No fridge fan

[Tom&Joan]

I was curious about the optional fridge fan in our used 2017 5.0 TA. It is one of the options ordered by the original purchaser and is on the build sheet. I think it was a $175 option. Specifically, I wondered what temp value the thermistor was. So I removed the shroud on top of the trailer (maybe more on that later) to find no thermistor or fan. Just the wires from the switch (I assume). The wires which were bluntly cut off came through the plywood toward the top of the refrigerator. I would have expected them to come up vertically from the bottom of the unit. The switch to enable the fan is at the bottom and accessible by removing the vented outside cover and has a label "Refrigerator ventilator fan switch".

There is no indication of a fan ever being installed, and the shroud had never been removed. So the original purchaser did not get what he paid for. I do wonder what an installed fan looks like, and if anyone has a pic I would appreciate seeing it!

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by Tom&Joan

I was curious about the optional fridge fan in our used 2017 5.0 TA. It is one of the options ordered by the original purchaser and is on the build sheet. I think it was a $175 option. Specifically, I wondered what temp value the thermistor was. So I removed the shroud on top of the trailer (maybe more on that later) to find no thermistor or fan. Just the wires from the switch (I assume). The wires which were bluntly cut off came through the plywood toward the top of the refrigerator. I would have expected them to come up vertically from the bottom of the unit. The switch to enable the fan is at the bottom and accessible by removing the vented outside cover and has a label "Refrigerator ventilator fan switch".

There is no indication of a fan ever being installed, and the shroud had never been removed. So the original purchaser did not get what he paid for. I do wonder what an installed fan looks like, and if anyone has a pic I would appreciate seeing it!

From my experience the dometic refrigerator fan is a 12 VDC computer/ muffin fan
The fan is controlled by a klikon fixed temperature thermostat mounted on the refrigerator coils.
Did you remove the lower plastic refrigerator vent cover and look there ?
Usually the fan is located in the lower outside refrigerator compartment
The dometic fan kit comes with a fan , a switch , a fuse holder , switch plate and about 6 ft of wire

[padlin]

On mine, the fan is on the back of the fridge not up the chimney.

[Tom&Joan]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

From my experience the dometic refrigerator fan is a 12 VDC computer/ muffin fan
The fan is controlled by a klikon fixed temperature thermostat mounted on the refrigerator coils.
Did you remove the lower plastic refrigerator vent cover and look there ?
Usually the fan is located in the lower outside refrigerator compartment
The dometic fan kit comes with a fan , a switch , a fuse holder , switch plate and about 6 ft of wire

Steve, That was a fast response! Yes, as I explained, but maybe not well enough, the switch is in the lower compartment. The switched wire from the switch goes up through the compartment toward the condenser coils. The fan is not in the lower compartment. It is typical for a fan (especially in a unit with a slide to be mounted topside where it is most effective). So I assumed all auxillary fans were located similarly, no matter the trailer design. In any case, I see no fan bottom or top but do have wires not connected to anything!

[Tom&Joan]

Originally Posted by padlin

On mine, the fan is on the back of the fridge not up the chimney.

Bob, Thanks for the response. See my response to Steve.

Tom

[Ron in BC]

Ditto, clearly visible to the right of the gas valve.

Ron

[Tom&Joan]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Ditto, clearly visible to the right of the gas valve.

Ron

Ron. Thanks for the pic, but not there! I did find it however, it is halfway up the cavity and very hard to spot. By removing the plate with the schematic I was able to get my head close enough that I could see the edge of the fan blades. If it ever went bad I suspect the fridge would have to be pulled to replace it. An easier fix would be to put it topside where it would be easy to install as there is lots of room up there and would be just as effective. A duo would fit as well. Our fan may never turn on, as the fridge worked great at 90* outside temp. I had not yet found the switch, until after that, and it was off.

I did have a good bit of difficulty when I removed the shroud on top however. The pockets for the screws are deep in the shroud and were filled with Dicor. I could not get the Robertson screwdriver in the head of two of the screws. I finally heated the tip of the screwdriver with a propane torch. Bingo, the screwdriver engaged right away. I had previously drilled out all the Dicor I could without damaging the screw.

The unused wires I found I suspect have to do with 12V operation which our unit does not have. Anyway, I did find another problem. The condensate train tube was too close to a hot component and was melted in two and fused shut. I spliced in a piece of tygon tubing I found in one of the compartments! All is well.

[Ron in BC]

The Dicor was a bit of a nuisance but probably an improvement on the silicone used on my previous 2014 19. It obviously shrunk after curing and didn't seal very well which caused rust and the water to leak down inside.

On my 21 I had Dicor also but managed to hack it out and got to the screws OK.

My view is that the fan location in my 19 was a good location. I'd rather take cooler air near the intake and blow it over the condenser. Glad to hear your fridge is working well.

Ron

[Tom&Joan]

Ron, I can't imagine how you coaxed the Dicor out so it was intact. Good for you. I guess this thread has run it's course!
Tom

[padlin]

I think that's the silicone, or maybe Proflex, it comes out as a plug with a little digging.

[Ron in BC]

You're right, it was silicone and a good example of why not to use it. I put a scriber in it and lifted it out, no adhesion at all.

Ron

[PleinAirCedar]

I just bought a small battery powered fridge fan. It works well and for 4 days without needing another battery, that is the longest I've used it.
https://smile.amazon.com/Camco-Fridg...0538058&sr=8-1

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by PleinAirCedar

I just bought a small battery powered fridge fan. It works well and for 4 days without needing another battery, that is the longest I've used it.
https://smile.amazon.com/Camco-Fridg...0538058&sr=8-1

Any air movement inside will help the cooling.......

[amirie]

Originally Posted by PleinAirCedar

I just bought a small battery powered fridge fan. It works well and for 4 days without needing another battery, that is the longest I've used it.
https://smile.amazon.com/Camco-Fridg...0538058&sr=8-1

I have had the same one for years, the batteries actually last quite a long time....no more frozen lettuce

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by amirie

I have had the same one for years, the batteries actually last quite a long time....no more frozen lettuce

How many batteries and what size? I can't find that info the product page linked.

[PleinAirCedar]

2 D cell batteries and I think the unit was $20

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by PleinAirCedar

2 D cell batteries and I think the unit was $20

Under product details it claims it is 50 Volts.
That would a lot of D cells.
They don't have any anyway.

[cpaharley2008]

After using the small "D" sized battery operated fans for years, I now install a permanent 12v fan set up like this one, I run the wire down the condensate drain and there are 12v sources in the back of the refer.......some even have a light........
https://www.amazon.com/DutchAire-RV-...gerator&sr=8-4