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Old 04-21-2016, 04:49 AM   #21
gearhead
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Hmmm...thinking out loud here...I "think" my Dometic just plugs in to a 120volt outlet. It's been months since I looked. I assume there is another plug available in that outlet. Since it seems the fridge needs the most help when it is on 120volt, I was thinking just plugging in a 120volt electronic type cooling fan. It would run all the time when on campground power. I just put a similar fan under my fishing bait/ice freezer in the garage to help it during summer. Plus I'm getting lazy and looking at the easiest way.
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Old 04-21-2016, 05:15 AM   #22
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The 120VAC is for the heating element. Can't say I've ever seen a factory installed fan that wasn't 12VDC.
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Old 04-21-2016, 08:26 AM   #23
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The 120VAC is for the heating element. Can't say I've ever seen a factory installed fan that wasn't 12VDC.
I just pulled the vent covers off. I didn't see a 120 volt outlet. Must have been thinking of the ex Cougar. My logic was: I believe the most help is needed when on 120v, and why not use the CG power. But 12v it will be.
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Old 04-21-2016, 08:54 AM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gearhead View Post
I just pulled the vent covers off. I didn't see a 120 volt outlet. Must have been thinking of the ex Cougar. My logic was: I believe the most help is needed when on 120v, and why not use the CG power. But 12v it will be.
Gearhead,

In reality, when you're plugged into CG power, your converter is providing the 12 VDC to operate the fan, so you're using CG power to run the 12 VDC fan.
I know that's a "does it really matter" response to your comment, but essentially "everything electrical" runs off the converter/breaker panel when plugged into CG or home power. (propane appliances excluded, of course)...
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Old 04-21-2016, 12:45 PM   #25
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Gearhead,

In reality, when you're plugged into CG power, your converter is providing the 12 VDC to operate the fan, so you're using CG power to run the 12 VDC fan.
I know that's a "does it really matter" response to your comment, but essentially "everything electrical" runs off the converter/breaker panel when plugged into CG or home power. (propane appliances excluded, of course)...
Yeah, but what is it doing when I'm boondocking? I realize it is just .25 amp DC, but it's another draw on the battery when the fridge is running on propane and doesn't seem to need the fan. With 120v it would run all the time I was plugged in, and need it the most, and I wouldn't care.
I bought a 12vDC fan and a switch from Amazon today. I'm not going to tear the 5th apart to find the 120v supply. Next: to find a "hot when on" 12vDC source to power the fan. Or, am I mistaken that there is no 120vAC to the fridge? Maybe I'm just "thinking" I saw a 120vAC outlet behind the Cougar fridge.
That's a future mod, bigger fish to fry right now.... this slide jerking issue is about to have me pulling my hair out.
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Old 04-21-2016, 03:17 PM   #26
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After I worked on the jerking slide I got myself a refreshing adult beverage and decided..it's still daylight, it's not raining, and I don't want to go in the house. So I took the lower vent cover off the fridge and looked around. Spotted the 120v outlet...way back there. No way I could even touch it much less plug a fan in it. Actually there was so much other stuff between me and the outlet that I couldn't tell if there was an open plug there.
Oh well.
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Old 04-21-2016, 04:09 PM   #27
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Gearhead, check your drain tube coming from the refrigerator, it should be sticking out through one of the holes in the lower vent cover. When we got our MHC 305RL last summer, the drain tube was stuffed up in behind the refrigerator with the end about 2' higher than the lowest point. Had the same issues with temp as you are, I pulled the drain tube down & about a cup of water poured out. Stuck the tube through the vent cover like it's supposed to be & cut about 2-3' of excess tube off, then put the bug filter back in the end of the tube. Eureka! Problems solved! Refrigerator got down to 34 on gas & electric both while sitting in full sun on a 90 deg day.
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Old 04-21-2016, 04:22 PM   #28
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^^^Funny you mention that. When I pulled the lower cover off I thought I would just let it hang from the drain hose. It did, for about 10 seconds. When I went to put the cover back on and fish the drain hose through the vent, the white bug screen wasn't in it. ARGH, it's somewhere in these white rocks I have on my parking spot. I looked and looked. Was already thinking about what I could cram in there to keep bugs out. Moved my foot and there it was.
My frustration level with the 5th was about maxxed out for today. Grabbed a Bud Lite and called it a day.
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Old 04-22-2016, 04:15 AM   #29
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Fan Mounting

