Installing the Dometic Fridge Fan Kit (RMS 8556)

[@howardpalin67]

I Phil I fitted a Thetford fridge fan a few years ago and what a success it is, our fridge vents are in the awning so in warm weather the fridge really does suffer. I think I noticed that you can't control the fan you fitted, the Thetford one (very similar to yours) comes with an isolator switch which is fitted behind the vents, I didn't like this placement so I extended the wires and fitted it under the seats next to the consumer unit in the caravan (out of the way and secure) this gave me control of the fan which I preferred. I've seen loads of other ideas on fans of which some are really just nasty bodges so fitting one of these is expensive but well worth it as these really do work. Small hands and taking your time is a MUST. Thanks again for another great Vlog..👍

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Howard. Yes have the fridge vents can be a pain if in the awning. Sounds like you did a great job. It worked well in the previous weeks heat in Oxfordshire. Yes small hands and a lot of time and patience. Thanks Phil:)

[@rhinogooner]

I love those wago connectors use them all the time in house and van. One thing I also use is ferrules on a stranded wire. Makes the end of the wire neater and easier to fit into a terminal.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Yes they are very handy. At home I tin my cables with solder. Must check those ferrules out. Thanks Phil🙂👍

[@noormancrabb6428]

Good morning, another interesting video. Good to hear an honest review with regards to product and fitting. Its’sa pity that Dometic don’t supply everything that’s needed for the price.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hello Sir. Hope all is well. Yes it would be nice but this is the caravan accessory world sadly. Thanks Phil:)

[@barry1615]

We have the same fan fitted to our Dometic 8xxx series fridge in a Swift caravan. We had to have it fitted by an approved engineer as the only way to do it was to disconnect and pull the fridge forward. At least it's powered from the dedicated fridge fan output connection.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Barry. Yes some dometic fridges do have the connection but mine didn't. I bought it because I thought it did but alass no. Thanks Phil:)

[@paulandsarahcaravanlife]

Honest review .Hi Phil 👋 great video and I will be using your method as I'm thinking of doing ours. It makes sense. Cheers Paul and Sarah

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Paul. I does work but it is expensive for something so simple. Thanks Phil:)

[@robswiseways5697]

Another good job done there Phil and ready for the next heatwave 👍. We both tackled this awkward to fit fan in our own way but had the same thoughts on fitting and the lack of box contents such as an in-line fuse and cable clips. Cheers for the mention. All the best, Rob 😀

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Rob. Not quite as neat as your job but as long as it works (which it did last whilst away) Thanks Phil:)

[@HitchUpAndTow]

Hi Phil, nice job and easy, those are the one's I like👍

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Thanks Mark. I am thinking of adding an extractor fan as well. Cheers Phil🙂👍

[@BessiesTravels]

Off to France in August to really thinking of getting one of these. Thanks for the useful information about the fitting. Mike

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Mike you are more than welcome. I have some European caravan videos coming soon. Thanks Phil:)

[@BessiesTravels]

Just ordered a Brunner Vento NG kit from CamperHappy for only £49.99 - will try to video the installation 👍

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Sounds a good bit of kit. Look forward to your video. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@busterboy7505]

Well done Phil, we will never be able to travel abroad with our caravan, wife is not a good traveler, our fridge is on the awning side, and I was wondering if the fridge did struggle could I put a desk top fan on a table and have it blowing in to the fridge vent, it would save a lot of struggling and it would be a lot cheaper, thanks again Phil 👍👍.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi BB. Sorry to read about your Wife. Yes a table would work just as well. We have had 10 lovely days of weather in Oxfordshire. The fan I fitted kicked in a few times. Thanks Phil.:)

[@andrew-karens-adventures]

How much, what a rip off you could probably buy all the items at a 3rd of the price, another great video thanks for your honest review 👍

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Andrew. Yes it is bloody expensive. Have a look on line there are cheaper options. Thanks Phil:)

[@DuBstep115]

I installed Noctua PC fan (best fan money can buy) with constant 12v and just simple on off switch.

