Date:         Sat, 16 Aug 2014 16:36:37 -1000
Reply-To:     "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject:      Re: amps in/amps out ??
Comments: To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CA+r=JhoCU1Oa+GGzvxijiMgNQmRrqsuPqUo2r9nm607m62OhYQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

a very nice test is to measure the current drop across a ground connection.
shouldn't be more than 300 milivolts.
Ideal is zero of course .


On 8/16/2014 4:25 PM, Larry Alofs wrote:
> This seems very unlikely.  The most probable reason that I can think of is
> that the chassis of the fridge is in contact with the body of the van and
> that is providing a partial ground path for the negative side of the supply
> circuit.  Give us as much detail of the measurement method that you can.
>   Maybe you can try carefully isolating the whole thing from ground and
> repeating the measurements.
>
> Larry A.
>
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 16, 2014 at 10:01 PM, Richard A Jones <Jones@colorado.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> I've been trouble shooting a problem with my fridge--
>> a Vitrifrigo, installed in '09, or maybe '08.
>>
>> I suspected the ground for my aux battery setup--under
>> the L-F fender.  It turned out to be that.  I used a
>> wire brush on my drill to clean down to shiny metal and
>> then screwed down the (copper) ground post and everything
>> is copacetic.
>>
>> Let me mention that in tracking down my problem, which
>> could have been a failing fridge or other things, I
>> used a DC clamp-on amp meter.  Google Craftsman 82369.
>> It is the only meter that will measure DC amps that I
>> found, in the mid-price range.  ($54)  It was REALLY
>> helpful.
>>
>> Anyway, here's my question for the electron jockeys:
>> I measure higher amps going INTO my fridge (+) than
>> coming OUT (-).  I'm thinking that the fridge is using
>> power (and putting out heat, noise, etc) and so that
>> is OK.  But....
>>
>> Can someone explain what is going on, what should be
>> going on, etc?  Thanks!
>>
>> Richard
>>