Refridgerators: Are two fans better than one?

[Mark S]

Camping in really warm weather this summer, my refrigerator was a bit warmer than I would like. I was ready to order a coil fan for my refrigerator when I looked to see how difficult it would be to install and I found I already have a fan. Would I benefit by adding a 2nd fan?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Mark S

Camping in really warm weather this summer, my refrigerator was a bit warmer than I would like. I was ready to order a coil fan for my refrigerator when I looked to see how difficult it would be to install and I found I already have a fan. Would I benefit by adding a 2nd fan?

I'm installing two 120 mm fans on mine.

[TURBS]

Install done.

[Mark S]

Are those fans at the bottom / intake of the vent? I couldn't tell from the photo. It seems to me that pushing the air past the coils would work better than pulling at the top. Mine came with a single fan at the top vent, which I read is the "right way". I am thinking now of adding two computer fans at the bottom and repositioning the top one.

[dnaraG_1M]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Attachment 18114

Install done.

Not sure from the photo, but it looks like the right side fan
is blowing at the combustion chamber (and heat stack).

Not a good idea, is it to cool the stack?

Would it not be better to have them blow on the
condenser coils or suck air at the top of the vent?

Expiring minds want to know...........

cheers,
johnd

[Mark S]

Why does the fan need to be temperature controlled? Unless it was freezing out, wouldn't the refrigerator benefit from constant ventilation of the coil area? I ask this because I am standing in a puddle of sweat (August in south Florida) waiting for the installed top fan to turn on. What would be the downside to a constant on fan venting the coils?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Mark S

Why does the fan need to be temperature controlled? Unless it was freezing out, wouldn't the refrigerator benefit from constant ventilation of the coil area? I ask this because I am standing in a puddle of sweat (August in south Florida) waiting for the installed top fan to turn on. What would be the downside to a constant on fan venting the coils?

Mine runs if the fridge is running.
Albeit I installed them myself.
I think imo that they should run as long as fridge is on.
Ron

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by dnaraG_1M

Not sure from the photo, but it looks like the right side fan
is blowing at the combustion chamber (and heat stack).

Not a good idea, is it to cool the stack?

Would it not be better to have them blow on the
condenser coils or suck air at the top of the vent?

Expiring minds want to know...........

cheers,
johnd

Mine are sucking from the vent side as to help aid in cooler air running through system. Placement of the fans have no particular rhyme or reason other tHan being close to the vent to draw cool fresh air.
Ron

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Mark S

Are those fans at the bottom / intake of the vent? I couldn't tell from the photo. It seems to me that pushing the air past the coils would work better than pulling at the top. Mine came with a single fan at the top vent, which I read is the "right way". I am thinking now of adding two computer fans at the bottom and repositioning the top one.

Yes they are at the bottom of vent.
I'm goin to play with placement as I go to see if I can get even better air flow .
Right now when fans are on I can suck a napkin up to the vent.
Ron

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Yes they are at the bottom of vent.
I'm goin to play with placement as I go to see if I can get even better air flow .
Right now when fans are on I can suck a napkin up to the vent.
Ron

I think they would be much better utilized if they were horizontal and blowing from the bottom of the coils up toward the roof. That's where the cooling is needed.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

I think they would be much better utilized if they were horizontal and blowing from the bottom of the coils up toward the roof. That's where the cooling is needed.

Lol to do that Id need about 15 1" x 1" fans as it is there's no room to get fans to push air directly out vertical vent stack

Best place to install would be to take roof cover off and instal in vent stack .

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Lol to do that Id need about 15 1" x 1" fans as it is there's no room to get fans to push air directly out vertical vent stack

Best place to install would be to take roof cover off and instal in vent stack .

Where there is a will there is a way. When I get my other one, I'll take pictures of how to place them. lol

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Where there is a will there is a way. When I get my other one, I'll take pictures of how to place them. lol

Mind you I'm using 120 mm fans

[Mark S]

My exhaust is through a side vent panel just above the refrigerator , not though the roof. So the one small fan just doesn't do it. I just spent a while with my volt meter and I cannot find a 12 volt line that is switched by the refrigerator being on. All easily accessed lines are constantly hot. Where did you find a switched line?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Mark S

My exhaust is through a side vent panel just above the refrigerator , not though the roof. So the one small fan just doesn't do it. I just spent a while with my volt meter and I cannot find a 12 volt line that is switched by the refrigerator being on. All easily accessed lines are constantly hot. Where did you find a switched line?

What fridge do you have?

I had to take cover off of the circuit board on lower left of fridge .
On that board lower left there's a red wire that says 12v switched
That is what I used
I can take a picture Sunday

[onetonford]

http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/15/82/45/87/fans_i10.jpg


This is how I have mine set up and they a thermostatly controlled they run slow at first and as things warm up they speed up also they are alot quieter and move more air then old one hooked up to original wiring that controlled old fan works great it improved how the Refrigerator works by 25%...

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by onetonford

http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/15/82/45/87/fans_i10.jpg

This is how I have mine set up and they a thermostatly controlled they run slow at first and as things warm up they speed up also they are alot quieter and move more air then old one hooked up to original wiring that controlled old fan works great it improved how the Refrigerator works by 25%...

Can you take pic of a bigger view of fridge?

[onetonford]

Not at the Moment but I have some other views they are all taken from the top compartment Door because the Refrigerator is in the slide...

http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/15/82/45/87/fans_i11.jpg
http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/15/82/45/87/fans_i12.jpg
http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/15/82/45/87/fans_i13.jpg
http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/15/82/45/87/fans_i14.jpg
http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/15/82/45/87/fans_i15.jpg
http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/15/82/45/87/fans_i17.jpg
http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/15/82/45/87/fans_i18.jpg

[DougP47]

Just a question “If you’re trying to get the heat moving. Would it be better to have the fans blowing out, or the lower one blowing in and the top blowing out? I installed a fan on the inside coil and it only runs when the door is closed. I seem to have more adjustment left if I want it colder. Your thoughts thanks for letting me barge.

[dnaraG_1M]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Mine are sucking from the vent side as to help aid in cooler air running through system. Placement of the fans have no particular rhyme or reason other tHan being close to the vent to draw cool fresh air.
Ron

What I was getting at is that I think that there is a rhyme/reason
to avoid cooling the combustion chamber. An ammonia fridge
is a thermodynamic engine - a heat pump - driven by heat
input which boils the ammonia to start the condensation/
evaporation cycle which moves heat from the source (fridge
evap coils) to the sink (condensation coils).

If you reduce the heat input, you will boil less ammonia and
thus reduce efficiency. I think you want to cool the condenser
coils and allow the combustion chamber to get as hot as it was
designed to be in order to have maximum efficiency.
And yes, I don't know the order of the effect, but every little
bit helps when the ambient temperature is in the 100's.

Just ordered my 4 fan bank from allelectronics. We'll see if that
helps in the 100+ temp here. Plan to put them at the top of
the vent. Perhaps that design will suck big time!

cheers,
johnd