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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
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

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


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