[@gavinstreetie1473]

I think as I can remember the fridge seamed to run hot most of the time ,do the new ones have fans in it wonder ? Seams a good upgrade

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Gav. Some of the new fridge do have a cooling fan. Hoping it will work in Spain this year🙄 Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@steveelliot-y1i]

Unless I've missed the detail, not sure where/how you've mounted the fan?

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Steve. Good question. The fan is attached to the rear of the fridge with double sided tape underneath the top condenser unit. The rear of the fridge was difficult to film as the was hardly any room. Thanks Phil 👍🙂

[@TicketyBoo.]

I regularly fit similar setups in computer cabinets. Even from eBay, a decent 120 mm fan is about £7. A thermal switch less than £5. They really are taking us for fools at those prices. BTW, both fan and switch are available waterproof, just make sure you seal the cable connections.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi TB. I know you can get much cheaper parts but I not that great with electrics. I have since sealed the connections with a rubber sleeving. Thanks Phil:)

[@rmmachado902]

Good morning. Please know the temperature of the thermal switch that comes with the kit. or even the reference recorded on the thermal thermostat. It would help me a lot. thanks.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi the temperature of the switch was not disclosed in the kit. Personally I think it is a waste of money. I am away and it is very hot and the fan has not kicked once. I would buy titan fan kit from Amazon which extracts the heat. Cannot send a link as I am on my phone. Hope this helps. Phil 🙂👍

[@rmmachado902]

@@lostweekendscaravan Hi, I can talk, I just made my adjustment after seeing this and with a digital temperature reader and a digital thermostat I can make it work at the desired temperature and it turns on and off ok. I have the refrigerator at half power and it is -20 degrees Celsius. Important NOTE I had to put a switch to turn it off at night because of the noise that bothers me when I sleep and others don't.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi thanks for letting me know. Mine has failed to work at all despite adjusting the temperature. I will be seeking an alternative when I get home. I am sharing my thoughts in Sundays video. Thanks Phil 🙂👍

[@CarlAdamson2563]

Hi Phil have you done a video on bed gas struts ? I’ve now got a 1000 pocket sprung duvalay mattress and topper plus the bedding and it’s such a struggle to lift the bed up, I’ve made a wooden hold up prop out of a broom and put two rubber stopper either end to keep the bed up. Don’t know to get car struts or if there’s a place you know to get upgraded ones. SGS seem to popping up a lot when I google caravan struts. Cheers. Carl

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Carl I have not but like you the Og struts do struggle since we added the Jonic Topper. It maybe for a future video. Yes SGS look very good quality. You Would have to check the supported weight of the originals and find a stronger version I guess. Thanks Phil:)

[@CarlAdamson2563]

@@lostweekendscaravan hi Phil, yes there 350NM but think I need about 600NM. The sgs website is really good as you just put the part number in and it comes up with what I need. Unfortunately it’s the 350NM ones which isn’t enough for the new bed. Yes definitely a future video as I’ve had a look and doesn’t look a straight forward bolt off sort of thing. Thanks. Carl

[@kevinfordham4455]

Hi Phil, might seem a simple question, but is the fan drawing air away or pushing air in?

[@hmallett]

Your fridge will have two vents, one high, one low, with cooler air entering the lower vent, and warmer air exiting the top vent. Without the fan, this process happens purely by convection. The fan should blow air in that same direction.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Kevin. Great question. This fan can be either depending on which way you fit it. I have blowing to cool it. Other kits tend to be extractor fans. Thanks Phil:)

[@paulefc1971]

We have one of these fitted and it was absolutely no use whatsoever in France last year nor the year before, the fridge was beeping and giving too warm error messages pretty much every day, we are bting the bullet and buying a compressor cool box this year just to keep things cool

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Paul I hope it does work, last year without it, it was a pain in the ass. We have a 12volt cool box which does work but only if the items are already cold. We tend to use ice in it as well. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@robforrest12739]

I need to do something for ours as we’re off to south France in August 🥵

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Rob. Hope all is well. Yes it would be a good idea Holland last year the fridge struggled a lot. We also have Spain this year as well, Phew. Thanks Phil:)

