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Date:         Wed, 9 Nov 2005 11:43:30 -0800
Reply-To:     Doug F <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doug F <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject:      Re: dometic 182b question
Comments: To: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I did some tests with my 85 fridge unit I now use in my 87 syncro westy conversion.

After several days and weeks of testing. My particular fridge could only hold about a 40-45 degree differential between inside and outside air temps. The fins would freeze up and make ice in the evening but on 95 degree days the ice thaws and the interior temps reach well above the required 40 degree max for a fridge to be safe.

I hope that the 182 b performance varies and I can find a cooling unit that performs as you state.

My overall feeling was that a 40-45 degree differential is not sufficient for my needs and I have looked to Engel and other possibilities to create a better fridge situation.

Perhaps if there was a modern day version of the 182b that could be purchased new that would help, I also feel a "hybrid" between a propane powered fridge and a highly efficient swing compressor system used in tandem would be ideal so you could run the fridge efficiently on DC and offer temps as low as 0 degrees F on 100 degree days.

just my .03

Doug ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alistair Bell" <albell@UVIC.CA> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 7:45 AM Subject: Re: dometic 182b question

> Frank, > > while not wanting to defend VW engineering I disagree with your > statements below about the skylight and the fridge not working above an > 80F cabin temp. > > My fridge works just fine at 81 F cabin temps. The sliding window > behind the fridge does a good job venting the fridge heat, no need for > the skylight. > > > Alistair > > > '82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94 > http://www.members.shaw.ca/albell/ > > On 9-Nov-05, at 3:31 AM, Frank Condelli wrote: > > Piss poor design plain and simple. NO OTHER RV vents the fridge to the > interior of the vehicle. The fridge should have been sealed off to > the vehicle > and vented to the exterior. I have installed a 3" ~ 4" pancake fan in > the > city water port as previously described by someone on this list. This > has been > the single most beneficial thing that has improved the Dometic > operation in > warm weather. The amount of heat being blown out of that port will > amaze you > when you think that all that heat was previously being contained in > the van > and trying to exit through the skylight if you remembered to keep it > open. > Once the interior temperature surpasses 80 degrees F the fridge ceases > to work, > no more possibility of heat transfer ~ no more cooling ~ plain & > simple ! > > Cheers, > > Frank Condelli


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