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Old 07-12-2017, 12:13 PM   #1
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Extra Exhaust Fan - behind Dometic Fridge

16' Sport. Dometic Fridge. Airstream installed 1 muffin exhaust fan behind the fridge and area is accessible by exterior vent panels. Dealer suggested installing additional mini fan that can be plugged in - there is an electrical outlet that can be used. Has anyone done this and if so, can you suggest a fan to use? I have been looking with no luck. Also, I have no significant electrical skills so cannot wire one in. Any help? Many thanks!
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Old 07-12-2017, 12:29 PM   #2
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I swapped out the single fan, and upgraded to 2 higher CFM computer style fans (they glow red also, so cool), using the same wires that fed the original fan. Now the fridge temps are way cooler here in the desert. There are several threads about this so go search them! Good luck! and Happy Airstreaming!
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Old 07-12-2017, 05:01 PM   #3
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How did you get the computer fans to work? The fans say 12v and .25amps but when I hook them up to the trailer mothing even though the original fan was working. And when I hook the fans to my computer they work just not on the trailer. Really strange.
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Old 07-12-2017, 05:41 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattirs View Post
How did you get the computer fans to work? The fans say 12v and .25amps but when I hook them up to the trailer mothing even though the original fan was working. And when I hook the fans to my computer they work just not on the trailer. Really strange.
Mattirs,
Most computer fans will have a "trigger" wire, thus the 3 or more wire harness on the fan. I cut off the connector and strip back a small portion of the wires, connect 2 of the wires together and test with a battery to find out which ones will spin the fan blades the correct direction (reverse polarity = reverse spin).
I chose red led fans which have an extra wire for the led lights, so 2 wires to neg and 2 wires to pos, it only took a couple seconds to figure out which.
Install 2, 3 or 4 fans, it doesn't matter as the fans use such a little amount of power (thus the tiny wires), just wire them in parallel, all positives to pos and all negatives to neg.
Good luck!
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Old 07-12-2017, 10:40 PM   #5
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Will try that tomorrow when it is light. My fans are left over from a computer upgrade with three wires white, red, and black. Will try the black white with the red then the white, should work. Thank you Vintagemotor
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Old 07-12-2017, 11:01 PM   #6
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3 wires.. Red +, Black -, White RPM... I think... Check out on a 9 volt battery.. you may even be able to change direction by reversing the leads..

So, I mounted 2 new high performance computer fans to an aluminum (of course) frame... I then connected the fans to a fuse, then wired into the existing 12VDC in the back of the Fridge, accessible from the access vent. Improved the Fridge performance.

Another quick cool down tip is to put ice, dry ice, or some of that "blue stuff" you freeze to keep your beer...er.. baby food cool.
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Old 07-13-2017, 11:12 AM   #7
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I bought a small 110v fan at walmart and plug it into a receptacle mounted above the refrig. access door...fan has a switch, off, low, & high. I turn it on only when its hot out...its pointed up toward the roof vent. Works fine.
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Old 07-13-2017, 12:37 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattirs View Post
How did you get the computer fans to work? The fans say 12v and .25amps but when I hook them up to the trailer nothing even though the original fan was working. And when I hook the fans to my computer they work just not on the trailer. Really strange.
The refrigerator fans do not work constantly, only when the refrigerator needs their assistance. It could be during the time their assistance was not needed that you found your new fans would not work.


Quote:
Originally Posted by harryk View Post
I bought a small 110v fan at walmart and plug it into a receptacle mounted above the refrig. access door...fan has a switch, off, low, & high. I turn it on only when its hot out...its pointed up toward the roof vent. Works fine.
This solution is only good when you have shore power. More flexible to use a 12V fan.


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Old 07-13-2017, 01:05 PM   #9
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good if u are hooked. not good if boondocking;. stick with 12v;.
Quote:
Originally Posted by harryk View Post
I bought a small 110v fan at walmart and plug it into a receptacle mounted above the refrig. access door...fan has a switch, off, low, & high. I turn it on only when its hot out...its pointed up toward the roof vent. Works fine.
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Old 07-13-2017, 01:10 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vintagemotor View Post
I swapped out the single fan, and upgraded to 2 higher CFM computer style fans (they glow red also, so cool), using the same wires that fed the original fan. Now the fridge temps are way cooler here in the desert. There are several threads about this so go search them! Good luck! and Happy Airstreaming!
This sounds like a fun and useful mod. Care to share the make/model of that cool lookin' fan?
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Old 07-13-2017, 02:26 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EarStreaming View Post
This sounds like a fun and useful mod. Care to share the make/model of that cool lookin' fan?
I just went down to Fry's electronics and they had a wide variety, CFM, LED and overall size. I installed 2 of the ones below, of course they only spin when the thermal switch (power comes from here) in the coil tube tells them to. The red glow is very dim, just enough to see through the louvers.

http://www.frys.com/product/7896899#detailed

They have a bunch of different colors, and I'm sure any other electronics/computer supply will have the same.
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Old 07-13-2017, 03:16 PM   #12
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You could install a additional fan OR replace with a higher cfm fan. Keep in mind anything you put in that circuit more fans / lights is powered off your batteries.
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Old 07-13-2017, 04:13 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cwf View Post
3 wires.. Red +, Black -, White RPM... I think... Check out on a 9 volt battery.. you may even be able to change direction by reversing the leads..

