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Date:         Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:08:55 -0400
Reply-To:     Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Vitrifrigo install report  & exaggerated battery life
Comments: To: Susmay <susmay@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <596200.29191.qm@web57803.mail.re3.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Wow, I didn't mean to start a battery life war here. I guess I should have kept mum on the expected battery life and just exalted the fridge (which I think is awesome by the way). Sorry for not being more scientific about it.

Ken Wilford John 3:16 www.vanagain.com

Susmay wrote: > Okay, so Ken Wilford did a really nice job installing the Vitrifrigo and batteries in my 88 Westy last week. But he didn't have it for a week to test how long the batteries last. The batteries are the 4 UB12220 at 22 amp-Hours each, for a total of 88 amp hours. In my simple testing (I ran the fridge for as long as it would go until the battery dropped to 12 volts with the fridge set at the 6:00 position). That took 36 hours from a full charge. I am using the Volt~Minder device(that Harold Teer recommended) to monitor the battery condition. So, if you are camping away from 110 for more than 24 hours, and you can't run your engine to charge it back up this fridge may not be for you. I am just off for 5 days of music-camping, and the new Vitrifrigo won't cut it, it's cool box time. A working Dometic would have done it, but I just got tired of pumping,clicking and praying on my knees in front of the Da**ed Dometic. Repeated service still would not get it to > reliably light. I think my normal camping where we drive somewhere every day should be fine with this fridge. BUT - do install a good quality fast-smart battery charger so when you have 110 you can bring the batteries back to a really full charge. > Now I bet 4 golf cart batteries would last a week...... > > Thomas Hawkins > 88 Westy > > >> Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:50:38 -0400 >> From: B Feddish <bfeddish@NETREACH.NET> >> Subject: Re: Vitrfrigio install report >> >> I'm sitting here on a cliff in Cape Ann, MA enjoying the >> view AND my >> Vitrifrigo but I'm curious about the battery life. >> The fridge performs = >> well >> beyond my expectations but I am lucky to get a day and a >> half with the = >> frige >> and that includes using my 30 watts of solar panels. I have >> 2 aux = >> batteries >> now so I can get a whole weekend. Where is that "will >> run for 1 week on = >> one >> battery" come from? I've met 2 other Vitrifrigo owners and >> they both say >> they get about a day. Is it one week on one of those >> huge batteries = >> that >> span the length of under the rear seat? >> >> Thanks, >> Bryan >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] >> On Behalf = >> Of >> miguel pacheco >> Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 11:13 PM >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >> Subject: Re: Vitrfrigio install report >> >> Thanks for the write-up, Ken. This upgrade is definitely in >> my future! >> Miguel >> >> On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 8:04 PM, Ken Wilford<kenwilfy@comcast.net> >> = >> wrote: >> >>> I had a customer contact me a few months ago about >>> >> installing a >> >>> Vitrifrigio 12/110 volt fridge in his Vanagon Westy >>> >> along with a >> >>> secondary battery. =A0I did the install about two >>> >> weeks ago. =A0I want = >> to >> >>> say I was very impressed by this fridge. =A0It is made >>> >> in Italy and it >> >>> looks very nice in a Westy. =A0It runs off of 12 volts >>> >> or 110 but = >> either >> >>> way it gets super cold, enough to make ice in the >>> >> freezer section and = >> it >> >>> is super efficient so that you can run it off of a >>> >> battery for almost = >> a >> >>> week without a charge. =A0If you have a solar setup it >>> >> could last even >> >>> longer. =A0Here is a link to Karl Mulendore's site >>> >> where he talks = >> about >> >>> the fridge: >>> http://www.westyventures.com/parts.html >>> >>> I was very impressed. =A0I installed a secondary >>> >> battery setup as Karl >> >>> describes on this page as well and it seemed to work >>> >> very well. =A0We = >> also >> >>> installed a Sure Power smart solenoid for the 2nd >>> >> Battery so that it >> >>> would not take a charge until the main battery was >>> >> fully charged. = >> =A0It >> >>> also has a feature that allows you to jump start the >>> >> van automatically >> >>> if your main battery is low. =A0The Solenoid senses >>> >> this and = >> automatically >> >>> pulls juice from the 2nd Battery for the jump start. >>> >> =A0All in all it = >> took >> >>> me about 6 hours to do the install of the fridge and >>> >> the battery setup >> >>> but it turned out very stealthy. =A0I hooked the 2nd >>> >> battery up to the >> >>> cigarette lighter and interior lights so that they >>> >> will now run off of >> >>> the 2nd Battery and not drain the main battery when >>> >> camping. =A0If you = >> are >> >>> thinking about spending some money to get your fridge >>> >> overhauled I >> >>> recommend looking into the Vitrifrigio instead. >>> >> =A0They are not cheap >> >>> (around $600) but they work very well and should last >>> >> for a long time = >> to >> >>> come (even has a light inside the fridge when you open >>> >> the door!). >> >>> Just thought I would share. >>> >>> Ken Wilford >>> John 3:16 >>> www.vanagain.com >>> >>> >> >> --=20 >> Miguel >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:45:24 -0700 >> From: Geo & Kathleen Hahn <ahwahnee@CYBERTRAILS.COM> >> Subject: Re: Vitrfrigio install report >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Troy" <colorworks@GCI.NET>. >> >>> ... I do question the amount of time you can run the >>> >> refrigerator though, >> >>> particularly with the type of battery most of us >>> >> use.... >> >> Don't most use a deep cycle (i.e. marine/RV) battery -- or >> do those not fit >> under the drivers seat? >> >> My aux is a deep cycle the same physical size as the main >> but under the rear >> seat (next to the heater, not all that much volume) and I >> think that guy >> could light LA for week. Not really, but it does last >> a long time and there >> are no concerns about taking it below 50%. >> >> > > > > > >


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