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Lily&Me · 07-08-2013, 07:37 AM

My concern about a box or something over that exterior area is the drag from the wind. ?? Would it even stay on?

The current cover is flush with the driver's side of the Interstate.

Maggie

jdalrymple · 07-08-2013, 07:41 AM

After finding all manner of dirt and traces of water behind our refrigerator I purchased a washable, permanent air filter from Lowe's and cut it to fit the louvered access door.

It helps a bunch. The louvers do well keeping water out when parked, but the door is right in the splash zone from passing vehicles when traveling.

The air filter takes some of the punch of the water spray and keeps it from making it all the way into the compartment.

Regards,

JD

Lily&Me · 07-08-2013, 07:46 AM

That's a good idea!

Doug is concerned about anything that would restrict airflow to the frig. The filter apparently does not?

Maggie

Protagonist · 07-08-2013, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

That's a good idea!

Doug is concerned about anything that would restrict airflow to the frig. The filter apparently does not?

Maggie

Air filters are designed to pass air. any filter that would work in an air conditioner return vent should work there, if cut down to size.

Wish I'd thought of that; it sounds so much more elegant than my idea.

Lily&Me · 07-08-2013, 08:02 AM

Well, if we knew everything, there would be no reason to be here, would there!

Thanks, Protag.

We're going to be buying a washable air filter.

Maggie

wayneskid · 07-08-2013, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skater

For some reason, I thought the Interstates used a compressor fridge... not true, apparently? (If it runs on propane...)

It depends and the model year. My 2010 has a Nova Kool compressor refer which runs on 12v DC or 120v AC only. It does not run on propane.

cwf · 07-08-2013, 08:55 AM

Yup. The filter should capture droplets and keep most water in the grille! Nice.

My thought was to make the front of shield rounded with bottom open. This would create minimal Venturi effect... There is a possibility that water could find its way in from above too.

The idea is to keep air flowing UP. But also to minimize any suction from roof or side vent grille from forcing water in.

Lily&Me · 07-08-2013, 09:15 AM

No gasket around the inside edge, then, guys?

Maggie

Skater · 07-08-2013, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayneskid

It depends and the model year. My 2010 has a Nova Kool compressor refer which runs on 12v DC or 120v AC only. It does not run on propane.

Thanks!

For the filter ideas: Please keep in mind that absorption refrigerators require air flow over the coils to operate, and it's all about how much heat the coils can release into the surrounding air. Ensure any filter you use doesn't restrict that flow too much. It'll work fine during normal weather, but if the flow is restricted too much, you'll discover on some hot day that your fridge is now warm inside.

I don't have a better solution to recommend - I've always wondered about water getting in there in general and just hoped it wasn't enough to be a problem. Sounds like it can be.

Pahaska · 07-08-2013, 09:34 AM

My 2005 Classic 28 lives in a storage yard, attached to a 30A service with the fridge always left on. Nothing else in the trailer is on except the converter.

Very often, when there is a big thunderstorm near the storage yard, the main 30A breaker in the trailer blows and the fridge goes on propane. The storage yard's 30A breaker never blows and no other breakers in the trailer ever blow.

I never have trouble on the road with the 30A breaker and it never blows except during big thunderstorms. This has me puzzled, but the batteries keep the fridge on overnight and I know to check the breaker first thing in the morning.

Lily&Me · 07-08-2013, 10:09 AM

The bottom line for us is, should this happen again we will give it time to dry out before hitting the panic button. Learned something new.

We have driven thru a lot of rainstorms in 134,000 miles, and this is the first time this has ever happened. Not only the frig, but all the water that came thru that vent and into the interior.

Surprising that drying out is all took, but we are relieved, cleaned up from the mess and back on the road.

Maggie

Aage · 07-08-2013, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

Surprising that drying out is all took, but we are relieved, cleaned up from the mess and back on the road.

Maggie

Yay! I love a happy ending!

Lily&Me · 07-08-2013, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aage

Yay! I love a happy ending!

Yes, the very best kind.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 07-12-2013, 05:42 AM

Well, we bought a permanent, washable air filter yesterday and cut it to fit on the back of the frig vent. Taped it on with clear Duck tape. $1.99 at Ace Hardware in Brainerd, MN.

Not at all what I expected it to look like, a piece of thin, greyish foamy stuff.

No good way to get it to stay in there, and it looks to me like it wold restrict air flow. But, what do I know.

Does this sound right?

Maggie

Protagonist · 07-12-2013, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

Well, we bought a permanent, washable air filter yesterday and cut it to fit on the back of the frig vent. Taped it on with clear Duck tape. $1.99 at Ace Hardware in Brainerd, MN.

Not at all what I expected it to look like, a piece of thin, greyish foamy stuff.

No good way to get it to stay in there, and it looks to me like it wold restrict air flow. But, what do I know.

Does this sound right?

Maggie

Does it look like this? Do you know the "pores per inch (ppi)" count? A ppi of 15 or better should be all right as far as airflow is concerned; if an air conditioner return air plenum can suck air through it, it should work.

And best of all, since it's only taped on, if perchance it doesn't work, and causes overheating, you can pull it off and try something else.

Lily&Me · 07-12-2013, 08:06 AM

It does look like that, don't know the PPI as I have thrown out the wrapper.

Good we are on the right path. Thanks.

A biggie will be if it keeps the wind from blowing the frig out, which happens regularly when we are driving at high speed or in high winds,

We'll watch it and report back.

Maggie

jdalrymple · 07-12-2013, 08:08 AM

The one we use is blue, and more like strands of material all glued together.

I believe I got it at Lowes.

The trick to the air flow is that while air must move through the filter and rise, it is more of a draft or slow moving flow. Even the small fans, if installed on the Interstate, don't move air at enough speed to cause a problem.

High flow systems like the roof AC and home furnace systems move a lot more air at much higher speeds and do begin to see resistance at the filter.

Regards,

JD

Lily&Me · 07-12-2013, 08:54 AM

If this one is a problem, we will find a Lowes and look for one like yours. Thanks.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 07-13-2013, 11:17 AM

At Lewie's RV in Brainerd, MN today for the outside shower problem, their super-tech Rick Hines said to never, ever put something behind the air vent like this.

Particularly when parked, this could cause the frig to overheat and start a fire. He has seen it happen.

We took it off.

He and service manager Rick Jaeger also unclipped the zip tie holding a hose in the outside frig area, which they said should actually through to the outside of that external vent.

It's purpose is to drain water from the frig, and should drain outside rather than inside. Makes sense. They took care of this for us.

Aaaah, we are always learning.

Maggie

joemikeb · 07-13-2013, 02:57 PM

From 25 year old experience I was disappointed our interstate did not have a gas absorption refrigerator. After reading about your experience I am really glad Airstream switched to an all electric AC/DC unit.