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Topic: Residential fridge (Read 1976 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Residential fridge

Reply #25 –
Our Danfoss based Vitrifrigo marine fridge (12VDC/120VAC) has the cooling package at the bottom in the back of the fridge. It has feet on the bottom but mounts with a flange to the cabinet trim on the top and sides. I put weather stripping across the bottom front so that the coach living space is completely sealed from the outside. I left the back and top vents open, but if we were ever caught camping in the new ice age (the only way we would stay where it is THAT cold!), I would block off the bottom vent or at least restrict the air movement through it. I have yet to put fans in, though it is on my project list, because we do occasionally find ourselves where it gets warm. When I installed the Vitrifrigo fridge, I took great pains to line the fridge compartment with extra insulation and aluminum sheet metal throughout with all the seams taped, and joints caulked. My working theory is that the space behind the fridge is a weather protected indoor/outdoor area that is separate from the living space. If the fridge vented to the front, I would have to rethink that theory. Having it vent to the outside was one of my criteria for choosing it over the similar form factor Novakool, which is also Danfoss based, and by all accounts, a fine unit. So far, so good for the past (almost to the day!) five years.
Don
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
Fridge vents - two schools of thought.  Seems to me to be 6 of one - half dozen the other.

Leave the vents open, and you are getting fresh air - hot or cold depending on season - coming into the coach.  Air which then must be "conditioned" by your climate control system.

Close the vents, and you have to remove the heat removed by the fridge from the hot 6-pack.

I believe I would rather deal with the heat thrown off by the fridge.  Compared with the heat gain from our single pane windows, what comes from the fridge is insignificant (IMHO).

I closed off our vents when we installed our Samsung.  Whatever heat it makes is not noticed by us.
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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Residential fridge

Reply #26 –
I made a slide insulation door (vent opening similar to Rogers) behind side vent then mounted 2 small fans that will blow air over the cooling fins in addition to the fan that was already there plus I put a small fan in the ceiling to help suck the warm air out.  I can close the side vent by removing vent cover, pull insulation sheet down and the top will close with a cam lever in the top cabinet beside the refrigerator.  My thought was it may need some extra cooling in summer but I could close it off in winter if I didn't need it!
Chris
1999 U 320 DGFE
Build Number 5523
Chris & Elka Lang
In the field, Lonoke AR

Re: Residential fridge

Reply #27 –
I left the side vent 90% closed up but added an insulated slide up door on the inside.  So the side is effectively sealed.  I added a slide open/close vent to the roof top vent.  Nice to have it closed in the winter and open in the summer.  The refrigerator heat has to go somewhere, with the Samsung it goes up and out.  I did not seal up around the refrigerator,  Trim is about 1/8" away, open at the bottom.  Every refrigerator has specs for clearance, do what they say.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Residential fridge

Reply #28 –
We copied Barry and Cindy (thanks Barry!) and installed a 10 CF Whirlpool in place of the original Dometic.  I had to do a very minor amount of cabinet work (widened the opening by 1/2" as I recall) and left the original venting in place (open from the side up to the roof, since the Whirlpool has the condensing coils in the back.    No problems running in 20 deg or 110 deg weather.
I installed a separate 1 KW true sine inverter for the fridge, but left the fridge plug free to connect to either the 1 KW inverter, the main Magnum true sine house inverter, or shore power.  Hedging bets is always a good idea, so if either inverter fails, we still have a working fridge.    That was 7 years ago, and it's still working fine.

For mounting, I fastened a piece of 3/4" plywood under the fridge and screwed the fridge base down to it.  At the top I used 3M VHB tape to fasten two pieces of 1/8" x 1.5" aluminum strap to the top of the fridge, and they are fastened to the side of the steel collar bonded into the top of the fridge vent.
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Residential fridge

Reply #29 –
I also added a manually operated roll down awning that I hang from 2 small hooks just under the roof line to cover the outside wall of coach were the fridge is.  When we are parked in Mexico for a few months at our friends place, the driver side of coach gets a lot of sun right where the fridge is so this covers it and a bit more either side of the "footprint" and makes a big difference in transfered heat thru body of coach. Simple roll up and remove when leaving and put it in bay.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Residential fridge

Reply #30 –
Our Samsung refrig has screw down feet for leveling the front side to side to make sure the doors align properly.  I put flat bottomed holes in my base for the feet to fit into when screwed down.  Rock solid,  locked in place, the refrigerator has never moved. No other connections. Simple and effective.

Same with door locks, simple is good.

Lots of folks have come up with good ideas.  I like John's driver's side shade.  Our refrig is on the pass side.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN