12 volt fan to keep fridge cool

[vicki2062]

Hi, I was just wondering and after advise I have read that you can install a 12 volt computer  type fan to back of fridge to help it run cooler.  My question is where do you place fan at bottom drawing air in from outside or at top to push hot air out.  Any advise would be good as living in Queensland it is quiet hot and fridge temp climbs on hot days.  After that next thing is to put insulation around fridge sides.  Oh have a 1974 Franklin Arrow that I am doing up.  Thanks in advance.

[pisces51]

G'day vicki2062,
There is quite a lot of info scattered around the forum relating to improving the cooling of fridges. How successful you are will depend on the ambient temperature during the hottest days you are using your fridge. For starters, you can have a read of this thread, Venting 3way absorption fridge

2-way fridges (ie. 240v and gas) will be 1 to 2 degrees colder on gas than electricity for the same thermostat setting, because these fridges are more efficient when operated on gas.

In general, you are aiming to remove the hot air that accumulates around the fridge during the "heating" of the rear exchanger, so the best results will be gained by sucking the hot air away at the top of the fridge, rather than forcing cold air in at the bottom.

cheers,
Al.

[snoops]

Yep, as Al said, pushing the hot air out the top helps the best. I've trialed this on mine, but haven't put a permanant solution in yet. The first think I did was put a modern style vent in the top and bottom of the fridge area, and vent the exhaust outside - the Dometic vent kit allows for this, but you may have to make up a bit of pipe as it doesn't quite fit the earlier fridges. This isn't a huge job and on its own made a huge different to the fridges performance on its own. I trialled 2 computer fans up the top pushing the hot air out and this again improved things, but I haven't made a frame up for them yet.

I'll go find a pic of the venting - it's in my van thread. Back in a tick.

[snoops]

Ok, here's a pic of the vents I put in.



Page 4 of my thread - ditzygypsy.proboards.com/thread/2558/new-old-75-franklin?page=4&scrollTo=26879 has more details of the installation. I mounted the fans behind the top grill - with the cutout made for this grill, there is heaps of room above the fridge - right behind the sink - to put the fans.

My sink used to get very hot when running on gas, now it stays cool,mane the fridge works heaps better, but on days much above 30, the fridge still struggles.