Visit our Popular Forums

MarkJ · 26-05-2011, 08:30

Hi Folks.

My Frigiboat fridge compressor is inside and at the back of a cupboard.

The compressor goes a bit weird when (i think) when it gets hot... Its sort of goes HoooooooErrrrrrrrrHoooooooooooErrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrr. Not the same sort of switching on and off sound as it makes when the batteries are too low.

Anyway, some time ago I put in a computer fan to SUCK the warm air out of the compartment.
The fan position does not align to the compressor at all. So sucking or blowing wont be right towards the compressor.

I have wondered what is better? A sucker or a blower?
If you were installing a fan what would you normall do?

Thanks

My cold beer appreciates your thoughts

Mark

daddle · 26-05-2011, 08:49

If cool air can be directed into the condenser then blowing may be better. If the fan can only generally circulate air in the compressor area then sucking, exhaust, may be better as the hot air can be blown far from the area of the compressor. In either case make sure there are easy ways for cool air to enter and the hot air to leave in some other direction. Little holes are not effective.

lorenzo123 · 26-05-2011, 09:11

Or you could drink beer like an Englishman.

**David M** · 26-05-2011, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenzo123

Or you could drink beer like an Englishman.

Never in the presence of an Aussie, compare them to the British. I learned that while visiting Oz. I would imagine it might work the other way as well.

MarkJ · 26-05-2011, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by David M

Never in the presence of an Aussie, compare them to the British. I learned that while visiting Oz. I would imagine it might work the other way as well.

I don't know if the English own any of their brewries anymore. Haven't they all be bought out by the Aussies, Kiwis and Irish?

But it would make sailing easier: Bung the beer in a hot bath and place in the sun till ripe.

Thanks for the advice

Bash · 08-06-2011, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenzo123

Or you could drink beer like an Englishman.

Wow. That's some of the worst advice I've ever seen on this forum.

**David M** · 26-05-2011, 09:38

If it is in an enclosure, it makes no difference. You either want an exhaust fan towards the top or an inlet fan towards the bottom. You want some sort of powered way of removing the heat.

The 12 volt computer fan is a great idea. I installed some in two places where I have electronics generating heat. You can even buy thermostatically controlled computer fans which run faster when more heat is being generated, saving you the noise and wasted energy of having a computer fan running at full speed all the time.

chala · 07-06-2011, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by David M

If it is in an enclosure, it makes no difference. You either want an exhaust fan towards the top or an inlet fan towards the bottom. You want some sort of powered way of removing the heat.

The 12 volt computer fan is a great idea. I installed some in two places where I have electronics generating heat. You can even buy thermostatically controlled computer fans which run faster when more heat is being generated, saving you the noise and wasted energy of having a computer fan running at full speed all the time.

In high humidity environment water tend to condense on the fan blade. If blowing into an enclosure, that water will be thrown at the equipment in the enclosure.

senormechanico · 07-06-2011, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by chala

In high humidity environment water tend to condense on the fan blade. If blowing into an enclosure, that water will be thrown at the equipment in the enclosure.

Look on the bright side

The water might then evaporate from the heated equipment, thus further cooling it... <sarcasm>

chala · 08-06-2011, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Look on the bright side

The water might then evaporate from the heated equipment, thus further cooling it... <sarcasm>

Evaporative cooling does not work that well in high humidity.

senormechanico · 08-06-2011, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by chala

Evaporative cooling does not work that well in high humidity.

That's why I added the <sarcasm>

Astrid · 26-05-2011, 10:18

Indeed. A former RAF officer of my acquaintance was detailed in the summer 0f 1940 to pick up a group of Australian RAAF pilots who had arrived in Portsmouth by troopship and bring them back to the air base. He found them at the dock gazing around the harbour looking at the numerous barrage balloons. As he was about to introduce himself, one of the pilots quipped, "Why don't the Germans just cut the balloon cables and let the bloody island sink."

donradcliffe · 26-05-2011, 11:01

I would cut a hole in the bottom of the cupboard and have the fan suck air from the bilge area--its cooler.

senormechanico · 26-05-2011, 11:55

Cool air is denser and therefore you will achieve better fan efficiency by "blowing".
I also agree about the bilge air.
I did that on my boat and in doing so, significantly cut the power usage.