Date:         Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:45:21 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Dometic Cooler
Comments: To: jpalmer@MYMTS.NET
In-Reply-To:  <COL125-W44D5D1E795684C4C23A5C1B88D0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 12:29 PM 6/19/2013, Jeff Palmer wrote:
>Dumb question time.  Is the issue with venting the exhaust gas or
>the heat or both?

Air conditioning people figure 600 BTU/hr heat load for each resting
person.  On that basis I would expect the fridge to be the rough
equivalent of one additional person, except for two things:  people
don't have high-temperature exhaust ports, and people don't
potentially produce carbon monoxide.

>Is it really that big a deal if all your windows are open?  I can
>see it would be an issue with propane heat, but isn't the exhaust
>off a fridge negligible in comparison?  Especially in summer with
>all the windows open and top up?
>Trying to recall whether or not propane fridges (full size in
>cottages etc) are vented.  Don't believe they are?

I grew up with a Dometic household fridge in my grandfather's cottage
on Lake Winnepesaukee.  It was great, just sat there
working.  Unfortunately, 25 years after they quit making them, they
recalled them all for monoxide problems.

I think you could run the thing safely inside so long as you
maintained the burner so it burns blue, and took care to guard
against the hot exhaust if that's an issue.

Yrs,
d