Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 11:40:05 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Dometic Frig - Realistic Cooling
In-Reply-To: <71E29E6A4F2A40559D7C9DAA5AE52CFC@DEKE1>
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On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 11:13 AM, Deke Rivers<dekeriv@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I have an '86 Westy with the original Dometic Frig. It is cooling on either
> gas or 110AC - with maybe a slight advantage on the AC. But it is just
> border-line on keeping the interior below 40 degf. What should it be able
> to do? Can it get below 40 degf if its 80 degf outside? How about 90 degf?
I have read that the best the Dometic will do, is a 40F differential
between ambient temps and fridge temp. I had resigned my mind to that
"fact".
But....
After installing the "city water fan" mod, on a recent trip, running
on LP, hightest interior temp (at floor beside driver seat) got up to
95F. I was parked in 12 noon sun part a couple of hours, vehicle
closed up. Fridge temp stayed at low 40'sF. Bear in mind that I had
mostly pre-cooled beer in there, added very little pre-chilled food
during that time, was parked with fridge side away from sun, and extra
aftermarket fans all turned on.
At night, set to max, ambient temps at ~mid 60'sF, fridge got cool
enough to freeze my lettuce. ~ mid-high 20's IIRC.
Assuming all working right, some details that make a difference.
When *cold* food is added
how low temps get at night
how long van is closed up, is it ventilated (sunroof? Fan?)
where you park (shade, fridge side of van away from sun)
if interior fan installed, is air flow blocked/not blocked
Of note, I installed the "city water fan", a small CPU fan inside
fridge, and a larger rear fan (computer case fan..... which could
stand to be smaller... may be blocking natural flow of cooler air)
Also possibly of note, in removing the dreaded stock yellow insualtion
from behind fridge, I didn't replace it. I'm curious if that thick
piece of insulation (imagine side view of fridge looking toward rear)
aided in keeping air flow behind fridge from "billowing" up. i.e.
stream lining air flow. w/o it, I wonder if air flow screwed up a
little.
Neil.
Neil.
--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
