Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

Folks,

Last year we had a chat about refrigerator fans, specifically putting
one behind the fridge to blow over the coils. Several members tied
theirs into the "refrigerator fan" switch in the coach. I'd like to do
the same, as my switch doesn't seem to do anything - no fans come on
that I can find. I'm thinking someone removed mine at one point in
time - I know the fridge itself has been replaced.

So my question is, do I need to fish a wire back up to the switch, or
does the wiring already go somewhere - and if so, where might I find
it?

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"
wrote:
>
> So my question is, do I need to fish a wire back up to the switch,
or
> does the wiring already go somewhere - and if so, where might I
find
> it?
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
>

Ryan,

On mine, the inside switch runs to a fan mounted behind the refrig.
You can access it by removing the outside refrigerator panel.
However, there was not enough room to remove/replace the fan through
this opening. I replaced my refrigerator with a new one and fixed
the
fan while I was at it. I would assume you still have the wire
somewhere behind the refrigerator.

Regards,

Glenn

1986 PT-40
Marietta, GA

I did this, and was able to find the wiring for the fan switch behind
the fridge in the outside access panel. If your fan is gone like mine
was, there should be some random wires not hooked to anything. Bought
a 6-inch computer-type fan at Radio Shack and put it in there blowing
straight up across the coils. It's good for 10 degrees on a hot day.

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"
wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> Last year we had a chat about refrigerator fans, specifically putting
> one behind the fridge to blow over the coils. Several members tied
> theirs into the "refrigerator fan" switch in the coach. I'd like to do
> the same, as my switch doesn't seem to do anything - no fans come on
> that I can find. I'm thinking someone removed mine at one point in
> time - I know the fridge itself has been replaced.
>
> So my question is, do I need to fish a wire back up to the switch, or
> does the wiring already go somewhere - and if so, where might I find
> it?
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
>

Great RV rv-refer site listed below. has a tutorial on how it makes
cold out of a flame. My thinking on the fan is not so much a need to
blow air over the coil but to move air out of the stack/vent. when
the outsie temp is as hot as the air behind the refer, there is no
(hot air rises) convection. may be all that is needed is a fan in
the vent pointing out. keep in mind that there is no benifit to
cooling off the boiler. I noticed little help when I just added a
fan untill I mounted it in a box and shrouded the boiler. I now
have no issues even at 115.

my fan
http://www.pbase.com/gregoryoc/wanderlod...cts&page=3

RV refer site
http://www.rvmobile.com/

GregoryO'Connor


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"
wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> Last year we had a chat about refrigerator fans, specifically
putting
> one behind the fridge to blow over the coils. Several members tied
> theirs into the "refrigerator fan" switch in the coach. I'd like
to do
> the same, as my switch doesn't seem to do anything - no fans come
on
> that I can find. I'm thinking someone removed mine at one point in
> time - I know the fridge itself has been replaced.
>
> So my question is, do I need to fish a wire back up to the switch,
or
> does the wiring already go somewhere - and if so, where might I
find
> it?
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
>

----- Original Message -----

From: "ryanpwright@gmail.com"

To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"

Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 11:13 PM

Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Refrigerator fans

Folks,

Last year we had a chat about refrigerator fans, specifically putting
one behind the fridge to blow over the coils. Several members tied
theirs into the "refrigerator fan" switch in the coach. I'd like to do
the same, as my switch doesn't seem to do anything - no fans come on
that I can find. I'm thinking someone removed mine at one point in
time - I know the fridge itself has been replaced.

So my question is, do I need to fish a wire back up to the switch, or
does the wiring already go somewhere - and if so, where might I find
it?

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

---

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Checked by AVG Free Edition.
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Ryan,

Cooling the refrigerator compartment.

A quick description, after looking at others solutions and reading
all available info which unfortunately the reference files I had
saved for this project were lost to a computer virus. I added the
address for the photos at each step I hope they come up for you, if
you paste them in the address line they may or may not come up. If
not they are in my album , (bumpersbird) bottom of page two and top
of page three.

The goal is to move air past the cooling coil mounted on the rear of
the fridge, in my case a Dometic RM 7030. I have an angled setup
with an enormous space behind the refer. It is recommended that
there be no more than 1" a space behind the fridge to facilitate
convection for cooling the coils. Well I'm not one to reinvent the
wheel so I wasn't going to pull out the fridge to build a baffle
system, the recommended fix.

Ryan, this won't be so much of a problem for you if your fridge is
1" or less from the wall behind it. The origonal fan and snap
thermostat set up should work good if it's all there and working.

To move a sufficient amount of air past the coils. You have two
choices you can suck or blow. Blowing is not recommended, but it
works.

Greg's system is set up this way and after a little tweeking it
works fine.

So how do you suck enough air volume past the coils to make a
difference? I not an engineer so I went for POWER!

You know the old saying. Put enough thrust behind anything and it
will fly.

I mounted 5 - 130 CFM computer fans inside the flue vent on the
roof.

http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/W...tos/view/7
006?b=29

I got a marine style switch with a four switch/breaker combo. I
chose waterproof because I mounted it on the cabinet near the sink in
the bathroom and because its high quality and most of all because it
looks cool.

http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/W...tos/view/7
006?b=32

I tagged into the 12V power leading into the fridge.

http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/W...tos/view/7
006?b=30

Not a big draw for the fans and the fridge doesn't draw anywhere
near the 20 amps supplied to it. I used 2 of the 4 switches leaving
2 for future use. I wired the switches, #1 runs 2 fans, #2 runs 3
fans so I have the capability to run 2 fans @ 260 cfm, 3 fans@ 390
cfm or 5 fans@ 650 cfm.

Yes if you're standing near the access hatch you know its working. On
a calm day it will suck in cigar smoke in from 12" to 14" away.

