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Date:         Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:59:36 -0700
Reply-To:     Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: New fridge replacement option for the Dometic
Comments: To: Karl Mullendore <groups@westyventures.com>
In-Reply-To:  <46FDBD8D.7050207@westyventures.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

my fridge is a three way Electrolux ... i have not even turend it on once since we got the van 1 year ago ... indeed i really must make a movie of my van cause it is very neat and very different ... as if any westie were not different ... i have yet to see two alike ... yours

On 9/28/07, Karl Mullendore <groups@westyventures.com> wrote: > > Warren, this definitely is a different fridge from the Isotherm, > although similar. When I tested the Norcold DC-0040 years ago, I started > with a fresh group 91 Interstate starting battery (80 a/h), mid-summer. > I drove on a roadtrip shortly after installing the fridge, and several > times camped multiple nights without running the engine. Curiosity go > the better of me, so when I returned home, I left the fridge on to see > how far it would go. It lasted just over four days in mid-80's daytime > temps, with the thermostat set at the midpoint. Of course, I don't > recommend running a battery flat, but it was a test. When I later added > the Interstate 100 a/h deep-cycle battery, I did the same test, > resulting in six days. The Norcold draws about the same amperage, but > tends to run more often than this Vitrofrigo. Mid-80's temps here > yesterday had it running about ten-fifteen minutes per hour in a closed > van. That run time decreased as night fell. So, I stick by my claim that > it will carry four days, provided a good quality deep-cycle battery is > used of appropriate capacity (not useless multi-colored overpriced 55 > a/h batteries). I think I referenced last year the wheelchair batteries, > a customer had installed four of the 22a/h ones in his Westy as a test. > Great idea, and he has some other better ones up his sleeves. He's a > marine-type guy who spends a lot of time playing with live-aboard boats. > > I'll have more to report when I have the time to camp in my van, for now > I'm camping in my customer's rig I've rehabbed and am selling. > www.westyventures.com/camper_sales.htm :-) > Perhaps I will turn the fridge on tomorrow to see how long the 100 a/h > lasts...eventually I will up that to 150 or so. :-) > > Karl > > Warren Chapman wrote: > > Karl, > > > > This looks identical to the "Isotherm CR65" unit I bought a few months > > ago. I first saw one of these in Eric Abercrombie's Syncro at Syncro de > > Mayo a few years ago. > > > > It's a little shorter than the Dometic but volume is much better due to > > extra depth. 2.3 cu ft. I believe. > > > > I think you may be a little optimistic about how long it will run on a > > given battery charge though....unless you've had it in long enough to > test > > it in actual use. "4 days" seems very optimistic. > > > > The Danfoss compress draws a max of 2.7 amps. I "bench tested" mine with > > some food inside and based on how often it cycled I estimated it would > use > > somewhere between 18-22 amp hrs daily. It ran a used but charged, > starting > > battery we had around to "dead" in about a day and a half. I estimate > > that the popular 55ah Optima...if drawn down to 50% of its capacity (to > > preserve life), or 27.5 amp hrs useable, would only last about a day and > a > > half. > > > > Seems we will need more deep cyle battery capacity...or supplemental > solar > > charging for a weekend camp out. > > > > A few months ago Mark Drillock and I were discussing use of several 22ah > > wheelchair batteries linked in series. Only 2.9" wide and 6.8" tall, > four > > would fit under the driver's seat for 88hrs, enough for 2+ camping days. > > Mark plans a bank of six in a tray under the van near the sliding door. > > I'm considering 4 more in the engine bay....I want to avoid the expense > > and hassles of solar charging. > > > > Some of these wheel chair batteries can be drawn down to 80% of capacity > > instead of 50% and recharging life will be reduced, but the > > reduction ...to something like 225 re charges...instead of 500...seems > > like something I can live with..(at the number of trips I take > > annually)....for the benefit of the extra useable amp hours. > > > > What's your real world experience been like? > > > > Warren C. > > > > >

-- roger w There are two kinds of jobs in the world: Picking up garbage and telling people things. Successful people do both, with the same good attitude. (riw) ----------------------------------------------------------- View the growing list of video work at: http://one.revver.com/watch/376349 http://one.revver.com/watch/357909/qt/affiliate/10 http://one.revver.com/watch/345572/qt http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7135104650374818257 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3259745150182742364


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