Let's see how much power this thing wants. Time for the Battery Demand Calculator at http://www.altavistaaudio.com/Westy/Vanagon/battcalc.html 45 watts at 12 volts = 3.8Ah if running 100% of the time. Mfgr claims 18% run time @ 68F, 22% @ 86F. Those are .7Ah and .83Ah, respectively. That's amazingly low energy consumption for a cooler. It uses a Danfoss compressor, as does the Norcold DC0040 which we use and which uses quite a bit more energy. Better insulation? Better cooling unit? The compressor used in the Coolmatic is the Danfoss BD35F which is claimed to be 40% more efficient than the older Danfoss BD3. I can't find the model number of the compressor used in the Norcold DC0040, but if it's the same compressor, I would have to see some test results from the Coolmatic to believe their ratings. If it's Danfoss's latest and greatest compressor, their claims might be inflated, see for example http://www.kollmann-marine.com/test8.html which shows test results which look to bust that claim, getting only an 11% reduction in energy consumption.* But hey - this could be a swell refrigerator! ----- * Interesting site, they also show that a small fan in a refrigerator increases the efficiency of the refrigerator. -- 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
Frank Condelli typed: > Any comments on this as an extra portable fridge for the Vanagon Westy ? > _Click here: CoolMaticCF-40_ (http://www.sealandsanitation.com/new_page_16.htm) > > > Cheers, > > Frank Condelli > Almonte, Ontario, Canada > '87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_ > (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) ) > _Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html) > - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley > _Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_ > (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm) > _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper > camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10, 2007 > |
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