Date:         Mon, 22 Sep 1997 07:36:48 8
Reply-To:     Wes Neuenschwander <wesn@ESKIMO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
Comments:     Authenticated sender is <wesn@mail.eskimo.com>
From:         Wes Neuenschwander <wesn@ESKIMO.COM>
Subject:      Re: D'OH (metic) fridge
Comments: To: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@ibm.net>, vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu

> I'm getting really good at taking this in and out of the Vanagon. I think
> I can now do it in under 10 minutes <g>
>
> Anyway, I managed to install a Radio Shack Indoor-outdoor thermometer
> with the outdoor probe in the fridge. The fun thing is that the gauge has
> a memory for min and max temps. My question is this. The fridge seems to
> be unable to get lower than 20-degrees cooler than the outside air. I had
> it on 110V for 2 hours and all it seemed to be able to do was hold 70
> degrees in the 90 degree temp in the van. Ideas?
>
> BTW, I concur with the advise to make sure the temp switch on the cooling
> fins is securely attached and has some thermal goop under it to aid in
> temperature reading. My fan was not coming on at all until I did this
> fix.
>

You should be able to maintain a interior/exterior temperature
differential ("delta-T" in engineering parlance) of at least 40F.  The
single greatest impediment to achieving this is lack of air circulation
*within* the cabinet.  Installing a small interior fan, such as the
battery powered ones sold by most RV stores, will vastly improve the
performance of the Vanagon fridges (Dometic 182 series).  You can also
install a small 12V fan and wire it directly into the fridge circuit.

For an excellent overview of this issue, see Gerry Skerbitz/Derek Drew's
article at:

  http://www.med.umn.edu:8853/misc/archives/Files/Refrigerator-Manual

Also, make sure that the door seal is intact and correctly installed.
Even small air gaps can significantly degrade performance.

If the interior circulation fan does not substantially improve your
performance, then I suggest you check for propane burner problems or
thermostat problems.

-Wes

Wes Neuenschwander
Seattle, WA
wesn@eskimo.com