So, I mounted 2 new high performance computer fans to an aluminum (of course) frame... I then connected the fans to a fuse, then wired into the existing 12VDC in the back of the Fridge, accessible from the access vent. Improved the Fridge performance.

Another quick cool down tip is to put ice, dry ice, or some of that "blue stuff" you freeze to keep your beer...er.. baby food cool.
Not sure of the color but function is correct. I'll look for some past posts

Coper wire is +, middle silver wire is - and odd man out RPM control.
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Old 07-13-2017, 04:39 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vintagemotor View Post
Mattirs,
Most computer fans will have a "trigger" wire, thus the 3 or more wire harness on the fan. I cut off the connector and strip back a small portion of the wires, connect 2 of the wires together and test with a battery to find out which ones will spin the fan blades the correct direction (reverse polarity = reverse spin).
I chose red led fans which have an extra wire for the led lights, so 2 wires to neg and 2 wires to pos, it only took a couple seconds to figure out which.
Install 2, 3 or 4 fans, it doesn't matter as the fans use such a little amount of power (thus the tiny wires), just wire them in parallel, all positives to pos and all negatives to neg.
Good luck!
Also check polarity.
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Old 07-13-2017, 04:48 PM   #15
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Thread re my install post 711 Note there is discussion re wiring ID
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f542...ml#post1774433

Post # 10 This is a past post of mine that contains my experience as well as the link to the mother of all refer fan & noise threads
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f425...ml#post1937288

post # 18
Lastly a recent thread re a dual fan install (nice work and results)
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f425...ml#post1966148


this quiet design from jukeboxfun post #35 and this simple and effective solution post
# 11 by silvergate
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f425...ml#post1919845


don;t underestimate sivergate's solution. It is amazing how much is helps the flow and allows the fan to cycle off earlier, this reducing wear and tear.
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Old 07-13-2017, 04:56 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CruizinDux View Post
Not sure of the color but function is correct. I'll look for some past posts

Copper wire is +, middle silver wire is - and odd man out RPM control.

hmmmm.....Better double check. Re-reading my install post in the 1st link above " Lastly the wiring was pretty easy. As others have posted the image, hot is the center of the three. Looking at the plug converter it was pretty easy to determine which line was to be was abandoned (third wire odd man out…RPM control?). I clipped this short for easier ID, then slipped it in the shrink tubing to keep it out of the way. I did test on the batt to confirm the + / - and also before I soldered via fan switch, but the install was a no brainer."

Usually hot is copper and ground/common is silver. My apologies for the confusion. Try it on the TV's battery first to confirm. The fan label is the exterior side so air should be flowing out from the label.

IMO two fans is overkill. Loose the OEM and get a quality quiet fan. I went with the thicker model and the air flow specs were a bit better.
Bob
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Old 07-13-2017, 05:02 PM   #17
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If you do not want to mess with electrical, I would recommend looking at a solar exhaust fan cover that would replace the existing rooftop vent. They are for sale on Amazon for about $80. Its only gonna run in daytime but that's when cooling is mostly needed in the heat of the day for your frig.

They also have another solar exhaust fan for the black water vent pipe on the roof. Very simple to install and no wiring needed.
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Old 07-13-2017, 05:42 PM   #18
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fridge fan

Quote:
Originally Posted by greghoro View Post
The refrigerator fans do not work constantly, only when the refrigerator needs their assistance. It could be during the time their assistance was not needed that you found your new fans would not work.




This solution is only good when you have shore power. More flexible to use a 12V fan.


Greg
Hi I just moved my fridge location in my vintage rebuild and needed an exhaust. So i put in an aluminum stack and piped it to the top , back of the fridge. Just used a good computer fan and added a furnace plenum fan control. On at 120f off at 100f.
Bimetal control,so no power needed. See attached pics
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Old 07-13-2017, 05:52 PM   #19
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These are the fans we used in our 23D to cool the refrigerator compartment with positive air flow from bottom to top and thus the refrigerator ran cooler.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The fans were on a manual lighted switch when the stock Dometic refrigerator was in the trailer. After we upgraded to a freon based Vitrifrigo refrigerator with a 12Vdc DanFoss compressor, the fans come on whenever the compressor is running.
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Old 07-13-2017, 10:18 PM   #20
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Here is a 12v fridge fan with a thermostat: https://accessories.lazydays.com/val...FQKewAode_AFlg

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