jon's comment about finding one without lights if you boondock may be important to some I wanted to point out that the unit from RV Cooling Warehouse is the one that Eric and I both used and it has two switches - one for the fans and one for the lights.
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...tml#post255330
https://rvcoolingunit.com/Dometic-Ev...-P5444060.aspx
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 10:41 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 2,720
|
And do the fans push air towards the fins or pull the air from the fins?
Do they stay on all the time, just when the door is open, only by manual switch or are temperature controlled?
And for those that have had them for a while...do you think it works well enough that you would do the same installation in your next trailer?
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 11:09 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
|
Mine mounts on the top and has rear facing fans that blow the air rearward and then down over the fins, moving it down to the refer bottom. The fans run continuously as they also prevent icing on the fins which can occur after days of use. I have kept mine from my last 2 Escapes and plan on using in the new one.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 11:34 AM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,146
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eggscape
And do the fans push air towards the fins or pull the air from the fins?
Do they stay on all the time, just when the door is open, only by manual switch or are temperature controlled?
And for those that have had them for a while...do you think it works well enough that you would do the same installation in your next trailer?
|
The fans are controlled by a manual switch so you turn them on and off as you please. I believe it does keep the fridge a more uniform temperature and it keeps the fins from icing up as quickly. For only $30 US and a simple wiring job I would definitely do it again.
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 12:15 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 2,720
|
Thanks guys.
I see another fridge mod blowing in.
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 07:23 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: North of Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2018 -21-picked up in May 2019 / 2018 F 150 5.0
Posts: 262
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sclifrickson
Here’s the pic of the hose and power setup for the fan. Also cross posting the pic, per request, on that other thread on self-inflicted electrical troubleshooting.
Attachment 38576
|
I can't tell by the picture, did you splice onto the existing wires or does it plug into the fridge connector?
|
|
|
04-24-2019, 11:18 PM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: 2010 17B “MATT”, then 2017 19 “Lilly”
Posts: 1,584
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by yangstyle
I can't tell by the picture, did you splice onto the existing wires or does it plug into the fridge connector?
|
The fan wires were inserted into the terminal block in addition to the other leads already there. I’d prefer replacing the terminal block with one that has more ports, or whatever the correct term is. The existing one has two each of positive and neutral, and there are a few more wires than that shoved in there, even before adding the fan. Each wire does pass the tug-to-pull-out test though.
__________________
💩-p+☕️+n
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|