Date:         Tue, 2 Feb 1999 07:49:50 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Fridge Questions, long
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I use my fridge in desert conditions frequently. In temperatures of 100+
by day and 80+ by night it keeps milk fresh for up to a week. Ice builds
up and I need to defrost it every couple of days. I do not have it
turned up all the way or things freeze inside. If your fridge works so
poorly there may be something wrong. The cooling fan in the back must be
cycling on and off in order to cool when the air temp is high. These are
usually loud if still original so you can easily hear it if it is
working. All of the vents must be clear. The floor in front of the
fridge is where cooler air is drawn up over the coils by the fan, and
across the back under the side window must be clear to allow the heated
air to escape. Most importantly, the outside of the van near the fridge
should be shaded at all times. I have added a small exhaust fan to the
side of my van behind the fridge so mine works better than stock, but my
friends that bring their Westys have similar results. The fans have been
replaced in all 3 of these campers, with generic fridge fans from a RV
supply house. 2 of the fridges are from 82's and 1 is from an 84. The
stock fans wear out even if you never use the fridge because they turn
on whenever the temp behind the fridge is high enough. Anytime the van
is parked with that side in the direct sunlight the temp switch may be
triggered and the fan will cycle. With darker colored Campers like mine
it will run down the battery if parked this way for a few weeks.
   I usually get about 10 days of constant fridge operation in warm to
hot weather to a tank of propane. In the hottest weather the usage may
go up but my stove usage goes down so it evens out.

Mark Drillock

Karl Wolz wrote:
>
> The Dometic fridge in the Westy is only good for about a thirty degree drop
> in temp.  If you are in Phoenix in the summertime, your fridge will not use
> any propane at all, because it is worthless to even try to use it here.  We
> live in Phx, and always put our stuff on ice in a disposable foam cooler and
> wait till we get to the coast before transferring things in to the fridge.
> Asked several dealers and Dometic service locations and was told this is
> normal.
>
> Karl Wolz
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Blue Eyes <lvlearn@MCI2000.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Date: Monday, February 01, 1999 11:30 PM
> Subject: Re: Fridge Questions
>
> >Gregor wrote, "I've taken a trip down to california (from BC) and had my
> fridge
> >on 24 hours a day.  I went to fill it up after about 6 days and only put in
> two
> >dollars worth."
> >
> >The Westy Dometic standing pilot is a fixed propane demand, unaffected by
> >ambient temperature.  However, temperature surrounding the refrigerator
> >determines whether or not the thermostat calls the main burner to come on.
> If
> >you visit Phoenix, Az. in the summer with your Westy, your refrigerator's
> >propane demand will be very different from this winter trip from BC to
> >California.
> >John