My Turn to Do the RV Fridge Mods

[GrampaKilt]

In my 'Shake-Down' post, I mentioned finding out what apparently is common knowledge—that RV fridges using 120VAC are essentially useless in hot weather. Inconceivable (like the Princess Bride kind), that RV fridge makers keep selling a flawed product. After all, the fixes aren't rocket science, nor expensive! Moving on, here's my RV fridge mod journey thus far.

For the exterior grill computer fan venting mod, Charles Coushaine's youtube video was my main inspiration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wVTP89-Btg . I'll add a thermostat for the fans and master on/off switch. As for circulating cold air inside the fridge, I purchased RV Cooling Unit Warehouse's double fan with LED light, chosen because our fridge doesn't have a light and the fans and LED can be wired separately. Most of this post concerns automating this unit.

I knew my LSW (long suffering wife) would give me the stink eye if she opened the fridge door and was blasted by a wave of cold air (if the fans were running). Sure, I could install manual on/off switches for the fan...and the LED, but she somehow knows when I can do better!

Online, there didn't seem to be robust fan-OFF-LED-ON solutions when opening the fridge door. So I came up with Magnetic Reed Switches (MRS), the kind used for window/door security, but also in cabinetry to turn on interior LEDs when the door opens. Some MRS can be wired so that when a door opens, the current flows (called normally open or NO) or conversely, switches off the power (called normally closed or NC). Obviously, I will install 2 units inside the fridge, one wired NO for the LED, and the other NC for the fans. I'll complete automation by installing a low voltage digital display thermostat to activate the fans above 40 deg F or so. Below is a list of components and in several weeks or so, I'll post some photos.

Digital Thermostat https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B076M9JS6P/ref=pe_3034960_233709270_TE_item
Fridge Fan/LED https://rvcoolingunit.com/Dometic-Evaporator-Fan-Greater-inside-Cooling-LED-Deluxe-wGrill-and-Light-P5444060.aspx
MRS https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0735BP1K4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Computer fans https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B009XERK6G/ref=pe_3034960_236394800_TE_dp_1
Vent fan thermostat https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RCX95U/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Stay tuned. GK

[MitchB]

Well now you're just making the rest of us look bad.😉

[mojospeople]

Hey Grampa.....did you finish this mod yet? I'm thinking of starting it. Tired of not getting good cooling from the fridge in hot weather and hot weather arrived early this year for us. Last weekend camping in lower Michigan was near 100 degrees. Unreal!

I was reading the installation instructions in my manual and it clearly says that if you install the fridge with wall vents that fans are needed. It seems more a failure of the camper manufacturer not adding fans for this type of installation.

Anyway, I do have a question for you and others who have done this mod. In the video you link below there is a ton of room between the fins and the vent cover. However on my 2017 16TBS there is almost no room between them. I'm almost certain there isn't room to mount the fans on the vent cover. What was yours like? Has anyone else run into that? I'm going to have to come up with another mounting option I think.

[GrampaKilt]

In the video you link below there is a ton of room between the fins and the vent cover. However on my 2018 16TBS there is almost no room between them. I'm almost certain there isn't room to mount the fans on the vent cover.

I'm still waiting on the fridge thermostat, so I haven't completed the full mod. But it didn't take long to realize the 'no room' situation. I also wasn't expecting the fans to be that large-metric myopia I suppose. I found room to install the fans and I think they'll do the job just fine. Presently, I'm without a camera and will add an image to this post in several days. GK

[GrampaKilt]

Clearly, the space behind the rear of the 14DB fridge precluded any attachment of the rather large computer fans (7" diameter) to the back of the grill. I was able to attach them in a recline position facing slightly inwards (img2). Img1 red arrows indicate the 3 points of attachment with silicone to mitigate any loosening of screws or rattling. Note (purple arrow) the small squares of aluminum flashing PL Premium'd to the fridge for screw backing. Green arrow points to the thermostat location. There will be a master on/off switch located on the inside fridge control panel. Perhaps not needed, but I added flashing to the top (orange arrow) to better direct air flow down to the grills. I think this configuration might actually be better at forcing hot air up, then down and out of the grill*. GK

*Air flow through these grills was not helped by excessive plastic flash. Almost all grill dividers needed trimming.

[mojospeople]

Hey Grandpa, I'm wondering if you have had a chance to test out your mods and are you getting improved performance?