TrailManor Owner's Forum  

Go Back   TrailManor Owner's Forum > TrailManor Technical Discussions > Appliances
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-06-2020, 12:10 PM   #1
swamperk
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 42
Default refrigerator fan

this might be a funny question,,when running the refigerator on electricty,,,does the fan has to be turn on,,,or if you running gas it has to be trun on,,i been running the refigerator without turning the fan on with electricty,,,just asking
swamperk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 12:15 PM   #2
TrailManorMan
TrailManor Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 662
Default

Not a funny question at all.
I run mine on hot days but usually off at night. It aids in the cooling cycle as it vents the heat made as cooling is happening.
You need to decide what is best for your frig. Experience will tell you!
__________________

2012 Chevy Traverse 2009.5 TrailManor 2720 with cassette toilet modification. Cat scale weight 3980 lbs. full tanks

"Retractable hard side camper", way more than a pop up

2020 has 28 nights reserved and planning more.
TrailManorMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 12:40 PM   #3
Larryjb
Site Sponsor
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 1,518
Default

In general, if you are going to run the fridge when the trailer closed, there is very poor air circulation removing heat from the fridge, so the fan is necessary in this situation. However, many of us just put some frozen ice packs in the fridge compartment when travelling during the day and don't bother with running the fridge while travelling.

All in all, I rarely use the fridge fan, but it can help with cooling the fridge.
__________________
Larry

2002 Tahoe
2008 4.6 Explorer
2001 2720SD

Various TM images that you may or may not find elsewhere:
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/album.php?u=11700
Larryjb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 12:42 PM   #4
tentcamper
TrailManor Master
 
tentcamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Somerset, OH
Posts: 1,868
Default

I run my vent fan somewhere when the temps are north of 90 degrees. If I could remember to turn it off at night I would. I also, turn down the temp setting, so at night the fridge might get a chance to go into the low 30's.

Also,when temps are above 85 degreed we try to keep it full, even if its just water bottles. This keeps less air flowing in when the door is open and creates a larger cool thermal mass.

Working the fridge this way the fridge does not get north of 45 degrees untill it's in the 100 degree range.
__________________
Art & Joyce
Current camper: Motor Home
Previous: 2009, 3023-QB and 2003 2720
tentcamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 12:50 PM   #5
swamperk
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 42
Default ref

ok thanks guys off my mind,,
swamperk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 02:21 PM   #6
tentcamper
TrailManor Master
 
tentcamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Somerset, OH
Posts: 1,868
Default

The only time the vent has to be run is when you are running the fridge in any mode and the shells are down. This is normaly when traveling. The vent fan must be on.
__________________
Art & Joyce
Current camper: Motor Home
Previous: 2009, 3023-QB and 2003 2720
tentcamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 10:40 PM   #7
cjminear
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 17
Default

Has anybody had an issue with the fridge staying cold while traveling with it set to battery fridge vent fan on?
cjminear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2020, 07:37 AM   #8
Bill
Site Team
 
Bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,088
Default

As has been said, whenever the refrigerator is ON, you should always have the refrigerator vent fan turned ON when the TM is closed, regardless of the mode operation. The fan draws next to no power, so it has no effect on electrical stuff.

If you set the refrigerator to operate on DC while you travel, the refrig will take most of its operating power from the TM battery, and only a little from the tow vehicle. As a result, you will probably arrive at your destination with cold food and a dead or nearly dead TM battery. The way to prevent this is to turn off your TM battery as you travel - however, this disables the TM breakaway switch, which is a very bad idea. There is a separate thread going on right now about how to prevent this. Basically, you add a separate wire directly from the TM battery to the breakaway switch, so when you turn off the battery, the breakaway is still connected.

Take a look at post #16 here.
https://www.trailmanorowners.com/for...ad.php?t=20092

As has also been pointed out, the TM refrig is a pretty good passive cooler. If you get it nice and cold during the night, then turn it off as you leave your campsite, the food will still be cold when you arrive.

Bill
__________________
2020 2720QS (aka 2720SL)
2014 Ford F-150 4WD 5.0L
Bill's Tech Stuff album
Bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2020, 09:36 AM   #9
Larryjb
Site Sponsor
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 1,518
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cjminear View Post
Has anybody had an issue with the fridge staying cold while traveling with it set to battery fridge vent fan on?
Yes, because the trailer battery drained.

But after that, No. After that experience, I've simply put ice packs into the fridge and it says nice and cold without using power. This solution has been so good I've had not desire to do any fancy wiring, adding second batteries, etc etc. Ice packs = simple + practical solution.
__________________
Larry

2002 Tahoe
2008 4.6 Explorer
2001 2720SD

Various TM images that you may or may not find elsewhere:
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/album.php?u=11700
Larryjb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2020, 04:36 PM   #10
cjminear
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 17
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Larryjb View Post
Yes, because the trailer battery drained.

But after that, No. After that experience, I've simply put ice packs into the fridge and it says nice and cold without using power. This solution has been so good I've had not desire to do any fancy wiring, adding second batteries, etc etc. Ice packs = simple + practical solution.
I don't have an issue with it running the battery dead I have a 310 Ah battery Bank 2 GC12 12v Deep cycle golf cart batteries and I do get some solar charging as I travel but I also live in AZ where the temps get over a 100 it seems to help if I pre-cool the fridge the night before on 110v. I'm thinking about hooking the fridge up to my inverter and running it on 110 as I travel. The ice packs seems like a good idea I also use an iceless electric 12v cooler that I keep in the bathtub as I'm traveling
cjminear is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 2022 Trailmanor Owners Page.