Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2007 06:39:05 -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: Comments wanted on this portable fridge
Comments: To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <c9b.15957f17.33e5bd8d@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

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
>