At 15:42 5/12/2000, Karl Ploessl wrote: >is it possible, advisable, legal to drive while having the fridge running >on propane or should it run on 12 V? (or maybe 120V if the extension cord >is long enough). > > Karl. It is possible (the machine is very carefully engineered to make it so). It is legal under any circumstances I know of where it's legal to take the propane. I myself think it is advisable and I do it all the time (mine runs on gas continuously from spring through fall) -- however some folks think it inadvisable. It doesn't perform as well while driving, but that's nothing to do with the gas -- it's a very delicately balanced gravity system, and it doesn't really like being sloshed around. OTOH the sloshing prevents overheating damage that might otherwise result from driving up a long grade -- again, nothing to do with gas operation. 12v is entirely practical if you're on a long run; but it stops cooling every time you stop the engine, and takes about 20 minutes of running to start up again. Too much trouble for me to bother with. *I often run 12v or 110v in parallel with the gas -- I have been advised by Dometic that this is acceptable (and the nameplate rating for BTU/hr input seems to agree). I have been doing this for years now with no trouble, but be it on your own head. It does indeed help out the cooling when driving.* The long extension cord would be a lot cheaper though, it uses $5 worth of gas every few weeks. <g> david David Beierl - Providence, RI http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/ '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage" '85 GL "Poor Relation" |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.