3 way fridge vents size! Huge!!!

[jiffies]

Hi
Just bought a new Dometic RM4181 3 way fridge for the van. I’ve been informed it need 2 x vents going externally out of the van. The cut out holes are huge H 156mm W 451mm. I don’t really want two dirty great holes as large as this. Anybody else used smaller vents & what would be the consequence?

Could I not have a large inward vent inside the van as shown in the bottom example (Not mine by the way) then only one of the outside

Cheers

Jiffies

[eatcustard]

My Leisure drive has only one vent (the higher one)
and had the Electrolux version fitted.

It does not say you must have both, but for best performance have both

[windysurfer]

I just fitted an internal vent with a thermostatically controlled fan for the top vent and an air gap at the bottom

[Jill]

If you are planning to use gas as a power source, then yes, you do need external vents. Carbon Monoxide has no smell, but the blood will take it up in preference to oxygen, thereby killing you.

Don't cut corners with gas in your van.

Cheers Jill

[windysurfer]

If you are planning to use gas as a power source, then yes, you do need external vents. Carbon Monoxide has no smell, but the blood will take it up in preference to oxygen, thereby killing you.

Don't cut corners with gas in your van.

Cheers Jill

I think we're referring to vents to allow a good flow of air over the cooling fins at the rear of the fridge.The exhaust gases from the fridge must be vented outside.

It's an excellent idea to use a carbon monoxide in your van as well

[jamesc76]

I fitted just the top one and leave the cover on it unless its a silly hot day!

[Ian Hulley]

The other issue is condensation which forms on the panel behind the fridge and runs down, collects and rots out the lower sill panels. I put the 2 vents in my van, but have the lower one blocked up in winter. Then again I wanted my former panel van to look and work like a camper not t'other way round.

Ian.

[jiffies]

The bottom external vent is a MUST. This allows cold air in & more importantly carbon monoxide out.
The only issue I have is that the Dometic vents are too large to fit where they should be for the fridge to be at its most efficient. The top vent wont fit in the panel directly below the window, then there is the thin recesss level with the door handles. So the only place it can pysicallt fit is the next panel down. If you then instal the bottom vent so that it is only just above the van finished floor level this only leaves 265mm between the two vents. It just looks all too invasive.
All I'm looking at doing is ventinmg the top vent some other way
Options:
Venting through pipe to external van louvre vents
Using a smaller rectangular fridge vent (Although the cheaper ones certainly dont look water tight)
Have a small custom vent cover made so i can drill a hole/slots in van that the cover fits over and stops rain etc. (Possibly stainless steel- Sort of similar to a leadlamp eyebrow type design) Anyone ever seen this sort of thing?

[Nicola&Tony]

The bottom external vent is a MUST. This allows cold air in & more importantly carbon monoxide out.

Surely any carbon monoxide that is produced when the fridge is running on gas goes up the chimney and out of the flu? Afaik Autosleeper only fitted one vent when they installed Electrolux fridges in t25's, but it's a type which has an integral flu. We often sleep with the fridge running on the lowest gas setting overnight and a carbon monoxide alarm not very far away.

Tony

[Ian Hulley]

The bottom external vent is a MUST. This allows cold air in & more importantly carbon monoxide out.

Surely any carbon monoxide that is produced when the fridge is running on gas goes up the chimney and out of the flu? Afaik Autosleeper only fitted one vent when they installed Electrolux fridges in t25's, but it's a type which has an integral flu. We often sleep with the fridge running on the lowest gas setting overnight and a carbon monoxide alarm not very far away.

Tony

Totally agree.

Ian

[jiffies]

Apologies!

Text from instruction manual:

Lower vent allows any leaking unburnt gas to escape. If there is no lower vent then a 40mm dia. hole in van floor is required

Flue gases are dispersed through upper grill vent

Therefore both are required as they wouldnt sell two otherwise. I just need a better solution for the top one!!

[Ian Hulley]

Is there a separate flue on this fridge ?

Ian.

[windysurfer]

The other issue is condensation which forms on the panel behind the fridge and runs down, collects and rots out the lower sill panels. I put the 2 vents in my van, but have the lower one blocked up in winter. Then again I wanted my former panel van to look and work like a camper not t'other way round.

Ian.

Are the hardboard panels removed from behind your fridge then Ian?
There still in place on mine which should stop\help with the condensation problem.

[Nicola&Tony]

. . . I just need a better solution for the top one!!

How about fitting (1) a bottom vent or drop-out hole (2) an upper vent which vents inside the van (like windysurfer did) (3) a flue kit for the carbon monoxide:
http://www.caravantech-shop.co.uk/produ ... c-flue-kit

Tony

[Team28crew]

Just an idea so sorry if its carp but could you not fit the lower vent into the floor behind the fridge, that way you only have one vent on the side of your van. This is the set up on my Leisure drive conversion, flue out at the top and a vent under the rear of the fridge.