Apr-20-2021 05:06 AM
Apr-23-2021 05:22 PM
Kayteg1 wrote:
Funny to compare that my Ford Model T has no water pump.
Thermal action is all needed to keep the engine from overheating.
I agree that having hot outside air circulating sides of the fridge makes no technical sense, but than building a seal on the back of the fridge would be big technical challenge.
If you made you side walls insulation snug with fridge side insulation, good for you, but what about bottom and the top?
Apr-23-2021 03:08 PM
Apr-23-2021 01:11 PM
Kayteg1 wrote:Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
My theory is a little different. The insulation is snug to the sides prohibiting much air exchange. I see the wall insulation functioning as adding 3/4" insulation to the fridge side walls making them more efficient holding cold in the fridge. The fridge is in now and working nicely. The next thing to see how well it works is the Insulation on the outside wall and how well it keeps sun shine generated heat from entering the fridge compartment. Today was that test and the fridge maintained a steady temp with no elevation throughout the day. Well see what happens with more time and observation.
Maybe in your camper the wall insulation and fridge insulation snug together, but on mine it does allow for some air circulation.
Still it it the part with coils that is crucial.
With no insulation AC helps in cooling the compartment, so refrigerator is more efficient, while insulation makes it working with hotter air.
I parted 1 of my campers and refrigerator is now in Sprinter conversion working on electric only. No vents, so it is using interior air, just like household units do.
Th fridge is over 20 years old and it really works nicely, even 100F for me is spring temperature.
I think lot of owners have issue with them due to poor adjustment, or overloading the fridge, so there is on air circulation between fins and the food.
Apr-23-2021 07:53 AM
Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
My theory is a little different. The insulation is snug to the sides prohibiting much air exchange. I see the wall insulation functioning as adding 3/4" insulation to the fridge side walls making them more efficient holding cold in the fridge. The fridge is in now and working nicely. The next thing to see how well it works is the Insulation on the outside wall and how well it keeps sun shine generated heat from entering the fridge compartment. Today was that test and the fridge maintained a steady temp with no elevation throughout the day. Well see what happens with more time and observation.
Apr-23-2021 12:46 AM
Kayteg1 wrote:
I think there is misunderstanding about the concept.
Insulating the compartment for hot weather usage prevents the cold from the camper to escape via compartment open to exterior air.
This way the compartment stays hot -eventually making fridge working harder and warmer.
My Fleetwood had Styrofoam insulation on those walls from the factory.
Couple years ago I did tests on my fridge and it was giving -6 in freezer and +1F refrigerator on 103F afternoon, when empty camper interior was at 99F and fridge wall was facing south.
Not bad for 18 yo fridge.
I simply keep the fins clean and check top vent screen.
Apr-20-2021 05:56 PM
toedtoes wrote:
For my FnR, I found the fans work well in most conditions to keep it cool. But when hot direct sun hits the wall, it fights. So I got a reflective window shield and velcro it on the outside wall just below the vent and fans. It reflects the sun off the trailer and that does the trick. It doesn't hold heat in the venting space, but helps that space from being overheated by the sun. Easy to remove when not needed.
Apr-20-2021 01:56 PM
Apr-20-2021 11:55 AM
notsobigjoe wrote:Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:JimK-NY wrote:
I super insulated my refrigerator compartment but found it did little good. What did work was good ventilation and a couple of computer fans to move the air. If I get a chance, next step will be to position the fans to then blow directly on the refrigerator coil.
I think the one condition it will work well for is when the sun is heating the exterior wall. We have experienced thawing food when that wall gets hot and we have to move to shade it. This RMAX insulation is about as high an R Value for 3/4" as you can get. I'm planning to mount a couple quiet computer fans on top of the roof cap vent screen, just under the fridge roof cap. The previous fan was loud enough to be annoying, plus it's an easy access location.
Jeff I was going to say the same thing about heating up the wall. Mine did the same thing. I did insulate the intake and exhaust covers on the outside of the camper as well as installed a small computer fan on the top one. It works great. I live in Florida and no problems with warm food.
Apr-20-2021 11:48 AM
Apr-20-2021 11:33 AM
Apr-20-2021 11:10 AM
Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:JimK-NY wrote:
I super insulated my refrigerator compartment but found it did little good. What did work was good ventilation and a couple of computer fans to move the air. If I get a chance, next step will be to position the fans to then blow directly on the refrigerator coil.
I think the one condition it will work well for is when the sun is heating the exterior wall. We have experienced thawing food when that wall gets hot and we have to move to shade it. This RMAX insulation is about as high an R Value for 3/4" as you can get. I'm planning to mount a couple quiet computer fans on top of the roof cap vent screen, just under the fridge roof cap. The previous fan was loud enough to be annoying, plus it's an easy access location.
Apr-20-2021 09:57 AM
JimK-NY wrote:
I super insulated my refrigerator compartment but found it did little good. What did work was good ventilation and a couple of computer fans to move the air. If I get a chance, next step will be to position the fans to then blow directly on the refrigerator coil.
Apr-20-2021 06:41 AM