my fridge is a three way Electrolux ...
i have not even turend it on once since we got the van 1 year ago ...
indeed
i really must make a movie of my van cause it is very neat and very
different ...
as if any westie were not different ...
i have yet to see two alike ...
yours

On 9/28/07, Karl Mullendore <groups@westyventures.com> wrote:
>
> Warren, this definitely is a different fridge from the Isotherm,
> although similar. When I tested the Norcold DC-0040 years ago, I started
> with a fresh group 91 Interstate starting battery (80 a/h), mid-summer.
> I drove on a roadtrip shortly after installing the fridge, and several
> times camped multiple nights without running the engine. Curiosity go
> the better of me, so when I returned home, I left the fridge on to see
> how far it would go. It lasted just over four days in mid-80's daytime
> temps, with the thermostat set at the midpoint. Of course, I don't
> recommend running a battery flat, but it was a test. When I later added
> the Interstate 100 a/h deep-cycle battery, I did the same test,
> resulting in six days. The Norcold draws about the same amperage, but
> tends to run more often than this Vitrofrigo. Mid-80's temps here
> yesterday had it running about ten-fifteen minutes per hour in a closed
> van. That run time decreased as night fell. So, I stick by my claim that
> it will carry four days, provided a good quality deep-cycle battery is
> used of appropriate capacity (not useless multi-colored overpriced 55
> a/h batteries). I think I referenced last year the wheelchair batteries,
> a customer had installed four of the 22a/h ones in his Westy as a test.
> Great idea, and he has some other better ones up his sleeves. He's a
> marine-type guy who spends a lot of time playing with live-aboard boats.
>
> I'll have more to report when I have the time to camp in my van, for now
> I'm camping in my customer's rig I've rehabbed and am selling.
> www.westyventures.com/camper_sales.htm  :-)
> Perhaps I will turn the fridge on tomorrow to see how long the 100 a/h
> lasts...eventually I will up that to 150 or so. :-)
>
> Karl
>
> Warren Chapman wrote:
> > Karl,
> >
> > This looks identical to the "Isotherm CR65" unit I bought a few months
> > ago.  I first saw one of these in Eric Abercrombie's Syncro at Syncro de
> > Mayo a few years ago.
> >
> > It's a little shorter than the Dometic but volume is much better due to
> > extra depth.  2.3 cu ft. I believe.
> >
> > I think you may be a little optimistic about how long it will run on a
> > given battery charge though....unless you've had it in long enough to
> test
> > it in actual use.  "4 days" seems very optimistic.
> >
> > The Danfoss compress draws a max of 2.7 amps. I "bench tested" mine with
> > some food inside and based on how often it cycled I estimated it would
> use
> > somewhere between 18-22 amp hrs daily. It ran a used but charged,
> starting
> > battery we had around to "dead" in about a day and a half.  I estimate
> > that the popular 55ah Optima...if drawn down to 50% of its capacity (to
> > preserve life), or 27.5 amp hrs useable, would only last about a day and
> a
> > half.
> >
> > Seems we will need more deep cyle battery capacity...or supplemental
> solar
> > charging for a weekend camp out.
> >
> > A few months ago Mark Drillock and I were discussing use of several 22ah
> > wheelchair batteries linked in series.  Only 2.9" wide and 6.8" tall,
> four
> > would fit under the driver's seat for 88hrs, enough for 2+ camping days.
> > Mark plans a bank of six in a tray under the van near the sliding door.
> > I'm considering 4 more in the engine bay....I want to avoid the expense
> > and hassles of solar charging.
> >
> > Some of these wheel chair batteries can be drawn down to 80% of capacity
> > instead of 50% and recharging life will be reduced, but the
> > reduction ...to something like 225 re charges...instead of 500...seems
> > like something I can live with..(at the number of trips I take
> > annually)....for the benefit of the extra useable amp hours.
> >
> > What's your real world experience been like?
> >
> > Warren C.
> >
> >
>

--
roger w
There are two kinds of jobs in the world:
Picking up garbage and telling people things.
Successful people do both, with the same good attitude. (riw)
-----------------------------------------------------------
View the growing list of video work at:
http://one.revver.com/watch/376349
http://one.revver.com/watch/357909/qt/affiliate/10
http://one.revver.com/watch/345572/qt
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7135104650374818257
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3259745150182742364