Date:         Fri, 7 Mar 1997 06:33:48 -0800
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Shawn Wright, IS Manager" <vwnut@smuslabs.smus.bc.ca>
Subject:      Re: fridge questions

> Hey all,
> I've got a couple more questions about the Dometic fridge in my '81
> Westy.  This past weekend I did a "test-run" of the fridge to make sure
> it was up to the upcoming camping trip.  Well, with outside temperatures
> in the 40s and inside temperatures probably in the high 60s to low 70s
> (electric heater) the fridge inside temperature was hovering between 40
> and 50 degrees F.  This was with the temperature control turned to max.
> I would hope and assume that the fridge would be able to get below those
> temperatures with that kind of ambient temp, especially with the
> thermostat control on max.  When I put my hand over the grille inside
> the van, between the counter and the wall, I could feel the heat from
> the fridge.  It seemed pretty warm, as you would expect.  However, I
> think the fan that is mounted back on the coils should have come on.
> This fan didn't come on at all when the fridge was running.
> 
I haven't investigated the wiring to this fan, but during our two 
week trip last April in Or & Ca, with outside temps from 40 -70 f, 
running on propane & 12v the fridge worked like a charm. In fact the 
2nd or 3rd day in, after leaving the fridge on max, we awoke to 
frozen milk!
I know the fan does work as it comes on it hot weather, but I don't 
recall it ever coming on during this trip, since it was cool outside.
Also experience since then has shown the gas to be more efficent than 
110v, by maybe 25%. 
Have you cleaned behind the fridge? Sounds like maybe the coil are 
clogged up?