Refrigerator cooling fans

[Ryan Wright]

I don't think this issue has anything to do with the age of the unit.
Mine is fairly new (I'd have to check the records to be exact, but
previous owners replaced it in the past several years) and still
failed to cool adequately on a hot day until I added the fans in the
vent stack to pull hot air out. Now it cools perfectly, even in 110
degree weather.

The problem as I understand it is really basic: These reefers have a
convection type of process going on and that doesn't work very well if
the entire compartment is the same temperature you're trying to heat
it to in order to run the process. Cool down the compartment a bit and
the problem goes away. Our coaches came with fridge cooling fans for a
reason. If your fans aren't working, replace them and the problem will
be solved. A new fridge is not likely to solve this problem in the
long term. All ammonia type reefers work the same way and will have
the same problem.

So, if your unit won't cool on hot days but works fine otherwise, and
if you're sure the coach is level, here are the cheap and easy steps
to fixing it:

1. Make sure the factory installed fan circuit is working. Turn the
switch on inside the coach and verify the fan in the exterior
compartment behind the fridge is spinning fast and moving air. If it's
not, fix it. Problem is likely the fan itself or the thermo-switch,
both are easy and cheap to replace.

2. If your fan is spinning and making little difference, upgrade it. I
climbed on the roof of the coach, removed the fridge stack vent cover
and installed three high CFM computer fans in the top of the vent
stack oriented to suck air OUT of the stack. They were about $12 each.
I hooked them up to the original fan circuit. All of my fridge cooling
problems disappeared. This took me just a couple of hours to do start
to finish including cleanup and putting tools away. A very easy job.

3. If this doesn't help, you have more serious issues with your fridge
and should have it looked at by a qualified tech. However, if it's
cooling fine when it's not so hot outside, there is probably nothing
wrong with it, you just need working fans.

Don't spend a bunch of money replacing your fridge and don't cut down
the value and versatility of your coach by replacing it with a cheap
$200 electric fridge when $20-$30 worth of computer fans will solve
this problem for you. Once you get the fans installed, just leave the
fan switch in the on position all summer long. The thermo-switch will
turn the fans on and off as needed.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92