Jinjapan Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 Hi all, I am presently converting a small bus into a tiny home and need some advice on installing my fridge. It is a Dometic 2351 3-way absorption fridge I plan on running off LP gas. Here is my dilemma: I am not interested in cutting a large hole in the side of my vehicle (for ventilation) just to install this fridge. Can I get away with ventilation out of the floor? I'd be happy to open large sections in the floor to properly ventilate if possible. Can't wait to hear back. Please and thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 No. Hot air rises so the outlet vent must be above the top of the cooling fins on the back of the fridge. Could you vent out of the roof with a suitable style of rain protector cowl? Ventilation requirements are clearly defined on pages 9 and 10 of the installation manual here... https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/support/dometic-rm-2351-_-136457 This is the US website but I can't find any UK instructions, are you in the UK, USA or where please? Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 IP address suggests Japan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 Derek Uzzell - 2020-07-22 10:45 AM IP address suggests Japan... And username 'Jinjapan' could be 'Jeff in Japan'! So the US manual would be appropriate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinjapan Posted July 22, 2020 Author Share Posted July 22, 2020 Thank you... VERY much appreciated. I assumed as much (not being able to ventilate out the floor), but it is reassuring to hear it from people with experience. I guess that means I'm either cutting holes in the side of my bus (or roof). And - yes, I am in Japan. Thanks again... Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 As a generalisation, more rain lands on the roof than on the side walls, and there are purpose made ventilation grilles available for the side walls, so I'd make any holes in the wall and not in the roof! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 Dometic market a specific roof vent for fridges, eg https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/products/food-and-beverage/rv,-boat-and-truck-refrigerators/accessories/dometic-refrigerator-roof-vent-_-47012 Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 Yes, but if wall-mounted ventilation grilles are not used, any subsequent maintenance/cleaning tasks (eg. cleaning the gas-flue or gas-burner) will be impracticable without first removing the fridge from where it has been fitted. It’s not unknown for the lower ventilation grille to be dispensed with and replaced by an aperture in the floor, and I remember (years ago) seeing a 3-way fridge installed in a panel-van-conversion (Possl?) with the gas-flue exhausting through the roof (and very odd and ugly it looked too). Best to bite the bullet and go for a ‘conventional’ installation with a pair of wall grilles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 I think in the small converted van maket in Japan if I remember correctly they are only allowed to be fitted with 12vDC or mains power, so this may be an issue ? It may have changed though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silicongyro Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 My ( 2004) Laika Kreos 3010g has a large Dometic 3 way fridge with a lower sidewall vent and a roof vent to service both the fridge and the small gas oven mounted on top of the fridge. From personal experience I fully support Derek's view to avoid a roof vent - and for same reasons. I have already had to remove the fridge/oven unit to access the flue ! However to be fair, never had rain ingress issues when stationary or moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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