Retrofit or conversion to compressor

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by Soyouz9

Hi, just want to share my ongoing experience with a Novakool 3800 swap I did 3 years ago.
So far so good, shelving part is a bit cheap and the unit need to be manually defrosted every 10 days otherwise the ice accumulation will affect the reaction of the thermostat and the compressor will be running full time, but these are minor flaws IMO. I normally keep the setting at 3 and will have a peak reading of 2.5A on start that goes down to 2.2A after a few seconds. My average power consumption from the battery is around 175watts from the point where the solar panel (250watts) stops providing energy to the first signs of daylight in the morning , (20:00 to 06:00) , I live in Quebec, Canada so these figures are for the summer period. I do not use any inverter , but all detectors are on and some water pump activity occurs during the night

So about 25W (12Vx2.2A) is the power demand by the fridge, what elses needs the remaining 150W?

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by Soyouz9

Hi, just want to share my ongoing experience with a Novakool 3800 swap I did 3 years ago.
So far so good, shelving part is a bit cheap and the unit need to be manually defrosted every 10 days otherwise the ice accumulation will affect the reaction of the thermostat and the compressor will be running full time, but these are minor flaws IMO. I normally keep the setting at 3 and will have a peak reading of 2.5A on start that goes down to 2.2A after a few seconds. My average power consumption from the battery is around 175watts from the point where the solar panel (250watts) stops providing energy to the first signs of daylight in the morning , (20:00 to 06:00) , I live in Quebec, Canada so these figures are for the summer period. I do not use any inverter , but all detectors are on and some water pump activity occurs during the night

I wanted to add along with the photo even though I turned my knob to about 3.4 out if 7 that my Novakool has been working flawlessly for 24 hours plus.

My issues were probably the loose negative connection of my charging/battery deep under the rig that my RV Guy found.

I love my Novakool!

The fact you are only using 175 watts in 10 hours is remarkable!

Just 14amp hours!

[Soyouz9]

Hi, the 175 watts figure is for 8 hr operation, as I stated

Have a nice day

[Soyouz9]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

I wanted to add along with the photo even though I turned my knob to about 3.4 out if 7 that my Novakool has been working flawlessly for 24 hours plus.

My issues were probably the loose negative connection of my charging/battery deep under the rig that my RV Guy found.

I love my Novakool!

The fact you are only using 175 watts in 10 hours is remarkable!

Just 14amp hours!

Hi, one must keep in mind the mild temperature in our province, even our heat waves period is nothing in regards with temps south of U.S. Beside that we are very shy on power consumption and our rig is pretty energy efficient. We ver run out of power even in rainy days as long as we keep it to the bare necessary . We have 250 watts of solar panel (1 unit) and a J185H Trojan battery good for 225 A on 20hr . Hope this info is useful. By the way the solar panel is mounted on a 1996 Pleasure-Way STW . Have a good day !

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by Soyouz9

Hi, the 175 watts figure is for 8 hr operation, as I stated

Have a nice day

My mistake, I was reading the 20hr to 6hr.

[Soyouz9]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

My mistake, I was reading the 20hr to 6hr.

Not to be sorry , it is my mistake. The reading is for 10 hrs .
20:00 to 06:00

[themexicandoctor]

All i can say when its reading 109 in the front cab area, the sun is beating down on the fridge side, the rear sleeping area is 101 & the fridge is purring along at 35°F, NOVAKOOL RULES!

[themexicandoctor]

Here is the data;

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by Soyouz9

Hi, one must keep in mind the mild temperature in our province, even our heat waves period is nothing in regards with temps south of U.S. Beside that we are very shy on power consumption and our rig is pretty energy efficient. We ver run out of power even in rainy days as long as we keep it to the bare necessary . We have 250 watts of solar panel (1 unit) and a J185H Trojan battery good for 225 A on 20hr . Hope this info is useful. By the way the solar panel is mounted on a 1996 Pleasure-Way STW . Have a good day !

My sympathy goes out to owners like GALLENH in AZ who is contemplating moving to a DC Fridge or owners in Texas & Florida

[peteco]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

All i can say when its reading 109 in the front cab area, the sun is beating down on the fridge side, the rear sleeping area is 101 & the fridge is purring along at 35°F, NOVAKOOL RULES!

Hey Doc, could you please record the temperature in the freezer? Thanks.

[SteveJ]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

My sympathy goes out to owners like GALLENH in AZ who is contemplating moving to a DC Fridge or owners in Texas & Florida

If we stay out of the fridge it can maintain a 60 to 65+* differential.

While camping I've returned from riding to find temps in the mid 30's with ambient temps of 100-105. With an absorption fridge. That said, that's all it can do. We avoid making ice or putting warm stuff in that fridge under those conditions as really has nothing extra for capacity. If we are in the fridge a lot the temps do creep up but it does start cooling down when the heat eases off, to the point of sometimes getting down into the upper 20's.

