I believe Karl Mullendore did a cool way to figure out the actual time the
compressor ran...I believe he wired a Vanagon Analog clock into the circuit
and for a 24 hour period, determined how much time past "12" where the clock
was set was gained. Maybe it was a digital clock, but I remember hearing it
was a clock that only gained time when 12v was applied and didn't loose time
during the other times.
This, would give a VERY accurate report of actual run time.
Maybe he's still on this list and can chime in?

I love the concept of that fridge, but I still don't see it running for a
week without big solar or running the car, even with a big battery....

-Craig
'85GL turned WESTY
BOSTIG in the back

On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 2:24 PM, Troy <colorworks@gci.net> wrote:

> The fridge consumes 2.8 amps per hour. The average usage is somewhere
> around
> 20 minutes, perhaps 15 minutes if the temperatures are on the cool side,
> more if it's hot.  2.8 divided by three is close to 1 amp. I think it's a
> reasonable assumption based on the feedback I've gotten from people who own
> these fridges. No, it is by no means exact. I totally agree with you that
> there are too many variables. There are some excellent controllers out
> there,  battery monitors, that could determine precisely, but my figures
> are
> super conservative. Even using super conservative figures, the fridge would
> not run for a week, and again, that's my point.
>
> Troy
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kim Brennan" <kimbrennan@mac.com>
> To: <colorworks@gci.net>
> Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 1:10 PM
> Subject: Re: Vitrfrigio install report
>
>
>  Uh, if the compressor doesn't need to cycle, why would you expect the
>> fridge to consume 1 amp an hour? Not having looked at the specs, is  that
>> the standby power consumption?
>>
>>
>> On Jul 27, 2009, at 4:53 PM, Troy wrote:
>>
>>  Agreed, but even taking the most conservative figures (one amp per  hour)
>>> the
>>> refrigerator is not going to run for a week, and that's really my  point.
>>> The
>>> situation will only get worse when everything else is factored in,
>>> including
>>> everything you mentioned, but there are other variables such as  lights
>>> and
>>> stereo, furnace, etc. all of which will make matters worse, not  better.
>>>
>>> Troy
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Kim Brennan" <kimbrennan@mac.com>
>>> To: <colorworks@gci.net>
>>> Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 12:03 PM
>>> Subject: Re: Vitrfrigio install report
>>>
>>>
>>>  The problem with the math, is it makes several assumptions about the
>>>> environmental circumstances that may or may not be valid. If it gets
>>>> cooler at night, such that the fridge compressor doesn't need to  run
>>>> much
>>>> (or at all), this throws off your timing. A similar issues   comprimises
>>>> the longetivity timetable, if it is hotter that  anticipated.  Opening
>>>> the
>>>> fridge a lot, will mean it cycles more. If  the fridge is more  tightly
>>>> packed, it will cycle less. Etc.
>>>>
>>>> Lots of variables here.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>