Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:23:51 -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: Re: Outhouse fan
In-Reply-To: <A6753213-2C83-4B08-8DF2-643616E1F0D8@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Mark notably has the magic Dometics. He and I have gone round and round
about these things. I've done a lot of testing and my Dometic, which is
clean and works fine, has never achieved what I consider satisfactory
cooling when the temps go over 90F -- I like my temps under 50F for the
food and it can't do it.
He reports ice on the cooling fins in his, which I would expect from
moist air and cold fins, so I want hard data. To prove his Dometic's
magic-ness, he's gonna need to stick a thermometer in his reefer and
tell us what the temp differential is between the outside air and the
Dometic's interior.
Mark, I'll buy you that thermometer if you'll meet me at Denault's
before you leave on what I bet is a sweet trip. If your reefer keeps the
air temp on the middle shelf below 50F during the middle of a 95F+ day
I'll stand you to some cold IPAs at Henneseys.
--
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
Jeffrey Vickers typed:
> Mark! You have one of the few fusion-powered fridges that VW must
> have snuck into production back in the 80s. I've done all the
> cleaning, inverting and mods that can be done including a Camping
> World fridge fan inside and I really can't hope for more than a
> 35-45F difference between air and fridge temp. At the end of a 90F
> day its almost 50F in the fridge. I'm tempted to try venting the
> fridge hot air, but even more tempted to get a Norcold since I plan
> on installing a good sized aux battery under the rear seat as well.
>
> Jeff
> On Jun 16, 2007, at 10:42 AM, Mark Drillock wrote:
>
>> I have camped in 90-100 degree weather MANY times and the stock
>> Dometic works fine. The fins ice up in a day or so and are
>> completely frozen solid in a week. I do have an outside vent
>> mounted behind mine. This was done to keep the heat from the fridge
>> from making it even hotter inside the van but also helps the
>> Dometic cool better.
>>
>> I am planning to camp next week where the forecast is 109-111
>> degrees all 5 days we plan to be there. I will let you know if this
>> exceeds the Dometic's operating range.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>> Jeffrey Vickers wrote:
>>
>>> I think it would be better to vent the airspace behind the fridge
>>> rather than introduce air into it. I don't use my city water hookup
>>> and I've often thought that a tiny computer fan in place of the
>>> hookup might do the trick. You'd need to prop the little city water
>>> door open a bit when using it. I also have the GoWesty pump and fan
>>> upgrade which is a MUCH better fan and cools the fins much better.
>>> Really quiet. Bottom line is that nothing is going to keep the Dam-
>>> etic cool when the temps get up past the 80s. I could sell you my
>>> fridge and all my upgrades later this year when I get a Norcold...
>>> = )
>>> Jeff
>>
>
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