Date:         Sat, 15 Jul 2006 11:03:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Barely scientific test results, Dometic R182 refrigerator
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Adding to the Body of Knowledge Since 1950, Dept.

So I've got this Dometic sitting around after installing a Norcold
refrigerator in Mellow Yellow, and decided to do some performance
measurements by hooking it up to 120V, sticking a wireless thermometer
inside, sealing the door, and calculating its cooling power. I did five
measurements over five successive days:

Four of the measurements were done in open air: No rear fan (convection
only), reefer empty; rear fan on, reefer empty; no rear fan, reefer with
some soda cans inside; rear fan on, soda cans inside.

The final measurement was done with a cardboard box set around the
reefer, to sorta emulate it being in a cabinet. Fan on, empty.

In all cases, the reefer was set up the night ahead so it would have
several hours to stabilize before I began recoding data.

Summary: compared with convective (natural non-forced air cooling),
running the fan provided about 4 degrees F of additional cooling. Temps
did not get above 90F for very long so I did not have a chance to test
under hotter conditions, which is unfortunate as absorption
refrigerators are said to not work well above 90F. The effect of adding
"thermal mass" in the form of cans of soft drinks is visible.

The results are posted at
http://static.flickr.com/58/190152837_c5b20ee616_b.jpg

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR