Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 11:33:28 -0600
Reply-To: Blue Eyes <lvlearn@MCI2000.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Blue Eyes <lvlearn@MCI2000.COM>
Organization: Vexation Computer
Subject: Question for republication on 700+ member Vanagon I-net mail List
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Greetings Dometic technical support,
I am a subscriber to an internet automatic remailing "List" named
the "Vanagon List." Any communications sent to this List at the
following address are automatically remailed to every subscriber's
address. Some of those addresses represent more than one reader.
Currently, there are 723 registered addresses. To post messages to
all members, send them to:
vanagon@VANAGON.COM
A significant number of the VW vans owned by List subscribers were
factory converted into Westfalia campers. There are generally called
"Westys." As I'm certain you know, all Westy campers were sold with a
small Dometic 3-way powered refrigerator in their compact kitchen.
Naturally, List conversations have often described successful,
unsuccessful and speculative methods intended to improve the
real-world performance of these refrigerators.
Topics concerning List members include:
1) Performing initial flame lighting which is difficult on some units.
2) Improving evaporator heat exchange with a low current electric
fan.
(Two D sized alkaline cells can continuously power one of these
for weeks.
Super low-current 12 V fans are also available.)
3) Reducing the conspicuous noise from condenser fan cycling.
4) Improving air path for condenser cooling.
(The air path for condenser cooling is sub optimal because it draws
potentially preheated interior air through the condenser and dumps
it back into the preheated interior. Westy refrigerator cooling
performance
is least satisfactory when it is locked up and parked in the summer
sun
which may preheat interior air by 40 degrees F. compared to easily
available outside air.)
All these topics seem like logical fine tuning to improve original
Dometic/Westy designs weak points. But recently someone suggested
something that is completely different from any fine tuning efforts.
Specifically, it has been suggested that these refrigerators' cooling
performance would be improved if they are annually removed, inverted
for several hours, and then reinstalled.
We are now asking Dometic to provide a clear statement about the
probable effects to any Westy refrigerator from inverting it, which
was described as an attempt to "BURP" the ammonia-water absorption
cooling circuit. List members' opinions are mixed about this and we
need your input.
Naturally, we would also be eager to study any comments you might make
about about the fine tuning topics I mentioned.
Since your response will be initially read by 700+ members, and it
will also be automatically added to the List's permanent publicly
available archives, perhaps it would be worth while to have at least a
two Dometic experts collaborate in forming your response representing
Dometic to the List. Please post it by mailing to:
vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
John ~~ a Vanagon List subscriber and Westy owner.
