Fridge vent fans

[MSHappyCampers]

I'm still having trouble getting my Norcold 1200LRIM to stay as cold as we want when the outside temp is above 90. I think the answer is to put exhaust fans right under the cover on the roof. What have you guys used for this? I'm looking at the one below.

Coolerguys Triple 120mm Bracket Kit with Fan

[poncho62]

On my popup I used a couple of 4 inch computer fans...put them in the top of the vent blowing out......they are 12 volts and worked well

Oh...and they were free

[Sammie]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I'm still having trouble getting my Norcold 1200LRIM to stay as cold as we want when the outside temp is above 90. I think the answer is to put exhaust fans right under the cover on the roof. What have you guys used for this? I'm looking at the one below.

Coolerguys Triple 120mm Bracket Kit with Fan

Joe, I'm pretty sure you said before that you have had the Amish Built cooling unit installed. Did you have new fans installed at that time and if so are they working as they should? I can hear mine come on when it gets warm outside. I felt that my Norcold 1201 was not as cold as it should be on my last trip, so I played around with moving the thermistor over to the 3rd fin from the right and the fridge seemed to run a lot cooler. You may just have a bad thermister.

Sammie

[Mike and Cha]

We have a little battery operated fan we put on the top of the middle bottom shelf of the fridge. We bought it at CW for less than $10. Our Norcold stays really cold, I usually do about a 12 hour cool down prior to putting food in. I start the trip on the number 8 setting and about a day ot two into the trip depending on how hot it is I usually have to turn it down to 6. I have always used the fan inside(on every fridge we have had) so I don't know how much of a difference it makes or if that is why ours stays so cold.

[Smitty77]

As mentioned, first validate that your fans are working as they should. I added quiet DB and pretty high CFM computer fans down low, just inside the outside door. (I just zip tied them to the lower cooling tube, angled up and in towards the back of the fridge just a little. Maybe 10-15 degree angle. The goal was to get the fan airflow down low, and push it up and thru the tubing. While the top fans continued to pull and push up towards the top. I had a Camco Solar Panel fridge vent also pulling air, but it stopped working after less then 18 months.

I have two of these lower computer fans (4" from Fry's), one comes on automatically via temp sensor. The second I have hooked into a switch that I turn on when in higher temps and or humidity.

I also have the inside battery powered fan to help circulate inside the fridge.

Even with these, in extreme heat, with the fridge side baking in the sun - our fridge temps do rise more than I'd like... I have not played with moving the thermistor over fin wise, but will play with this too. I will set the temp to 7-8 during these higher temps. (Amish cooling unit too...)

On edit: The fan you linked looks like a nice simple package. I see no downside to adding this. I would still add a computer fan down low too!

Please share your results!!!
Best,
Smitty

[Mr_D]

According to Fantastic Vent, makers of the Fantastic Fans a fan is more efficient when placed near the outlet vent so it pushes air out rather than near the inlet trying to push the air out from below.

[MSHappyCampers]

We do have the Amish-built cooling unit, and I installed two new fans right above the coils. They are running all the time when the outside temp is hot. I also installed the Fridge-Fix fan bar inside the fridge to keep the air circulating properly. Just installed one of the adjustable thermistors. Looks like the only thing left is the fans at the top.

[Smitty77]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

According to Fantastic Vent, makers of the Fantastic Fans a fan is more efficient when placed near the outlet vent so it pushes air out rather than near the inlet trying to push the air out from below.

I agree that the first place to add a fan, is to draw it towards the exit point. Once you have good draw from the top, I feel adding the fans at the intake side does help too. By angling the lower computer pancake fans towards the back of the fridge, and the air runs up and thru the cooling tube. I think I spent under $35 for the fans and switch, and took me less then 30 mins to install.

I see no downside to both 'pushing' the airflow from below, along with 'pulling/drawing' it from above. And in this case, having the stock fans about 3/4 of the way up both 'drawing and pushing' the air flow too!

I know it helps the fridge cooling, when both of the lower pancake fans are engaged. I don't watch it as much as I used too when I first made all of these changes, but most of the time the loser pancake fans are not even on. It's when temps start creeping that I'll notice the one that is temperature controlled running when out hooking up water/sewer hose (can't hear it from inside of the coach). When I see the inside fridge temps start creeping up, I'll first move up from bump the fridge level up from 5, usually just jump to 7. This will usually take care of the rising temps. If the outside temps or humidity is too high, and 7 level does not cover it, I'll then manually turn on the second lower pancake fan.

For those that have a fridge in the slide itself, adding extra airflow is very important. I've seen some pretty extensive custom mods up towards the top end of the fridge cabinet with added outside vents.

Best to all,
Smitty

[Lt Dan]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

We do have the Amish-built cooling unit, and I installed two new fans right above the coils. They are running all the time when the outside temp is hot. I also installed the Fridge-Fix fan bar inside the fridge to keep the air circulating properly. Just installed one of the adjustable thermistors. Looks like the only thing left is the fans at the top.

Joe;

I installed one of the "Snip the Tip" adjustable thermistors on mine and it worked for a couple of trips, then failed. I got the dreaded "NoCo" error because it wasn't sensing the cooling from the fins correctly. I replaced it with a new Norcold thermistor and everything went back to working correctly. We didn't have any further problems during four weeks on the road.

Not saying that yours has failed, but that is one possibility.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

Joe;

I installed one of the "Snip the Tip" adjustable thermistors on mine and it worked for a couple of trips, then failed. I got the dreaded "NoCo" error because it wasn't sensing the cooling from the fins correctly. I replaced it with a new Norcold thermistor and everything went back to working correctly. We didn't have any further problems during four weeks on the road.

Not saying that yours has failed, but that is one possibility.

Dan, I have that same adjustable thermistor and it seems to be OK, not getting any error indications.

I have determined that the fans behind the fridge are not working. Seems to be the thermal switch that controls them. I'm getting the new top-mounted fans ordered today.

[336muffin]

Joe i feel your pain! I have 5 computer fans in the rectangle opening in the roof! Yes they do help quite a bit but i have given up on the Norcold! Purchased a residential fridge last week. The Samsung 197 is disappearing fast so i bit the bullet and gave in!

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by 336muffin

Joe i feel your pain! I have 5 computer fans in the rectangle opening in the roof! Yes they do help quite a bit but i have given up on the Norcold! Purchased a residential fridge last week. The Samsung 197 is disappearing fast so i bit the bullet and gave in!

Hi Muffin! I would have gone that way to start with but didn't want to take out the front windshield to get it in. I'm hoping the top fans will solve my problem. I took the cover off the top this morning and left it off. The fans behind the fridge are working today and the temp is holding about 40 in the fridge. We'll see!

[Sammie]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Hi Muffin! I would have gone that way to start with but didn't want to take out the front windshield to get it in. I'm hoping the top fans will solve my problem. I took the cover off the top this morning and left it off. The fans behind the fridge are working today and the temp is holding about 40 in the fridge. We'll see!

Joe, just for giggles, try moving your thermister over to the 3rd fin from the right. Wait until tomorrow and then check you temperature. It made a big difference on my fridge.

Sammie

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Sammie

Joe, just for giggles, try moving your thermister over to the 3rd fin from the right. Wait until tomorrow and then check you temperature. It made a big difference on my fridge.

Sammie

the adjustable thermistor does not mount to the fins, it sticks to the wall beside the fins.