I also mounted 4 fans in the fridge that blow air across the cooling
fins inside the fridge and of course they circulate the internal air.

http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/W...tos/view/7
006?b=33

They are powered from the internal light assembly and mounted in
pairs they are quite nice. I got them from a guy on e-bay. Once you
see these little jewels you'll want them to. I check e-bay for this
guy and he's not making any fans at this time

The only problem I had was getting the wiring up to the fans. I used
a piece of pvc pipe I don't remember the size I just grabbed some
pipe that was laying around the barn and some mounting clamps,
inserting the require wires into the conduit before mounting the
conduit to the wood walls.

http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/W...tos/view/7
006?b=31

I poked a hole up through the protective
screen in the flue vent, keeping it smaller than the diameter of the
pipe so it has a good grip on it. I had to drill one hole through the
wall to run the wires into the bathroom. A glob of silicon sealed the
hole and holds things firmly to prevent chaffing. I also used wire
loom where possible. Problem solved.

So far so good, this summer will tell if its working as well as I
think it will. I have already had to set the thermostat up to keep
everything on the lower shelves from freezing.

Is it noisy? Yes
Is it bothersome? Somewhat
Choice between noise and cold beer? Only you can answer that.

The fans are the big computer fans 4.7" @130cfm. There are fans of
this size that have a lower cfm and are much quieter to operate. I
have used these same fans to replace the blowers on some of my
heaters and they are quiet compared to the fridge set up. The only
thing I can think of is the fridge cabinet is hollow it may amplify
the noise.

This post is a little long and may not help a lot in your
application, but if you have a big space behind the fridge this will
work.

Kurt Horvath
95 PT-42 WLWB

Ah ha! Appreciate everyone's replies - Howard's was the key. I found
that thermostat exactly where you said it would be and traced the
wires. They went into a wiring loom, but came right down and were
hiding amongst some others, disconnected and taped up. I put a big DC
fan in there blowing air out the access panel, and now my fan switch
in the coach works just like it's supposed to.

Huge thank you to all! This was much, much easier than trying to trace
the wires from the fan switch back through the coach, which is what
I'd have had to do without this list. You folks are one of the big
reasons I bought a Wanderlodge. So glad to have this community
support.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92 (with a refrigerator that should work in hot weather,
now - we'll find out tomorrow!)

On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 10:46 AM, Howard O. Truitt
wrote:
> Ryan,
> Since we both have 86 PT40's lets assume they we are set up the same.
> Get a mirrow and light and look up on the inside of the outer wall of the
> refrigerator access opening. See if you see one of the small quarter size
> pancake thermostats. The wire from the refrigerator on/off switch runs to
> this thermostat and then to the fan. If you turn the refrigerator fan
> switch on the fan will not come on until the thermostat calls for it. I
> bought my replacement fan from BB in 2006. Hope this helps.
> Howard Truitt
> Camilla, Ga.
> 86 8V92 PT40
>

Kurt,

Hey. very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to write this up.
The pictures came up fine and I like the idea of the roof mount fans
even better. Actually, it's probably quieter than what I put in, given
that the fans are further away. I may get up on my roof tomorrow
evening and move my fan up there, and add a couple more while I'm at
it.

As for the choice between cold beer and noise, I'll turn the music up
to compensate and take both. ;-)

-Ryan

On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 5:40 PM, bumpersbird wrote:
> Ryan,
>
> Cooling the refrigerator compartment.

"As for the choice between cold beer and noise, I'll turn the music up

to compensate and take both. ;-)" AHAHAHAHAH! Good Man!

Betty brought home a 12 pak of Bud Lite Lime...anyone want the other eleven?



--
Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, CA

'Out the access panel' is reverse the design convection path.
sucking air out of the compartment as you do with the fan blowing
out seems safer as it wont +pressurize the compartment and blow air
thru leaks that may put hot air and propane into the bus interior.
I dont know if a big airmovement is the key. my fan blows low cfm .
I think the down fall is stale air. If you look at the model on how
the amonia system works, I think gradual cooling is part of
einsteins process. the amonia must process up the coil because the
fridge cooling is later in the cycle.
You may note that access pannels seem to open below the floor of the
propane appliance. I just wonder if that is by design to keep
leaking heavy gas from being trapped in the compartment.
modifications may want to maintain the open container design.

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"
wrote:
>
> Ah ha! Appreciate everyone's replies - Howard's was the key. I
found
> that thermostat exactly where you said it would be and traced the
> wires. They went into a wiring loom, but came right down and were
> hiding amongst some others, disconnected and taped up. I put a big
DC
> fan in there blowing air out the access panel, and now my fan
switch
> in the coach works just like it's supposed to.
>
> Huge thank you to all! This was much, much easier than trying to
trace
> the wires from the fan switch back through the coach, which is what
> I'd have had to do without this list. You folks are one of the big
> reasons I bought a Wanderlodge. So glad to have this community
> support.
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92 (with a refrigerator that should work in hot
weather,
> now - we'll find out tomorrow!)
>
> On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 10:46 AM, Howard O. Truitt
> wrote:
> > Ryan,
> > Since we both have 86 PT40's lets assume they we are set up the
same.
> > Get a mirrow and light and look up on the inside of the outer
wall of the
> > refrigerator access opening. See if you see one of the small
quarter size
> > pancake thermostats. The wire from the refrigerator on/off
switch runs to
> > this thermostat and then to the fan. If you turn the
refrigerator fan
> > switch on the fan will not come on until the thermostat calls
for it. I
> > bought my replacement fan from BB in 2006. Hope this helps.
> > Howard Truitt
> > Camilla, Ga.
> > 86 8V92 PT40
> >
>