I added the little fans inside...even wired them in and had a switch.
Result...the inside temp increased! (i have a digital thermometer to monitor the
inside temp)  these were the little radio shack CPU fans.

Davidson wrote:

> Mike,
> I considered adding a fan inside my fridge... like Derek Drew mentioned in
> his article Refrigerator Madness. But I didn't have the time (or the wiring
> knowledge at the time). So I bought one of the battery operated Fridge Mate
> fans that are sold at RV stores for use inside the fridge. Getting air
> movement over the inside cooling fins and around the food is EXTREMELY
> important to getting the most out of the fridge. It really helps a lot. At
> first I didn't like the fact that the battery operated fan took up what I
> thought was useable food storage space inside the fridge. But after using it
> for two seasons my current thoughts are that it is not taking up useable
> space at all. Really, in order to get air circulation (the purpose of the
> fan) you need to leave space for the air to circulate; if you pack the food
> too tightly there is no room for the air to circulate around the food so the
> food doesn't get or stay cold (even if you have a fan inside). Well, it
> turns out that by locating the battery operated fan strategically in the
> center of the center shelf it not only circulates the air up an over the
> cold fins, it also by its location keeps the center of the fridge open for
> air circulation back down and around the food. In other words, the fan
> serves as a physical reminder to keep that air space open for circulation,
> thus thwarting the natural temptation to pack more food in there. Also there
> is no wiring job and no possibility of it running your battery down. Anyway,
> that's my 2 cents.
> Bill
> 90 Westy Syncro
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Date: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 9:43 PM
> Subject: Re: Refrigerator Fans
>
> >Volks -
> >
> >I have my refrigerator out on the bench in my shop.  As I mentioned in
> >a couple of posts last week, I couldn't get it to light on gas, so I
> >removed it to tackle the problem.
> >
> >While it's out I'm going to take advantage of the very timely and
> >helpful posts several people have sent about adding extra fans.
> >
> >The outside ones seem pretty straightforward, but the little one
> >inside puzzles me.  How do you control the power?  Do you need to put
> >in a switch to turn it on or off?  Is there someplace in the
> >refrigerator circuit where you can get power only when the
> >refrigerator is chilling?
> >
> >Oh - and I found out what my problem was with the gas. My previous
> >Westy was an '83, and the control panel on the one in the '87 has lots
> >of jazzy symbols rather than words.  I checked the manual, and found
> >that the lighting procedure is the same, so I turned the gas valve to
> >On like it said.  On is the position with the O next to the gas flame,
> >right?  The vertical bar at the top must be Off.
> >
> >Ah well, so much for interpreting VW symbolism.  I had the gas valve
> >turned off every time I tried to light it.  Not too surprising that it
> >didn't work.
> >
> >At least now the burner has been thoroughly cleaned, and I have a
> >chance to do the fan upgrade.
> >
> >I also wrapped some fiberglass insulation around the exhaust stack,
> >securing it with a couple of wraps of wire.  It should let the stack
> >warm up faster, and keep the flame from going out so easily when it's
> >just starting.
> >
> >Now if someone will just help me out with the best way to wire the
> >inside fan?  I just picked up a tiny Radio Shack 12v fan that ought to
> >just fit.
> >
> >Thanks for the help!
> >
> >Mike Finkbiner
> >
> >'87 Westy - which now has lots of new tubing on top of the gas tank,
> >and doesn't leak any more!
> >
> >_______________________________________________________________
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> >