On Aug 7, 2007, at 7:25 AM, Warren Chapman wrote:

> Also desperately trying to solve this fridge problem....I need to
> carry
> more fresh produce than most due to my particular diet
> preference....so
> volume is important to me.  I hate ice chests and wet food.

Have you tried ice made in a sealed container so the food doesn't get
wet?

Tom B.-"dry" ice is nice?
>
> I've been pretty much convinced on the Engel type solution, but
> haven't
> pulled the trigger yet mostly due to the high cost.....then
> recently, on
> an impulse...(motivated by a great price) I recently purchased an
> Isotherm
> CR65 off eBay ....similar to the Norcold DC0040....slightly larger
> (2.3 vs
> 1.7 cu.ft.) interior capacity and uses the Danfoss BD35F compressor.
>
> It will install right into Vanagon fridge opening (width perfect,
> with a
> space left over at the top., sticks out slightly farther than the
> face of
> the Westy cabinets...easily solved with a bit of frame backing
> between the
> fridge and cabinets.
>
> Electrial specs are: "average" useage is .7amps/hr, max draw 2.5 amps
>
> http://www.emarineinc.com/products/refrigeration/icr65.html
>
> It cools down  quickly and keeps food very cold in my "bench tests"
> so far
>
> But, I'm still trying to get a grip on all these battery types and
> construction and their various charging/discharging qualites and
> requirements.
>
> It seems that going 12V only and giving up propane comes with some
> serious
> expense...and space compromises....for the required extra battery
> capacity
> and (solar ??) charging apparatus.....not to mention the extra weight.
>
> From what I've read here... for a weekend outing....if you start on
> Friday, a 100AH battery capacity is the minimum....and possibly you're
> risking battery damage on the third day (more than 50% discharge).
>
> Depending on your choices, the fridge will cost $400-$900 and the
> solar
> panel, controller, battery, etc....another $600-$1000.
>
> Yikes.!!...maybe wet food in an ice chest isn't all that bad.
>
> There is no 100AH battery that will fit under the driver's seat....so
> there goes my precious under the rear seat storage. My goal is to keep
> that darn battery either under the driver's seat or under the van
> somewhere else.  One idea I'm looking into is increasing the area
> under
> the drivers seat.
>
> Would it be possible to cut out the bottom of the battery box under
> the
> seat and weld in a 3" deeper box section??  Not sure yet what's
> directly
> under the battery box, but there's almost 12" of length and 7" of
> useful
> width there already....the limiting factor is the shallow depth.
> With an
> extra 3" of depth....there might be a 100AH battery that will fit in
> there ...?????
>
> Comments on this?
>
> Also, I keep reading that there are SOME deep cyle batteries that
> can be
> discharged safely to 80% DOD...that's a BIG 30% increase in useful
> AHs per
> charge....and would safely get you that third day without
> (expensive)solar
> help .  Which ones ?? and how does their size compares to the 50% DOD
> types.   I read a post on another forum that said the 6 volt golf cart
> batteries allow this...but two 6 volts in series must be even
> larger than
> a single 12V with same AHs.
>
> There's a lot to learn and understand here.
>
> Warren C