I'm always tinkering with my 3 way fridge to improve performance. The latest mod was a dismal failure.
In my case the top vent of the fridge is too low with about half of it not above the fins.
So I got a piece of plastic blind slat & glued it in place so that it covered the lower section of the vent opening. My theory was that this would force the air to flow thru the fins before exiting.
Wrong.
Bloody thing wouldn't cool down below 8 where it usually got down to around zero when empty and left running for a few days.
'Smart Fellow' that I am, I quickly (after a week) identified the problem & ripped out the offending slat.
Back to normal ... All OK!
ps. I have done most of the usual things like
switchable variable speed computer fans top & bottom, (thinking about one inside fridge)
Insulation all round
Baffles across the back to guide the air across the unit & not the exterior van wall
A guide to stop hot air pooling around the rear of the unit.
Ensuring door seals are in good repair.
Limiting time door left open. (SWMBO has difficulty with this)
Pre-cooling stuff in Engel (Keeping drinks there too)
I have been known to fill one shelf with frozen water containers in hot weather
Yes it is a "T" model but when it was being built, I asked for a larger fridge it seems that the cut out had been done for a smaller model resulting in the top vent being too low. At least that's my current theory. I should just do the larger top external vent & spice rack over the top of the fridge cupboard trick.
Cupie, I too had the same top vent problem. I had a second one installed above the original one. The heat shield was run up to the top of the new vent. With the bottom half the original vent covered the fridge worked very well.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
I know the feeling Cupie. My new fridge keeps going out when on gas and wind is coming from the fridge side of the van. Fine at other times. New Van, new fridge and Xmas and dealer etc on hols, bugga.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Cupie read some where not to put a fan on the bottom vent
i put a computer fan on top vent would hardly blow
so put a bigger one on also have not tried on gas yet
TAJ
Thanks TAJ ..... I seem to recall reading the same. I moved the two fans to the top, both with variable speed & the ability to turn one or both on/off.
Dougwe .... I'm sure that I could make up a mod for you. Mightn't work though. Second thoughts ... I'd clean out the jet .. If I could find it.
Peter ... Given my track record, I'm not game to start cutting into the cladding to make a bigger vent & I'm too lousy to pay someone to do it.
Ralph .. C'mon, be game. Maybe I could practice cutting out panels on yours. If you can't trust me, who can you trust?
BTW .. My tried & proven fault finding technique worked ....
ie. After turning off & on, then kicking it, if it's still not fixed, before getting out the documentation, find out what the last person did & reverse that. This three step process works most times.
-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 23rd of December 2014 10:33:00 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 23rd of December 2014 10:38:45 PM
Fine with me for you to practice your cutting skills as I am waiting for the go ahead to have the right side of van replaced after the hail damage received in the last storm, my frig works fine but then again you maybe able to improve it. Ralph
I know the feeling Cupie. My new fridge keeps going out when on gas and wind is coming from the fridge side of the van. Fine at other times. New Van, new fridge and Xmas and dealer etc on hols, bugga.
Maybe the metal shield around the burner is not in place properly. You'd probably have to compare it to another one to see if it is correct.
I've been in some pretty windy conditions with different vans & no problems.
