Refrigerator

Hi

Sounds, and probably is, a stupid question, but is there any difference in the speed and temperature achievable between gas and electricity?

We are currently in Spain and both the fridge and us are having difficulty in the c40 degrees heat. Even at night the freezer barely freezes, and during the day performance is pitiful. I idly wondered if it would do any better on gas

Tony

We were in Cambridgeshire 4 years ago when temp reached record 40c and my fridge couldn't cope with everything defrosting  - we were on gas as we were on a rally. When we returned home I fitted a fridge fan and everything from then on was fine. The fan has a temp probe fixed at 34c so only comes on when the probe senses that temp, so far this year it hasn't  switched on. If you can turn van so that the sun doesn't shine onto the fridge vents and actually remove the vents to open up the aperture and allow more air in it may help.

Thanks Paul

I'd never heard of them, but a quick google/amazon search shows several, ranging from mid £20s to mid £120s.

What model did you get, and here's the stupid question. How and where does one fit them?

Tony

My fridge is a Dometic so I bought a Dometic fan (had to get from USA via ebay. You can get Thetford ones or generic ones. The generic ones fit on reverse of the outside vents, the Dometic one fits on the coils at back of fridge, I'm guessing that the Thetfird ones fit on the coils as well.

Here's photo of mine, it blows upwards to cool the fins.....

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Thanks Paul 

Now I've actually bothered to read the manual, Thetford recommend a Ventilator kit. 

Tony

I used a scrap 12V computer fan and a cheap thermostat from eBay and mounted the fan to blow air out of the top vent. The thermostat has a remote sensor which I positioned just over the top cooling fins. Works perfectly and cost less than £5.

Thanks Ron

That seems a sensible option. My problem (well one of them) is that I'm an electricity numpty and feel I'd have a problem with the wiring up.

Once we get home and I get some kit I'll put up a plea on the forum. I suspect at least one member will offer cogent advice. 

Tony

Here's a YouTube video of fitting the Thetford kit...

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Thanks Paul 

Again 

Tony