Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 09:25:59 -0400
Reply-To: Warren Chapman <vwsyncroguy@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Warren Chapman <vwsyncroguy@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Comments wanted on this portable fridge
Also desperately trying to solve this fridge problem....I need to carry
more fresh produce than most due to my particular diet preference....so
volume is important to me. I hate ice chests and wet food.
I've been pretty much convinced on the Engel type solution, but haven't
pulled the trigger yet mostly due to the high cost.....then recently, on
an impulse...(motivated by a great price) I recently purchased an Isotherm
CR65 off eBay ....similar to the Norcold DC0040....slightly larger (2.3 vs
1.7 cu.ft.) interior capacity and uses the Danfoss BD35F compressor.
It will install right into Vanagon fridge opening (width perfect, with a
space left over at the top., sticks out slightly farther than the face of
the Westy cabinets...easily solved with a bit of frame backing between the
fridge and cabinets.
Electrial specs are: "average" useage is .7amps/hr, max draw 2.5 amps
http://www.emarineinc.com/products/refrigeration/icr65.html
It cools down quickly and keeps food very cold in my "bench tests" so far
But, I'm still trying to get a grip on all these battery types and
construction and their various charging/discharging qualites and
requirements.
It seems that going 12V only and giving up propane comes with some serious
expense...and space compromises....for the required extra battery capacity
and (solar ??) charging apparatus.....not to mention the extra weight.
From what I've read here... for a weekend outing....if you start on
Friday, a 100AH battery capacity is the minimum....and possibly you're
risking battery damage on the third day (more than 50% discharge).
Depending on your choices, the fridge will cost $400-$900 and the solar
panel, controller, battery, etc....another $600-$1000.
Yikes.!!...maybe wet food in an ice chest isn't all that bad.
There is no 100AH battery that will fit under the driver's seat....so
there goes my precious under the rear seat storage. My goal is to keep
that darn battery either under the driver's seat or under the van
somewhere else. One idea I'm looking into is increasing the area under
the drivers seat.
Would it be possible to cut out the bottom of the battery box under the
seat and weld in a 3" deeper box section?? Not sure yet what's directly
under the battery box, but there's almost 12" of length and 7" of useful
width there already....the limiting factor is the shallow depth. With an
extra 3" of depth....there might be a 100AH battery that will fit in
there ...?????
Comments on this?
Also, I keep reading that there are SOME deep cyle batteries that can be
discharged safely to 80% DOD...that's a BIG 30% increase in useful AHs per
charge....and would safely get you that third day without (expensive)solar
help . Which ones ?? and how does their size compares to the 50% DOD
types. I read a post on another forum that said the 6 volt golf cart
batteries allow this...but two 6 volts in series must be even larger than
a single 12V with same AHs.
There's a lot to learn and understand here.
Warren C
