[p][font size="3"]Earlier this year I got on the ladder in search of a good spot to mount an exterior fridge fan. Lo and behold, I found a factory mounted fan.[/font][/p][p][font size="3"]
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[/font][/p][p][font size="3"]However, there was a small problem, the thermal snap switch which controls the fan had been strained which caused limited contact with the cooling fin. In this condition it probably did not work or it worked very poorly at best. Also, no thermal compound, aka thermal grease, had been applied to the switch face, which diminishes its' ability to work efficiently. If you have this fan already installed, you may want to check to see if the grease has been added. You can find little tubes of thermal compound at Radio Shack. [/font][/p][p][font size="3"]
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[/font][/p][p][font size="3"]I rerouted the wires to get rid of the strain and applied thermal grease to the switch. The existing sheet metal screws would not cinch up tight with the cooling fin, so I replaced them with #4-40x1/4 cap head screws and Nyloc nuts.[/font][/p][p][font size="3"]
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[/font][/p][p][font size="3"]I also use a little cooling fan, which uses one "D" cell battery, to circulate the air inside the fridge, which helps it cool more efficiently. You can find these little fans at Camping World. [/font][/p][p][font size="3"]
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What is thermal grease and why is it necessary in this application?
Thanks
Steve
Thermal grease may not be necessary, but it increases efficiency of heat transfer so the fan will turn off and on more accurately with temperature change. Here's a typical example.
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Performance-Thermal-Paste/dp/B0009PTBZ6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1419702405&sr=8-5&keywords=thermal+grease
[p][font size="3"]Ditto with what Merlin said. [/font][/p][p]
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[font face="arial" size="3"]I don't believe I have a fan on my RDB 13, but I wonder if it would help improve efficiency?? Thanks for the post. I forgot to ask--is it 12 or 110 volt?/ Is it used with any of the 3 power sources?[/font]
12 volt on the fan. I'm not sure about efficiency increase because the fan itself uses power, but increased air flow over the coils on the fridge may help increase cooling capacity on hot days.