Refrigerator vent designs

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robert mcmahan

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Feb 25, 2009
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Need help with my memory. I saw an article on one of our sites showing various venting options for the refrigerator with better and worst options. Can't find it now. I am having to build a new refrig. cabinet and my old one is long gone.
I would like to have the refrig closer to the wall and lower vent but this will make the roof vent off set. The article showed ways to deal with that.
I feel like the guy on the corner holding a cardboard sign "any help is welcome"
Robert McMahan
77 Kingsley 

 
> Need help with my memory. I saw an article on one of our sites showing various venting options for the refrigerator with better and worst options. Can't find it now. I am having to build a new refrig. cabinet and my old one is long gone.
> I would like to have the refrig closer to the wall and lower vent but this will make the roof vent off set. The article showed ways to deal with that.
> I feel like the guy on the corner holding a cardboard sign "any help is welcome"
> Robert McMahan
> 77 Kingsley
>
>
Here is how I did mine.
\http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=4826

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
You can overcome some of the vent problems by using a powered fan to move the air flow across the rear coils. You don't need to trap the air flow, just move it from the bottom of the coil and out the top. I used a small muffin fan, and it cured a cooling problem. Frig gets right cool now. You can buy a small solar powered fan, designed for this use from Camping World, as well as other places. I'm sure that there is an engineered solution, but the small fan worked for me. My coach has the large side vent, made of molded plastic and a roof top vent for the hot air to exhaust out.

Tom Phipps,
with the cold frig
 
> ... I am having to build a new refrig. cabinet and my old one is long gone.
> I would like to have the refrig closer to the wall and lower vent but this will make the roof vent off set. ...


Besides venting the heat:

IF you are planning on using a propane refrigerator and wanting to put the floor of the cabinet lower than the vented outside door, you need to be aware of a need to need to provide a propane ?drain.? Propane will pool in any low spots creating a fire hazard. I suspect that is why Coachman installed the Birchaven?s refrigerator even with the beltline and the door ? leaving 6 inches of empty space under it.

On my ?73, I drilled a 1.5 inch hole from the bottom of the OEM cabinet to the wheel well and installed a plastic pipe.

--
Mike Miller
`73 26' X Painted D.
`78 23' Birchaven
Hillsboro, OR
 
I would like to have the refrig closer to the wall and lower vent but this will make the roof vent off set.
_________________________________________________

My GMC came with the competition to Norcold refrig. That frig went bad and I had a NORCOLD 3 way so I installed that one.

There are some concerns

The Norcold needed the face of the cabinet moved OUT 1 1/2 to 2 inches to fit.

If you are moving the frig toward the wall, you will need to lower the frig. The problem is up where the wall curves in toward the center of the room. you lose room there because there are fins up there on the frig.

In my case, to lower the frig physically, I had to remove the lower cabinet, and the refer cab floor. This would then cause side vent problems for access.

I moved the face of the ref cab out 1 1/2 inch to fit the Norcold.

If you still want to move the frig closer to the wall, watch that upper curve of the wall, and I suggest making a cardboard pattern of the space and the curve to study next to the frig.

I also had a problem the PO gave me that many people have had. The floor of the frig cabinet is lower than the outside vent door. Propane is heavy and if it leaks will puddle, any spark and BOOM. Just a cautionary thought there.

for what its worth
--
Gatsbys' CRUISER :d
74 GLACIER X, 260
455/APC/4 bagg'r(ver3)
Remflex Manifold gaskets
_______________________________________________
Purchased 08-18-04

_


 
> ... I also had a problem the PO gave me that many people have had. The floor of the frig cabinet is lower than the outside vent door. Propane is heavy...


As the GM OEM refrigerator was electric, it wasn't a problem until someone swapped in a propane refrigerator. (Seems this was done on most coaches.) Many of these conversions where done by people that might not have thought about safety very much. As nothing has happened in the 20 or so years following the conversion, they might have a point?. or we where lucky.

Anyway, many have the 115v plug in this same area, below the level of the door were propane would ?puddle.? On my '73, I relocated the plug up the side, just about as high as I can reach from the door. (At the same time I drilled the propane drain to the wheel-well.) I thought I had posted pictures, but can?t seem to find them. (I KNOW I took some when the refer was out.) I?ll take more if anyone is interested.

Something else to look at: On many coaches the cabinets are not sealed to the wall very well... any propane leakage will seek the lowest spot even if this is inside the coach. (Not really a good thing.) Besides, for sealing and insulation proposes the backside of the refrigerator is on the OUTSIDE of the coach, so it should be sealed for that reason if no other.

Not long after making these changes, I replaced my 3-way refer with an all electric unit. It may not need it, but it is well vented!

--
Mike Miller
`73 26' X Painted D.
`78 23' Birchaven
Hillsboro, OR
 
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