Date:         Mon, 2 Jun 2014 09:27:06 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Dometic fridge question
Comments: To: mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <9SLx1o00X08X5Fr01SLyQ0>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:
> Don't know where you got this misinformation. Dometic lists the same
> watt ratings for the 12 volt element as for the 110v element. IIRC both
> are 85 watts.
>
> The 12 volt mode operation often has degraded due to aging of the wiring
> connections. This can be remedied. Also the cooling on 12 volts can be
> improved by a change in the path of the power supply wire. The 12 volt
> mode can work well enough that the fins can frost over with ice and food
> can become frozen.

Mine can achieve that at ambient temperatures in the seventies and below.  Above that, not so much.  In fact, at typical summer temperatures in the eighties and nineties, if I can keep the thing at 48 F on 12V it is doing well.  I chill it using 110V the night before I travel, and if I am not going more than about 4 hours, everything stays cold.  If I drive all day, it will warm up.  Of course, the latter does include some stops.  If more than about 20 minutes, I switch to propane.

mcneely

>
> Mark
>
>
>
> David Bjorkman wrote:
> > And the 12 V option only has a 15w heater, which will help keep it cold if it already was.  This is used while the Westy is in motion between campsites.  When you get to the next campsite, turn on the propane to chill it completely (or as best as it can do).  Can you tell I'm excited about moving from one campsite in a beautiful location to another campsite in another beautiful location?  Bring on camping season here in the great Northeast!!
> >
> > Dave B.
> >
> >
> >

--
David McNeely