Date:         Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:01:11 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vitrifrigo/Truck Fridge power usage
Comments: To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <4E78FC4F.5030600@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 04:49 PM 9/20/2011, Rocket J Squirrel wrote...
>So where did I get the idea that the VF draws about the same as the
>Norcold (which I measured at around 2.5 to 2.8 A?)
>
>MULLENDORE!
>
> From <http://www.westyventures.com/parts.html> : "...the fridge
> operates on 12 or 24 volts ... Current draw on 12 volt is 2.5 amps
> (average) with an average daily usage of 22 amp-hours."

Don't compare apples and oranges (running current vs. average current).
 From the same datasheet I linked, the Vitrifrigo is spec'd at 470
Watts average daily consumption. Now, Watts are power, not energy, so
they're clearly confused about units. But I'd guess they're really
talking about Watt-hours, which would equate to about a 1.6 Amp average
draw (~54% duty cycle, which over 24 hours would be ~38 Amp-hours).

No idea what westyventures is talking about, a 2.5 A average draw over
24 hours would be 60 Amp-hours??? Maybe they mean 2.5 A _nominal_, i.e.
the typical draw when the compressor is running? If it really uses only
22 Amp-hours typical per day, then perhaps it has much better
insulation/more efficient compressor and a much lower duty cycle? ...or
maybe it's all marketing BS. I doubt a Norcold is twice as efficient as
a Vitrifrigo (or 50% worse?), as the numbers imply.