Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:48:13 -0700
Reply-To: Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: More Fridge Talk...
In-Reply-To: <BAY101-F23301ADF6DEE1A6C306318A00B0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Thanks for the tip, Dave. I forgot to do that thinking it was fine, but
while it's out of the van... It was OK. Fired it up again and it
started right away, unlike previous starts while camping.
By the way, the burn chamber, upper flue and even the
metal/insulation-wrapped lower unit all got very hot! The pipe under
the fan was hot, too. So I am experimenting with insulation on those
parts to keep heat away from the fridge box and contained in the flue
so that it exhausts outside.
Keith
On Jun 26, 2007, at 11:38 AM, Dave Vickery wrote:
> The most important part to clean is the little needle jet. I blew
> water through mine and after a few tries it squirted a lot farther. I
> could not see a difference in the flame but listening to it run with
> my ear against the flue there was very noticable difference. Temp
> dropped 20 degrees (45 to 25) by cleaning that jet. You probably
> already did that but just in case.
>
> Reason not wrap the flue, just guessing. Doesn't get hot enough, VW
> didn't think it necesssary, a new place to trap moisture.
>
>
>> From: Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
>> Reply-To: Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: More Fridge Talk...
>> Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 08:55:46 -0700
>>
>> OK, so I've got my fridge out (again) to give it one last chance and
>> noticed the cooling fan didn't turn very freely. After hooking it up
>> to
>> the battery, nothing! That's one good reason it was not getting very
>> cold! The burn chamber was pretty clean with only a bit of rusty ash
>> and evidence of some water that had sat on the bottom. Time for a flue
>> cover.
>>
>> I noticed that the upper part of the exhaust flue is not insulated and
>> I wonder if anyone can think of a reason NOT to wrap it with
>> fiberglass
>> to keep the heat in the flue.
>>
>> Next project is to find 2 fans. One for cooling the fins and one to
>> exhaust heated air out the water inlet housing that I never use. I
>> plan
>> on using my friends ban saw to carefully slice off the back. It could
>> be glued back on again later to restore normal function. Another
>> thought occurred to me: maybe a flexible hose would be a better way of
>> hooking up the fan to the outside vent. The fan could be placed near
>> the top where the heat goes?
>>
>> Bench testing happens today. The LP tank is hooked up and I have
>> ignition, but no cooling due to no 12 volt power. So I have to get
>> power to the unit and then see how it performs. Testing the fan heat
>> sensor switch went fine: goes on when heated and off when the heat is
>> removed. By the way, a regular BBQ regulator/hose assembly
>> conveniently
>> fits the LP inlet without any conversion parts!
>>
>> Before the fridge goes back in, the fiberglass insulation comes out
>> and
>> sound-deadening material with a few layers of foil-bubble insulation
>> goes in.
>>
>> Stay tuned for results...
>>
>> Keith O
>
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