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Topic: What's with the fridge fans running all the time? (Read 789 times) previous topic - next topic

What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

OK so I get the coach back to storage, turn off fridge, open/defrost, plugged into shore power, but fridge definitely off...keep hearing a little whirring noise, stick my head in & it's the fans (2 small flat ones under the drip tray) constantly on...little wires here & there, all rigged into the fans....looked everywhere for a way to turn off/disconnect...they obviously are running on 12 volt, does this hurt anything for them to keep running all the time, even when fridge is off? I would think they'd burn out a lot faster running all the time?

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #1 –
Mine run the same as well. Since the fan needs to run when the door is shut, meaning light is off, it is wired direct to the 12v system. Try the salesman switch. If not, you may have to disconnect at the light.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #2 –
Thanks Peter, messin' with those wires made me a little nervous already....& if I turn off the salesman switch, doesn't that still keep the batteries charged? I'm not leaving anything on, just want the batteries to stay charged.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #3 –
If your coach hasn't been modified your batteries should still charge. The salesman switch just turns off the 12 v power to the house.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #4 –
Maybe a big difference in our coaches, but ours has a rocker switch above the sink with two other lighting rockers. I believe they're called "muffin fans" (no idea why).  As the fan has a hum, I only run ours during the day.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #5 –
Very likely the auxiliary fans are NOT OE.  So they will be wired/run according to how the previous owner installed them.

They are a good idea to improve the efficiency  of the absorption refrigerator in high ambient temperatures.  No need to run in cold temperatures.

Most efficient when installed at the top of the cooling fins, exhausting UP.  Access from the roof vent to install them.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #6 –
There are parasitic loads on both battery banks that cannot be turned.  My Foretravel owners manual says to disconnect the batteries when storing for more than two weeks.  This is one reason why I added solar panels and a voltage sensitive relay to connect both banks together whenever either bank is being charged.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #7 –
Chances are the fans were installed with a thermo switch that is supposed to turn on the fans at a preset temperature, I believe its 120 degrees. When the thermo switch goes bad it can be on or off leaving the fans inoperable or running all of the time. There may also be a switch in the fridge compartment accessible from the outside vent door that turns the fans on and off. I installed two toggle switches on the left wall of the compartment to control the fans.

One other point, according to Valterra their fans were not designed to run full time and they should be installed on top of the fins. Yes I know that is the logical place but the heat produced by the fins will ruin the fan motors prematurely. I installed my new fans, not the Valterra fans, from rvcoolingwarehouse.com just below the fins where it is cooler and they blow cooler air up through the fins. I did this when I installed the new Amish Cooling Unit and had the fridge out of the cabinet. Removing the fridge was not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. That is with the use of the hydraulic lift table purchased from Harbor Freight.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #8 –
I think there's confusion now as to which fans Miz Dani was referring to in the original post.

I took it to mean the fans on the cooling fins inside the reefer.  The fix for that is to disconnect one of the wires that run to the
interior light.  When you remove the light lens you'll see where the wires are crimped together with a terminal that connects
to the light, then just pull it apart.

Peter & Beth referred to this at the end of Post #1.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
They are a good idea to improve the efficiency  of the absorption refrigerator in high ambient temperatures.  No need to run in cold temperatures.
No sense wasting power when not needed, good reason for the switch. My rule of thumb is to run the fans if I know I'm going to run roof air, they work great.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #10 –
Quote from: mike leary –
No sense wasting power when not needed, good reason for the switch. My rule of thumb is to run the fans if I know I'm going to run roof air, they work great.

Also, if the sun is shining on that side, you are in and out of the refrigerator a lot-- basically anytime you need to improve refrigerator efficiency.

BTW, strongly suggest this remote sense thermometer from Walmart, etc to monitor refrigerator temps: Acurite Digital Indoor / Outdoor Thermometer 00380 / 00381

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #11 –
I would install a switch so that the fans could be used when needed but then switched off when not needed. Should be a simple task to accomplish.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #12 –
All fridges should have a switch if muffin fans are installed. Here's ours above the sink.  Being an analog kind of guy, I use this to monitor temps:

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #13 –
Mike,

The advantage of the remote monitor is that you don't have to open the refrigerator to have a continuous readout of refrigerator temperature.  We have one in the boat, one at home and one in the motorhome refrigerator.  Put it on the dash when driving.

Re: What's with the fridge fans running all the time?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Mike,

The advantage of the remote monitor is that you don't have to open the refrigerator to have a continuous readout of refrigerator temperature.  We have one in the boat, one at home and one in the motorhome refrigerator.  Put it on the dash when driving.
I like cold beer, so the fridge gets opened & closed a lot, enough times to keep my eye on the analog.  ;D