The fridge is about two years old, a Dometic RM2451.

[GallenH]

Originally Posted by SteveJ

If we stay out of the fridge it can maintain a 60 to 65+* differential.

While camping I've returned from riding to find temps in the mid 30's with ambient temps of 100-105. With an absorption fridge. That said, that's all it can do. We avoid making ice or putting warm stuff in that fridge under those conditions as really has nothing extra for capacity. If we are in the fridge a lot the temps do creep up but it does start cooling down when the heat eases off, to the point of sometimes getting down into the upper 20's.

The fridge is about two years old, a Dometic RM2451.

Here in PHX it cools down to the lower 90s/upper 80s right now at night. So my absorption fridge gets about 50-60º below ambient. That means 20-40º.
I load up, leave in the morning and get to higher elevations where the highs are 20º lower before noon. I do this on 12v; not opening the fridge during travel. We have a small flex cooler that holds a 6-pack and a sandwich for lunch. That's a 6-pack of soda......til we reach destination. If we're going to the White Mountains, it's about 5 hours and the White Mountains are at 9000 elevation. There we go onto LP for the fridge and easily maintain temps.

I understand that this doesn't work for TMD who spends the entire time in LA. But it does for us. And our fridge is a Dometic 2310 that's 23 years old.

I've thought about upgrading to a compressor. And I've also thought about putting in an inverter and running the fridge off of AC when driving. Our AC works as well as LP and infinitely better than 12v. The inverter would have to be carefully matched to my alternator but I think that's possible.

Trip coming up next Monday! That's my 71st birthday. Road trip!!

[SteveJ]

Originally Posted by GallenH

Here in PHX it cools down to the lower 90s/upper 80s right now at night. So my absorption fridge gets about 50-60º below ambient. That means 20-40º.
I load up, leave in the morning and get to higher elevations where the highs are 20º lower before noon. I do this on 12v; not opening the fridge during travel. We have a small flex cooler that holds a 6-pack and a sandwich for lunch. That's a 6-pack of soda......til we reach destination. If we're going to the White Mountains, it's about 5 hours and the White Mountains are at 9000 elevation. There we go onto LP for the fridge and easily maintain temps.

I understand that this doesn't work for TMD who spends the entire time in LA. But it does for us. And our fridge is a Dometic 2310 that's 23 years old.

I've thought about upgrading to a compressor. And I've also thought about putting in an inverter and running the fridge off of AC when driving. Our AC works as well as LP and infinitely better than 12v. The inverter would have to be carefully matched to my alternator but I think that's possible.

Trip coming up next Monday! That's my 71st birthday. Road trip!!

I just turned my fridge on a couple of hours ago as I'm leaving Mon or Tues heading for sw VA. It's way down to 81* already.

Happy b-day.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by peteco

Hey Doc, could you please record the temperature in the freezer? Thanks.

I am everyday, I am ecstatic about how the unit is performing.

And now, with my original issue, the poor connection at the negative/battery/juncture rectified by my RV Guy, the draw from the fridge has dropped considerably as it is finally able to turn off - before it was running 24/7.

ie; last night's 12 hour run only used around 14 amp hours

[themexicandoctor]

The sun is beating down on the fridge side, its 11.37am & its already;

106° in the Driver's Area
96° in the Rear Lounge area (I have fans)
27° in the Fridge

LOVE MY NOVAKOOL!

[peteco]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

I am everyday, I am ecstatic about how the unit is performing.

And now, with my original issue, the poor connection at the negative/battery/juncture rectified by my RV Guy, the draw from the fridge has dropped considerably as it is finally able to turn off - before it was running 24/7.

ie; last night's 12 hour run only used around 14 amp hours

You are showing temp in the refrigerator part. I am interested also in how the freezer part is performing.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by peteco

You are showing temp in the refrigerator part. I am interested also in how the freezer part is performing.

Sorry Mate.

Will get the front cab unit, put it in a zip lock & keep everyone informed.

Give me 24 hours.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Sorry Mate.

Will get the front cab unit, put it in a zip lock & keep everyone informed.

Give me 24 hours.

NOTE; Its marked Drivers Seat when in fact it should be Temporary Freezer.

Put it in around 5pm tonight, this is my result; 18.7°F

Will have more data in the am.

[themexicandoctor]

My fridge by comparison is 26.5.

It is presently on 4, I just turned it to 3.75 (if it was digital), on a range of 1-7 with 7 being the coldest.

I have been reluctant to tamper with it but the fridge is doing great, oscillating between 22 & 33°F while the inside temperature of the front of the cab has been as high as 116 & the rear 102.

Will share more data tomorrow.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by peteco

Hey Doc, could you please record the temperature in the freezer? Thanks.

I turned the fridge to a warmer setting but everything is cooling down, along with the outside air & the road.

Now at 12.15am its reading 12.6°F.

NOTE; The Freezer is marked DRIVER'S SEAT