Date:         Sun, 26 Aug 2018 14:43:37 -0400
Reply-To:     pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: new dometic model
Comments: To: tdiguru@westyventures.com
In-Reply-To:  <253a80ce-c3f6-4180-bf7f-ae109be284ba@westyventures.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Here is a simple fix for ventilation issues for fridges in a vanagon:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y06792hj6472s0b/20180826_142843.jpg?dl=0

Put a quality (low current, quiet, efficient) fan on the side grill vent.

You'll also find people who install an outdoor vent by repurposing the city
water port but since the intake air doesn't change, I find the side vent
preferable.  (It only is important to put the hot air from the fridge
outside the van if you are concerned that the hot fridge air will actually
meaningfully increase the temperature of the whole van so that the intake
air temperature at the bottom of the fridge is increased.  Unless you are
taking measures to keep the van warm---in which case it's cool out and the
fridge is working fine anyways---this will not be the case.h

When this fan is on, you can feel warm air coming out of the side vent and
cool air being drawn in the bottom intake (at the bottom front of the
fridge).  I really doubt the other campers get significantly more cooling
on their fridge fins than you get with this simple setup.  (I also have a
fan in the stock location).

Another plus about this fan location is that it can be easily replaced
without removing the fridge.

In terms of performance: I couldn't make ice on a summer day before, and
now I can.  Granted I haven't tried it at 100 degrees yet...

On Sat, Aug 25, 2018 at 1:53 PM Karl <tdiguru@westyventures.com> wrote:

> Yep, the Florida has the aforementioned outside vents. How's it work at
> 100 degrees? ;)
> My comment was primarily directed at the retrofit fridge for a T3.
>
>
> On 8/25/2018 6:37 AM, Jason wrote:
> > I have a newer Dometic in my LT Florida.  It works great, will freeze
> > lettuce if you're not careful!   The auto-igniter is nice too.  The LT
> > also has larger vents for the fridge. (To the outside and one in the
> > back of the counter)Â  I run it on 120V with a step up transformer
> > mounted in the back cupboard.
>