Date:         Thu, 16 Mar 2006 10:20:07 -0600
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Subject:      Re: Was 12V fridge necessary? now rant (LVC)
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Dennis Haynes wrote:

>You are absolutely right. The cost is difficult to measure but it is
>there. Especially when you consider the engine is only ~22% efficient
>and then the alternator can be down to almost 50%. Unless you are in an
>area that has cheap electricity, it is probably also cheaper to run the
>fridge on propane then electric power. I get a kick out of the larger
>RVs that have in addition to a furnace or two, electric heat, heat
>pumps, or worse, the electric element in the propane water heater. No
>wonder campground owners have to charge so much. A lot of electricity to
>save a little propane.
>
>Dennis
>
>
>
I donno Dennis.  It seems to me that campgrounds that charge $5 or $10
per nite for electricity are out of line.  I know they have to pay off
the costs of installing the outlets, etc., but 100W for 10 hours is 1
kwh which costs about 10 cents in most markets.  Scale this up as you
like, but it's hard to justify the typical charge.

Larry A.