Refrigerator fan

[twdavid]

Is it necessary to be running the fan for the refrigerator all the time?

[John E Davies]

no.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Mike and Carol]

Agree with John.  We rarely turn our fan on.  If the temps outside are really high we will, but normally it’s off.  Mike

[mossemi]

I, on the other hand leave my fan switched on 24/7 365 and let the thermostat decide when to run it or not.

Mossey

[ScubaRx]

Are you guys referring to an internal or external fan?

[mossemi]

I was referring to my Oliver OEM external fan.  I have replaced both the fan and the thermostat.  My add-on internal fan runs all of the time.

Mossey

[Mike and Carol]

5 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

Are you guys referring to an internal or external fan?

External.  

[John Dehne]

What refrigerator are you referring to?  And what year is your trailer? I didn’t know there was a OEM external refrigerator fan. Thanks.

[Mike and Carol]

24 minutes ago, John Dehne said:

What refrigerator are you referring to?  And what year is your trailer? I didn’t know there was a OEM external refrigerator fan. Thanks.

twdavid’s profile shows that he has a 2017 Elite II.  That means his trailer came with a Dometic 3-way refrigerator.  Oliver installed exhaust fans with a manual on/off switch for some time.  All of us responding also have 2014-2017 Elite II’s with the Dometic and manual fan.  It would be nice if folks put a complete signature block so we could quickly see what year and model they have.  If they don’t you can always go to their profile to find out.  Mike

[Fargoman]

For those of you whose trailers have a refrigerator fan, where is the fan switch located? My 2021 LE2 doesn't have a fan switch that I have noticed. If Oliver stopped installing a refrigerator fan after the 2017 models, does anyone know why?

[mossemi]

6 hours ago, Fargoman said:

For those of you whose trailers have a refrigerator fan, where is the fan switch located? My 2021 LE2 doesn't have a fan switch that I have noticed. If Oliver stopped installing a refrigerator fan after the 2017 models, does anyone know why?

My fan switch is located on the main switch panel just inside the door.  I don’t know why they stopped, but I do know they are located differently in some trailers.  You can always add your own as some others have done.

Mossey

Edited March 2, 2023 by mossemi
Manual spelling correction 😉

[Steph and Dud B]

20 minutes ago, Fargoman said:

My 2021 LE2 doesn't have a fan switch that I have noticed

Our 2022 has a Norcold fridge. There is an external fan in the rear fridge compartment that is controlled automatically. It moves a lot of air. No manual switch.

[topgun2]

I manual switch is REALLY helpful when in the middle of the night that fan decides to start screaming like some demon - don't ask me how I know this.

Bill

[rideandfly]

Here's our 2015 LE2 12V fan for a three way Dometic refrigerator that has a temperature controlled on/off switch and a on/off switch on the main panel at the entrance door.

 

[topgun2]

Here's that same fan after being up (and down) a 40 mile dirt road!

 

[John E Davies]

The Dometic 3 way did not have a fan originally. At some point it started to come with one pre-installed by the factory, so Oliver no longer added a separate fan and circuit. That is how it is in Hull 218, delivered in April 2017. Unfortunately the Dometic fan is located right in the middle where you cannot access it to clean or replace it when it starts to screech. You can barely see it with a flex borescope… 

You can disconnect the fan’s power wire from the circuit board, I ran my fridge that way for years, but I no longer recommend that you do that. If the fridge has never been out for inspection, you should do it now and not later. The Oliver Dometic installation is STUPID ENGINEERING, frustrating for the owner and above all it is a  very serious fire hazard. Fact not opinion. Please read this thread:

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/8865-fridge-fires-if-you-have-an-older-hull-you-really-need-to-pull-out-that-fridge-now/

 

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

[rideandfly]

3 hours ago, John E Davies said:

You can disconnect the fan’s power wire from the circuit board, I ran my fridge that way for years, but I no longer recommend that you do that. If the fridge has never been out for inspection, you should do it now and not later. 

 

John,

Thanks for the photos and link. 

For the folks that have a 3 way Dometic refrigerator fan located where your fan was located, what if they disconnect power to their existing fan leaving that fan in place and install a new 12V fan & auto switch where located on earlier LE2 campers, with manual switch at the main switch panel at the entrance door?

 

[John Dehne]

Found the fan on my 2021 Norcold. You can’t see it by opening both exterior vents. I needed to use my phone to take a picture from bottom looking up.  It would be a ***** to change if needed. I also installed a piece of rubber between the 3/8 gas line after bending in Down a little it’s was rubbing on the black hot gas line. Don’t need a leak on either system. 

[Steph and Dud B]

8 hours ago, rideandfly said:

what if they disconnect power to their existing fan leaving that fan in place and install a new 12V fan & auto switch where located on earlier LE2 campers, with manual switch at the main switch panel at the entrance door?

That's exactly what I did in an earlier fifth wheel we had. Worked great.

[Rivernerd]

John Dehne:

Thanks for the "heads up," with photo, demonstrating the potential for physical contact between the propane line and the black hot gas line on the Norcold absorption fridge.

I checked the Norcold fridge on our Hull #1291.  Fortunately, ours was installed with more horizontal space between the copper propane line and the black hot gas line.   There is enough clearance that, even when wiggled, the two lines cannot contact each other.

I recommend that each owner of a Norcold absorption fridge double-check this clearance issue, and address any conflict like you did, by inserting some kind of pliable insulator between them.

Good catch!