Cockpit Refrigerator ventilation

Liberty44140

Looking for thoughts on whether I need more ventilation for my newly installed cockpit drawer fridge. Overall it works well, but I can tell that it’s working hard. Want to be sure I have things set up right. While the frame has about 1/4” opening on all 4 sides to let in air, that’s not much and that is the only vent to this box. Instructions just say to leave 1”of clearance  on all 4 sides which seems like nothing.

Do I add a couple 2” circle vents?
The compressor is on the back of the unit but is covered with a metal box with small vents. Thinking that box should come off?

LaRea

Guessing dimensions here.  The vents on the side of the fridge have a total area of 1/4" x 3" x 10 = 7.5 in^2.  The gap around the door frame is 1/4" x 50" = 12.5 in^2 so that's more than enough intake area.  

But you need a way to exhaust warm air from the space.  Can you add a vent somewhere up high?  Or maybe an exhaust fan?

earl1z19

When you leave the side door to the cabinet open does the compressor seem to work less?

Liberty44140

Thanks! Yep I can add a vent above the drawer opening. Was thinking something like this, 5” x 10”.

Liberty44140

earl1z19 said:

When you leave the side door to the cabinet open does the compressor seem to work less?

Hard to say, I did leave it open for a couple of hours Saturday evening while we went to dinner and I didnt see a huge difference but with the heat build up during the day and the compressor enclosed it could take a lot longer than a couple hours to really cool off?

Liberty44140

I also sent an email to Dometic and an applications engineer came back with the same response as @LaRea. He said that the amount of vent is fine and to leave the cover on, but that we need some venting higher up to let heat escape. 

YYZRC

Why not get a new starboard door made for the access hatch but with slots cut in it at the top?

Liberty44140

YYZRC said:

Why not get a new starboard door made for the access hatch but with slots cut in it at the top?

Just seems like overkill when I can add a vent to an area that no one really sees anyway. The drawer faces the helm anyway, no one knows the fridge and this vent are there unless they know where to look… and need a beer. I considered adding a vent to the existing door but I don’t want to risk shattering it…. And it is out in the open and not hidden