Fridges in vans 2

**Graeme** · 1st January 2012, 09:11 AM

Only this morning I came to the conclusion that the very poor performance of the fridge in my late '80s pop-top is due to warm air in the cabinate space, not the fridge itself. The cabinet allows warm air around both sides and over the top, with even the deflector at the top rear trapping warm air behind it. The freezer was icing-up on 240V at half setting after only 30 minutes so there's nothing wrong with the refrigeration unit, just that the fridge walls were getting hot preventing the inside from cooling. Its time to fit something to keep the warm air away from the sides and top - perhaps just thick sponge will do the trick. An exhaust fan might also be useful.

**rick130** · 1st January 2012, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Graeme

[snip]

An exhaust fan might also be useful.

A few people fit 12V computer type fans, seems to help.

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 1st January 2012, 03:14 PM

it already has one,,,

I suppose I could swap it for one with bright red LED's---

it pumps out enough hot air,,
The dometic is just cumbersome inconvenient and not at all set and forget.

its gone.

**Graeme** · 1st January 2012, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by rick130

A few people fit 12V computer type fans, seems to help.

One of my sons suggested such a fan on the condensor but my thought is for a general exhaust fan to get the hot air out of the cavity.

Pedro,
With what will it be replaced?

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 1st January 2012, 04:37 PM

Hopefully Graeme,
one of these---
Engel Australia - Portable Fridge-Freezers

**Graeme** · 1st January 2012, 08:01 PM

That appears to be just a fridge without a freezer, which would be OK if a seperate freezer such as a car fridge is on hand.

**Lotz-A-Landies** · 1st January 2012, 10:02 PM

However these are Fridge/freezers Engel Australia - Portable Fridge-Freezers

And this the one I bought for my camper which fitted in the same hole as the dead 3 way

http://www.engelaustralia.com.au st90 Fridge Freezers

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 2nd January 2012, 05:47 AM

Unless we are away for more than 3 or 4 days I cant see the need for a tiny freezer,(yes we still have the engal car fridge, but are NOT planning on taking it--), its just a waste of fridge space.

**CraigE** · 8th January 2012, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by rick130

A few people fit 12V computer type fans, seems to help.

This shows how
DREAMPOD II FRIDGE FAN
All parts available from Jaycar.
I set up 2 and by golly you feel it pull out the heat.
Still not overkeen on the Dometic, takes way to long to chill down and on 12v draws way too much power. Mine is only 2 years old put may still pull it out and see if the shake it up trick helps any. It does get cold but can take a long time. Having said that I now have an EU20 Generator so may run it on 240v initially and then switch over to gas and see if that helps.

**Lotz-A-Landies** · 8th January 2012, 07:20 PM

A 3 way fridge will always be less efficient than a 2 way fridge because of the inefficiencies of using a heater element to generate cold, particularly if you then have to add additional cooling fans, using more power.

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