In theory, it should.  In practice, using it is a waste of time, because
the only time I turn off propane cooling on a road trip is if I'm going to
be plugged in for more than 12 hours at a stretch.

Geo/ATL
Williamsport, MD

On Tue, Aug 26, 2014 at 5:30 PM, Rocket J Squirrel <
camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:

> Now that I'm back . . .
> Maybe someone with a greater knowledge of the inner workings of the
> Dometic refrigerator can explain why the 12v element, which is rated at
> the same wattage as the 120v element, doesn't cause the refrigerator to
> get as cold as the 120v element.
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
>
>
> On 08/26/2014 03:55 AM, mcneely4@cox.net wrote:
>
>> Is that the experience you have?  Lots of folks have made the same
>> observation.  Some even say that the 12V mode will not hold the
>> refrigerator cold over time.  Let's hear from some others on the matter.
>> mcneely
>>
>> ---- Vanagon <camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Makes no sense. The 12v and 120v elements are rated at the same wattage,
>>> so they must get equally hot. Since it is heat that drives the ammonia
>>> cycle cooling system, both elements should result in the same amount of
>>> heat extraction.
>>>
>>> Last night in camp. Palestrina on the hi-fi.
>>>
>>>  On Aug 25, 2014, at 12:21 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I have found that on 12V the refrigerator will not cool down, though it
>>>> will hold a cold temperature if cooled first on 110V or propane.  mcneely
>>>>
>>>> ---- Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Still see 13 + volts so I'm not sure the electrics are hooked up
>>>>> correctly. The frig light is lit though. Maybe it just takes longer than 3
>>>>> hrs to cool the thing but the fins inside were only slightly cool and that
>>>>> could have been the result of the cold water bottles I loaded it with.
>>>>>
>>>>> Mike
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  On Aug 25, 2014, at 7:29 AM, Vanagon wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What do you see for a voltage on the house battery with the engine
>>>>>> running and the reefer turned on and set to the 12vdc mode?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from over my first cup of coffee.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  On Aug 24, 2014, at 10:36 PM, Mike Miller <mwmiller6@ATT.NET> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Vanites,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Went camping for a week in my 87 Westfakia Syncro TDI. Put the frig
>>>>>>> on battery for the drive up hoping to get a air flow current started.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It didn't seem cold when I got there but it did light right off on
>>>>>>> propane, which normally doesn't happen.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> And my coach battery was almost drained.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When I measured the voltage at the house batter it was 11.4 or so
>>>>>>> and the engine battery was 12.5 or so, with the engine off.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> With the engine running the house battery voltage was 13.1 or 2 and
>>>>>>> the engine battery 13.7 or so, regardless of rpm.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bad battery?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bad charging relay?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bad juju?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mike
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> David McNeely
>>>>
>>>
>> --
>> David McNeely
>>
>>
>>