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Did you mount the fan near the lower inlet or the upper outlet? One of the little 4" electronic equipment fans? Plug in to 110volt so it runs whenever you're on campground power? I need to look around in there.
I think we looked "Red Neck" with the setup, wish I had a photo. I took a box fan and ran it direct from a 110 outlet and zip tied it to the upper vent cover to suck air out. Fridges in slides are a horrible design. They require heat to come down and out to get out even with the baffles installed the way they do. Basically it seems the 4 small fans they install (computer fans) just wont cut it. We generally have the most problems when there is a wind coming from the fridge side of the camper. We have the same issues in aircraft with A/C systems that use the "computer style" fans rather than a squirrel cage blower type. They cant push against air or build pressure. The fans that are installed also dont run non stop when the temp goes up on the fridge which would make one think the temp sensor isnt any good either.

Should have gotten a residential fridge
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Old 04-22-2016, 06:15 AM   #30
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I installed a switch just behind my lower cover that will allow the fans to run 24/7. It seems to help a lot, but when on electric, my fridge just doesn't cut it when temps are above 80. I don't know what the problem is. It consistently runs 33-34 degrees on gas.
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Old 04-22-2016, 06:32 AM   #31
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We hijacked the heck out of this fender skirt thread!
Could one of y'all give me a hint on where to tap for 12volt? I want to put a fan and switch behind the lower cover.
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Old 04-22-2016, 06:36 AM   #32
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12VDC is available at the bottom of the refer where the control board is.
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Old 04-22-2016, 06:54 AM   #33
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Quote:
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We hijacked the heck out of this fender skirt thread!
Could one of y'all give me a hint on where to tap for 12volt? I want to put a fan and switch behind the lower cover.
There should be a red and a white wire laying on the floor of the reefer compartment right at the lower vent. Those wires enter the lower "control box" of the refrigerator. One is ground (white) and one is +12VDC (red).
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Old 04-22-2016, 07:02 AM   #34
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IIRC, I found the red wire going up to the temp switch on the upper coils and tapped into it for my toggle switch. I mounted the switch on the bottom left just behind the lower cover. Down is factory cooling, up is 24/7 cooling.
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Old 04-22-2016, 12:46 PM   #35
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thank ya, thank ya
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Old 04-27-2016, 04:49 AM   #36
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Older thread that just 'made my day'.

Oh well - fixed my misdirection :-}
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Old 04-27-2016, 06:56 AM   #37
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Quote:
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I installed a switch just behind my lower cover that will allow the fans to run 24/7. It seems to help a lot, but when on electric, my fridge just doesn't cut it when temps are above 80. I don't know what the problem is. It consistently runs 33-34 degrees on gas.
Mine will only stay down to temperature if I dont put anything in in. If I do it shoots up above 40 no matter how long it is left alone or setting. So basically have a fridge that you cant put anything in.
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Old 04-27-2016, 07:33 AM   #38
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JAbraham03 -
Sorry to re-hijack this thread, but could you give us an update on the fender skirts? Somehow, the thread topic morphed into "fridges". Oh well, at least they both begin with an "f".
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Old 04-27-2016, 11:20 AM   #39
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Fenders

For the fenders I am going around and replacing all the #8 sheet metal screws with #10 machine screws and 10/32 jet nuts and a washer on the inside. Most of the #8's are stripped out and spinning and just being held in by side loads. This way I dont have to worry about them coming off. Basically I am going to rig it up with the same hardware as my plane. They keep things on at over 200MPH should be good for plastic fenders at 70.
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Old 05-16-2016, 07:42 AM   #40
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Fridge Update

Just an update on the fridge, Dometic sent a new control board for the fridge. We will see how that goes.
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