We have a 1993, U-300 Special Edition. It still has the original Dometic RM7030 refrigerator which works fine until we get in the 100 degree summer temps. I'm starting to think maybe the residential fridge might be worth doing. If anyone has installed a residential fridge in a U-300 or even a U-280 and can help with a model number for a refrigerator that will fit and a referral for someone to install the fridge or just has any tips on this project, please share your knowledge.
I checked the archives and couldn't find anything on residential fridges in Grand Villas.
My current fridge dimensions are 32" X 56" X 25" deep.
Thanks in advance.
Here is a tip for your refrig in hot temps. Since we lived in Las Vegas with ours, we installed two aux. fans mounted in the outside area of the refrig. This sucked in more air and moved the heat out better. We were still making ice cubes when it was 110 degrees outside. If you want pictures to see what we have found works - I will be glad to post them. These fans were cheap and came from Grainger. They are side intakes and blows out a good stream of air. Also run of 12 volt.
Do you have a cabinet under the fridge. We had one and they took it out so we had a larger choice of units.
I don't have a u300 but do it you will love it! It has been our best functional mod.
to that I add my AMEN! (best functional modification)....and was cheaper then RV to replace failing Dometic
I am very interested in the fans you described. We installed two of the Valtera Fridge Fans under the fridge vent cap on the roof and just above the fridge condensing coil to pull air through the coil. They worked great but they only lasted about a year and quit working. Please post the part number or a description of your setup. Even pics if its not too much trouble. I suspect that fans from Grainger will be much more heavy duty and last longer than the Valteras.
Just found the Dometic replacement model for my RM7030. It is priced at $3300 just for the fridge. Naturally it is Dometic's top of the line and the only one that will fit in my pace without mods. THAT AIN'T HAPPENING!!!
The up side is my old fridge has found new life. We turned it off last night and back on this morning. Its getting cold in there. Freezer is now at 23 and fridge at 43 even in this 100 degree heat. I count my blessing daily.
Got this info from a owner that has a refer. roof stack on the edge of the coach, that is in line with his roof top air conditioner. What he found was that the side discharge of the AC was blowing air into his refer top vent. He happened to have the outside refer. access off, and be looking at a spider web when the AC unit kicked on. What he saw and discovered was the AC unit was forcing air down the air space behind the refer. where we all think the air is going up. He fashioned a deflector to lay on the roof between the refer. top vent and the AC discharge side. His refer. works well in any temps now
I have checked the position of our AC unit side air flow and the refer. roof stack, and do not have the problem on our layout. Can not tell from your photo if yours might be inline.
As I mentioned in my last post, to combat the heat in Las Vegas, we mounted two fans in the outside compartment area to help move the heat from the refrig. This worked wonderfully. Even at 110 degrees, we were able to make ice cubes. I have a wireless refrig and freezer thermometer, and they always read 35-38 for the refrig and 11-18 for the freezer. We do not need the fans on when we are in the 80 degree range but do need them on when higher temps. Therefore, there is a 12 volt switch inside to manually turn on the fans. Could have mounted a thermostat on the outside to turn them on, maybe a future project.
Here is a link to a company where you can purchase those fans that I was talking about. I am hunting through my paperwork for the fans I purchased several years ago. If I find more information I will post it here.
Link: DC axial blower fans - 12v, 24v (http://www.sofasco.com/dcblowers.html)
Nice - one could make a nice baffle, place a fan on each end and really have an efficient extraction system!
Here is one from DigiKey
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DKSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&itemSeq=133360910&uq=635091535452914803 (http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DKSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&itemSeq=133360910&uq=635091535452914803)
Rick, I just tried the link. This is what comes up:
Digi-Key Logo
The page you have requested cannot be found
@David I think this is it.
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DKSearch/dksus.dll?vendor=0&keywords=DC+axial+blower+fans (http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DKSearch/dksus.dll?vendor=0&keywords=DC+axial+blower+fans)
see ya
ken
David,
If you go to the digiKey site, look up their part no 603-1121-ND
Product Index > Fans, Thermal Management > DC Fans > BFB1212L-F00
All prices are in US dollars.
Digi-Key Part Number
603-1121-ND
Delta Electronics
Manufacturer Part Number
BFB1212L-F00
Description
BLOWER DC 12V 120X32 2100RPM