Date:         Fri, 7 Aug 2009 19:16:35 -0400
Reply-To:     B Feddish <bfeddish@NETREACH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         B Feddish <bfeddish@NETREACH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Vitrifrigo trip results, wiring, battery life,
              charging issues,              etc
Comments: To: mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <4A79E832.90606@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>> The bottom line of this is that the nightly draining of the aux battery
by the Vitrifrigo brought to the fore an existing weakness in the charging
path. Even driving for 4 or 5 hours in daylight did not sufficiently
recharge the deeply drained battery. <<

I discovered this REAL fast after installing the Vitrifrigo. I actually
found that if I charged the aux battery then drove to a campsite while the
fridge was on and the DVD player going the battery had LESS voltage than
when I left. I now disconnect the AUX battery while driving when it's full.
Driving a few hours does almost nothing in terms of recharging the AUX
battery.


>> As to replacing the propane capable Dometic with the electric only
Vitrifrigo, the jury is still out. The fridge is nicer in every way but will
need a larger battery capacity installed before it can be used for more than
a day or 2 without driving. <<

I've got a second AUX battery now that I've built a box for next to the
sliding door. Now I can get an entire weekend out of the fridge and use the
freezer. I've ordered another 30W solar panel to bring me up to 60W but I
still need to double that wattage next summer. I'm going to try to go 4 days
at the Philly Folk Fest this coming week. I'll report on what happens.

Bryan