last question for this morning, anyway - 'fridge venting

[bevans6]

Obviously what i spent sunday doing was crawling all over my new bus and making a list of questions to ask...   

this one is the 3 way refridgerator.  Currently it's set up for propane only.  While I expect to add the  120 VAC option, I plan to run it mostly on propane.  It doesn't have what I normally see on RV's as an exterior access panel to the rear, for maintenance access and air for the propane.  It is vented top to bottom with a vent into the luggage bay on the bottom and a normal roof vent on top.  Is this an acceptable install, or do I really need to cut the side of the bus and install an exterior panel?  It seems to work just fine.

thanks again for all the great help, so far - keep up the good work!   

[Len Silva]

Propane refrigerators need occasional maintenance, including cleaning the chimney.  If you don't have access to the back of the unit, that would be very difficult.

[Utahclaimjumper]

You also occasionly need to light it manualy so access is needed.>>>Dan

[loosenut]

Obviously what i spent sunday doing was crawling all over my new bus and making a list of questions to ask...   

this one is the 3 way refridgerator.  Currently it's set up for propane only.  While I expect to add the  120 VAC option, I plan to run it mostly on propane.  It doesn't have what I normally see on RV's as an exterior access panel to the rear, for maintenance access and air for the propane.  It is vented top to bottom with a vent into the luggage bay on the bottom and a normal roof vent on top.  Is this an acceptable install, or do I really need to cut the side of the bus and install an exterior panel?  It seems to work just fine.

thanks again for all the great help, so far - keep up the good work!   

Mine is vented through a closet to the roof.  I've only run it on propane.  I have hook ups this weekend so I will attempt to run it on 120v.


Mike

[JohnEd]

I have never run mine on 120VAC.  I have heard it said that the performance of the fridg is less robust on AC.  IE, it doesn't get as cold.

If you don't have one of those little fans that run off of a single D cell.....GET ONE!  Mine works great unless I put goods directly over the fan.  With it off all the stuff in the bottom freezes unless the door is being opened and closed often as in "children".

The better the flow of cooling air behind the refer, the better it will perform and if it is inadequate....the thing will not cool.  Many have installed small 12V muffin fans in the roof to aid the convection flow.  A bilge blower is not advised.

John

[boogiethecat]

The only thing I can add is that the propane burners often "soot up" and need to be scraped clean -on mine about once a year-
and I always had hassles getting the automatic lighting thinn to work during wet humid days.

So for me, an access panel to the rear was a necessity.  It doesn't have to be big, just placed well enough that you can get a coathanger up into the burner area to harrass it of it's soot, and a match to it as well...

Just a reminder, ol' Fast Fred gave me a neat hint years ago; instead of the massive holes in the sides of your bus and roof, etc, for a propane fridge you can use a solar powered nicro-fico vent fan instead, and get away with a small (4") hole for both inlet and outlet.  Worked fine for me until I went "compressor style".

Cheers
G