Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 07:21:48 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Forget the Frig in Summer
In-Reply-To: <001a01c59616$f755cf10$640fa8c0@ttowerdef17>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I don't know anything about the refer's in the Westy's, but I had an OLD
Champion motorhome for a few years and that thing had an
electric/propane refer with a separate freezer section up top with it's
own door. When running on propane, that thing would keep halibut hard as
granite on the hottest summer days. I had this motorhome in Alaska, and
up around Fairbanks 95 degrees F was not uncommon in the summer, and the
fridge/freezer did it's job. Dunno what brand the thing was, but it done
good!!
BTW, speaking of heat, orchids grew wild on my property in Fairbanks.
They were tiny things, but the ground was carpeted with them.
Wild orchids in Alaska. Who'd'athunk'it?
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Doug in Calif wrote:
>Hi Chuck,
>I did some tests also with the dual readout digital thermometer from radio
>shack.
>I ran the fridge for over 2 days in the drive way.
>In the evening with air temps down to 60s the westy fridge would pull down
>to the 30s or even high 20s and definitely make solid ice.
>As the day heated up 100s the inside of the van was anywhere from 90s to
>100s.
>The fridge could not hold temps at all. 50s and 60s inside were common
>during the day.
>I had some bottles of water in there to add some thermal mass, and made sure
>the sun did not hit the
>fridge door.
>
>There is some thinking that a totally FULL fridge that can cool itself down
>in the evening to the 30s can handle
>the heat of the day with thermal mass as the goods in the fridge create a
>flywheel effect.
>That is about the best it can do from everything I have seen now during many
>(hopeful) tests.
>
>I hated giving up on the westy fridge, there are so many good things about
>using propane.
>And other than high air temps it does pretty well.
>
>Karl replaced his with a Norcold electric unit that he really likes now.
>It draws only 2.5 amps or so on 12 volts and has a larger interior than the
>westy fridge.
>He only paid around 300-400 bucks for it and has not turned back .
>
>
>I have been working on a "hybrid" fridge for my westy that would still use
>the westy fridge components
>but add an electric compressor and 134a refrigerant unit to it as well for a
>instant cold, and a real freezer.
>Yet can still work off the propane side if wanted too.
>
>Doug
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Chuck Reisinger" <chuckphoto@EARTHLINK.NET>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 3:04 AM
>Subject: Forget the Frig in Summer
>
>
>
>
>>I'm about to forget using my frig in the CA 100 degree + temps....the
>>idea of an ice chest sounds good and makes a lot of sense! What do you
>>do? Thoughts?
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
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