Scamp Replacing Icebox

[chrischampion]

I have a Scamp 13 that the previous owner took the icebox out of and installed a thermoelectric fridge (about 100 watts). It does a good job of keeping cold food cold, but it also really heats up the inside of the cabinet and, eventually, the inside of the camper.

Eventually, I plan to put a 2- or 3-way fridge in, but right now, the cabinet is not sealed (the under sink portion is in the same air space as the under stove/fridge space). I bought a period-appropriate Norcold lower vent and plan to cut the hole... if that's what I need to do.

How should I seal up the fridge compartment?

Chris Champion
1988 Scamp 13

[Raz]

I've owned two 3 way fridges. Both were installed by the trailer manufacturer. In both cases there was an installation manual provided. All you need to know including vent size and placement is there. If you know what fridge you plan to use, that's where I suggest you look. You can usually find them on the manufacturers web site.

And for what it's worth, neither fridge was installed the way the fridge manufacturer recommended.

[Wayne Collins]

You do want the warm side of the fridge to vent to the outside. So, you need ways to seal the compartment around the ice box. Use sheet aluminum and metalic duct tape.

[tractors1]

If you want to vent to the outside with a future 2 or 3 way, you'll need 2 outside vents - one low for intake and 1 high for exhaust. Putting a single vent in for this fridge won't work all that well. Could be an issue for your future upgrade if you mount it in the wrong place.

[Eddie Longest]

Chris
The Norcold vent door is for access to the burner and controls on the older Scamps and is mounted at the floor level. Scamp used a standard vent the same width but cut it down to about 3-4" tall and cut a vent hole just under the counter top. To let the rising air escape. I think the upper vent was just above the belly band but not sure check some old Scamp pictures. It also let any heat from the stove top burners escape. They also stuffed insulation between the frig. and goucho side cabinet wall. They sealed the other (aft) side up like Wayne suggested.
Eddie

[chrischampion]

Thanks, all. I installed the bottom vent about 2" above the cabinet floor. I'll put the upper vent in when I have saved the $ for a 3-way.

For now I used some green siding foam and flexcell to seal the compartment off (since the T-E fridge doesn't need a flame-proof wall).


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