Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:58:22 -0700
Reply-To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: VF vs Upgraded Dometic Current Draw
In-Reply-To: <c4e7c5f90907271952y4f115bcdw38300255dea727e9@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
My interior temps today reached 145*My dometic at that time was at 51*
It didn't stay at that temp for long.....but just to give you some
idea....80* interior temps are impractical, even back "home" on the east
coast. Interior temps in these vans will always be above ambient, there's
just too many windows.
My interior and exterior hopped up dometic fans can't possibly draw anywhere
near an amp/hr. I'd guess more like 1/8amp/hr or 1/4amp/hr.
I've had it running for 5 days now, day and night...... and my battery is
still at 12.6 volts. So I know for a fact I can go at LEAST a week of
running the dometic with fans on and not have to add power to the battery.
Your results may vary.
-Craig
'85GL turned WESTY
BOSTIG in the back
On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 7:52 PM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> The recent VF install reports and subsequent current draw math brings
> up a crucial point for me.
>
> Is it possible a hopped up Dometic will draw as much or more current
> when running on LP than a VF or TF?
>
> Please bear in mind that I did not do an exhaustive amount of research.
>
> Westy mostly under carport, empty Dometic 182B running on LP, 4-5
> days, most days really hot out, some cooler. Interior CPU fan on
> constantly, rear muffing fan switched on/off by thermo switch, higher
> CFM "city water" fan randomly manually on/off. At best (slightly
> cooler day, Westy high 80's inside), Dometic pulled a 50F
> differential.
>
> Today, much hotter outside. "Added in" real life. Did errands. Parked
> in sun. (shade at fridge side). Parked in shade. Added prechilled food
> late afternoon. Dometic temps dropped. Hours later, Westy interior
> mid-high 90'sF, Dometic: 50F with 4 lonely cold beers inside. (they
> won't be lonely long) My point....
>
> Worst case scenario, (hot day/night... food added at "wrong time") 3
> fans constantly on, draw is 1 - 1.25 amp per hour. (I need to double
> check fan ratings or put a VOM in the circuit) Ironically, my guess is
> that a VF or TF fridge might be more efficient even just in terms of
> current draw when compared to a hopped up Dometic used in the same
> situation. Yes lot's of variables I haven't taken into account. i.e.
> "city" fan might be off at night if cooler out, rear fan cycles
> on/off, adding food to either fridge will cause it to draw more
> current, and temps will drop etc. Still, it seems that the modern
> fridge with the Dan Foss compressor *might* win in terms of average
> current draw when compared to my setup.
>
> Just my .02 on a minor revelation. :o)
>
> 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
>
| 
