Date:         Fri, 12 May 2000 19:53:48 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Subject:      Re: driving and fridge
Comments: To: Karl Ploessl <ploessl@SUNMAC.SPECT.UPENN.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <v0311070ab5420e7fdc93@[130.91.38.28]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

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"