Fridge fitting...need vents???

Post by **mellowyellow** » 16 Jul 2007, 20:02

Hi campers,
I've recently purchased a Transporter, with a view of turning it into a camper.
At the same time as buying the van i bought a caravan to strip out the kitchen etc..
Anyhow i got the fridge out of the caravan and the exhaust vent from the outside. There was no more vents on the outside of the caravan at all.
Just wondering when i fit the fridge in the van will i need to put more vents in???? or will the exhaust vent be enough?
Plus do i need to put a gas drop vent in the floor (it is a 3 way fridge), if i do need a vent where would i be able to purchase the vents??

Post by **vic20** » 16 Jul 2007, 21:49

Have been messing around in mine and our fridge has vents at the top and bottom that vent inide the van, and only the exhaust goes outside.

There is no gas drop for the fridge, just th gas bottle, and having just moved the bottle found that a large hammer and chisel makes a perfectly good drop in a rusty floor.

Hope this helps
Joe

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 16 Jul 2007, 22:40

You need the exhaust to go out the side obviously, the fridge will work better with vents in the bodyside, but they arn`t essential, as long as you can get warm air out from the fridge it should be OK. Put some vents in the cupboard sides and top edges to allow the warm air to escape. This is how the later Westy works anyway.

Post by **brookie** » 17 Jul 2007, 10:16

If the fridge is properly fitted and sealed in, the top body mounted grille will take away the flue gases AND the heat from the heat exchanger. If it is not sealed in (like mine, far too gappy!) you have to have a flue tube going to a dedicated vent on body skin. This could be a separate small circular grille vent or attached/incorporated to the large top grille - this would be neater as you don't have to cut another hole.
The important thing is to make sure this flue tube is well secured both to the condenser and the grille so there are no fumes getting back into the camper.
The fridge efficiency will be better if you can get as much cool air as possible to it so ideally you would have an inlet grille (identical to top exhaust grille). If you position this at floor level to the fridge all the better as you will not need a gas drop out vent otherwise you definitely will want a floor vent. This ensures that if you were to get a gas leak at the fridge connections it will safely vent away. Obviously the gas locker should have a drop-out vent too.
If you've got a 3 way Electrolux fridge you're in luck as you can get all the frames for the grilles (R 1610) and grilles (A 1609),sealing profiles and flue tube from good camping shops!

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 17 Jul 2007, 18:01

Westy fridges work without having bodyside vent grills, just an exhaust flue vent with plastic cover.

Post by **mellowyellow** » 17 Jul 2007, 18:18

Thanks for all your help lads.
Think i've got it now. I can just put the exhaust vents on the outsice of THE van, then just put the vents in the front of the kitchen unit( as they were in the caravan)
i am attemping to self build the interior, so i'm gunna try to make my own vent in the shape of the VW sign.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:23

Worth fitting a blower fan to move the air over the fridge heat exchanger at the rear, seen people use 12V computer fans to good effect. The fan on mine (OE fitment) runs from a temp sensor, doesn`t cut in much though so I think the fridge is vented adequately. Works well anyway

Post by **kevtherev** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:32

Second westy club here as Devons had no vents either ...just a flue.

the warm air is a blessing in the winter

Post by **kentishvanman** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:07

Is the fridge a dometic (Electrolux) one? cos if you go on to the Dometic website you can download the installation instructions and that will tell you all you need to know. The Haynes Motor Caravan manual (2nd edition) is well worth a read especially if you are starting from scratch. Best of luck

Post by **kevtherev** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:09

Hello kentishvanman welcome.....

Have you a link for that Dometic site mate?

Post by **kentishvanman** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:17

Try www.dometic.com then look under recreational vehicles

Post by **kevtherev** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:24

Have put your post in the Wiki....thanks

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 18 Jul 2007, 08:09

mellowyellow wrote:Plus do i need to put a gas drop vent in the floor (it is a 3 way fridge), if i do need a vent where would i be able to purchase the vents??

We've got a drop-out hole in the floor of the cupboard where the gas bottle is, but also one at the back of the fridge - presumably as a precaution in case the flame goes out but if that did happen, isn't there a thermocouple or something that shuts off the gas supply to these fridges?

Tony

Post by **Tex Ritter** » 18 Jul 2007, 18:26

Nicola&Tony wrote: We've got a drop-out hole in the floor of the cupboard where the gas bottle is, but also one at the back of the fridge - presumably as a precaution in case the flame goes out but if that did happen, isn't there a thermocouple or something that shuts off the gas supply to these fridges?

Tony

Nowt to do with the flame failure device, just a gas drop out hole serving a gas appliance, in case of leaks from supply pipes etc,.

Don't obstruct your gas drop out holes with bits and bobs.

TR

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Fridge fitting...need vents???

Fridge fitting...need vents???

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Re: Fridge fitting...need vents???