[@colinrimmer789]

Hi Phil could you buy computer fans to do the job? Price is a bit of a rip off, Dometic are having a laugh.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Colin yes you can make your own version. You would just need the correct thermal switch. Yes it is expensive borderline rip off. Thanks Phil:)

[@BessiesTravels]

Colin - this kit is cheaper kzbin.info/www/bejne/lV6cqqCvoLdqbbssi=5DxeP_Bez5aF8eqM

[@whatsmining9917]

I fitted a fan but it burnt-out the element think it pushed it to far

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Oops I hope you managed to get it fixed. I am looking at something a bit better. Thanks Phil 🙂👍

[@williebinkwilliebink8689]

such great detail with lots of information until you said, thats it fitted, where did you thermal switch, how did you fix it, the fans, how did you fit that? we know it was tight but how tight? no instalation.. just a video of how it looked after you fitted.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi I explained it was very difficult to film inside. I guess this not one of my better ones. The downside is this fan is crap and has not worked. I did an up date video and has now been removed. Sorry you were disappointed. Phil.

[@davidmckay4273]

I blame the caravan manufacturers. They persist on putting the fridges on the awning side of caravans. This area in a hot country can easerly reach 50c inside the awning . We go to France in the summer and our fridge fails every year. Even with a fan.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi David I totally agree with you. The industry know it is an issue but we have to pay for alternative solutions. Thanks Phil 🙂👍

[@michaelmartin500]

Well explained, but the pricing is an absolute rip off, I had the same over heating problem in my motorhome fridge last year so I purchased a 5" USB powered desk fan (£5 on Temu) which I will connect to a phone charger power pack and I can use my jump starter as a power supply if needed

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Michael. Thanks for your comment. Yes it is over priced and not really that good. There are much better products out there that do a far better job. I like your idea and it sounds like it would work. I have to say I am looking at a better solution myself. Sometimes we show things that are not best so Folk can make an informed choice as how they spend their hard earned money. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@DuBstep115]

1€ worth of wire, 4€ fan and 10€ thermal switch + dometic logo = 100€

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Yep you are quite correct. It is not worth the money at all. There are better ones out there that do a better job including DIY versions. Thanks Phil🙂👍

[@bobmckayfreedom]

What a price considering you have to fit yourself ….the parts are peanuts

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Bob yes I agree. The fan should be fitted as standard if you ask me. Thanks Phil:)

[@musicmancjp]

Good video as always. It amazes me how cheap and rubbish caravan appliances are. But the prices charged are extortionate. Anything dometic or truma fitted to most makes of caravans are just poor Quality. I have a 2013 swift 530se and to be honest I am not impressed by the build quality of that either, microwave cheap,stereo cheap.panoramic windows and decals cracking and leaking,back panels cracking.The list goes on and on.What are your conclusions.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Chris. When we were looking for a caravan 7 years ago I have to say I was not impressed by the used Caravans available at the time. We decided to up our budget and bought a new Sprite. I had heard horror stories about the previous model but the one I bought seemed a lot better made and better materials used. i have found my 2018 Sprite to be fairly good. yes it has had some issues but not as many as other Brands. I agree that every bloody thing cost 3 times as much and most are cheaply made and poor quality. Like yourself I look after my van but recently I have noticed a few poor designs which I am going to cover in another tinkering video. I come across many Caravan brands and models in a year and i have say I prefer my Sprite even over the more expensive swifts, coachmans, Eldiss and baileys. keep watching I will try and help put things right at the lowest price I can. Thanks phil:)

[@TheOldRogue]

Essentially you are paying over £100 for something that's not that good and that you could buy the parts yourself for less than £10....WOW

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Yes you are right and thats the point of the video without being pointlessly negative. I try to show everyone whats out there, this way folk can make their own minds to purchase. Sadly the channel cannot afford comparisons. This is an over priced product which really should be standard. I hope I make sense. Thanks Phil🙂👍