Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:09:45 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Fridge=Beer
In-Reply-To: <35FE02E5-803F-47F5-992D-AB1BFCE851D5@vickersdesign.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
The other option is to repair the 12 volts fridge wiring so it works
well on 12 volts like it did when new.
I did that and now it ices up driving on 12 volts like it does on
propane. Also I added a separate red led to the Westy kitchen cabinet by
the stove knobs that tells me when there is 12 volts on the 12 volt
element of the fridge. That way I can let it run on 12 volts even with
the engine off for those stops Frank talks about as well as tell it is
set to 12 volts even without opening the door to check and letting the
cold out. Also at the same time I ran test leads directly from the 12
volt element so I can measure exactly what voltage the element is really
getting. That is the real problem. The wiring degrades over 15-20 years
and the fridge stops cooling as well on 12 volts if it even cools at
all. The power wires as well as the fridge ground wire must be making
good connections or the voltage at the element will be too low for
decent cooling.
Mark
cold beer is a good thing
Jeffrey Vickers wrote:
> It could not have been said more succinctly, Frank. And for everyone
> else who lives in fear of their van blowing up because they left the
> fridge on---let's review---you just rolled your van off a cliff and
> now you are upside down at the bottom of the cliff in a completely
> destroyed Vanagon---if the van isn't already on fire and you're not
> already dead---don't you have other things to worry about? Good
> lord---how does anybody that thinks about stuff like that ever leave
> their house?
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
> On Feb 13, 2007, at 4:24 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
>
>> First and foremost reason for my driving with the propane on, have
>> been
>> doing so for 12 years, is that I want COLD beer when I get to
>> camp, the 12 volt
>> cooling keeps the beer at British beer enthusiasts temperatures,
>> not mine !
>> Second, is if your travelling with Rita you need to stop at each
>> and every TJ
>> Max along the way. So while parked and shopping the fridge is NOT
>> working
>> unless you go light up the propane each time, then shut it off
>> before heading
>> out again, or use the aux battery and we won't get into the aux
>> battery story
>> here as there is already an ongoing multi-layered diatribe going
>> on that
>> subject. That's way too much stuff to remember to do for my
>> brain. Fridge is on
>> propane when I leave and off when I return home, that's it that's
>> all and I
>> have cold beer anytime someone wants one, ALWAYS !
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Frank Condelli
>> Almonte, Ontario, Canada
>
>
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