Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 15:44:54 -0800
Reply-To: Doug F <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Doug F <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject: Re: Build Your Own Van Fridge Kit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I know Engel has a kit with the evap and cond that uses their 12 swing motor
and is very efficient. I found it on a AUS web site awhile back. not sure if
US importers can also get it but it has great potential to use in a custom
fridge area as you suggest. Top loading makes a lot of sense if it can be
done in the westy.
In my opinion a fridge that could run on either propane or battery would be
best even if it used two separate systems in tandem. If the fridge were
designed that way in the first place it could be done well.
I recently removed my westy fridge and replaced it with a 2.5 cu /ft dorm
110vt fridge and cut the cabinet to make it fit. It does stick out an extra
4 inches but I dont care I want the room and I dont want to bring an ice
chest. I also removed all the guts from the 182b and installed them on the
back of the new fridge and can use either system. with the larger fridge.
Doug
----- Original Message -----
From: "Malcolm Stebbins" <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2005 2:41 PM
Subject: Build Your Own Van Fridge Kit
> The fridge thread is perhaps the 2nd most popular thread on this list. My
fridge works just fine,
> but I'd like to have a top loader (more efficient) and the solid state
units have come along way
> in the past 20-ish years since our vans were built, in that they can now
run days off of a 2nd,
> deep-cycle battery (longer if one uses a solar panel). The problem for ME
is how to get a new
> fridge that nicely fits into a Westy withOUT altering the appearance of
the Westy interior.
>
> Karl Mullendore has done a nice job with his new fridge:
> http://www.members.shaw.ca/McTavishPAC/fridge/fridge.html
>
> But I want a larger fridge and a more economical top-loader. Many of the
top loading fridges are
> too wide/long/deep to fit nicely in the westy. Also my plan would be to
replace the whole sink
> water reservoir & elect cabinet (between the stove & hanging closet) with
a top-loading fridge,
> and use the existing fridge area for storage, and use an under-van tank
for fresh water
> ( See
http://secure.mycart.net//catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=1652235&showprevnext=1
).
>
> mmmmmmmmm So,.....I was looking at this page:
> http://www.isotherm.com/toploaded.htm (note the power consumption).
>
> and clicking around, I then found this page:
> http://www.indelmarineusa.com/products/facts/builtInBox.htm
> (from the home page it's Products => Facts => Build your box)
>
> This is a DIY fridge kit!!!! This can be fabricated to un-even
(non-rectangular) dimensions and
> could be used to replace the existing Westy fridge in the same cabinet,
or, as I envision, to turn
> the water reservoir cabinet into a top loading fridge. One could build it
so that the one or both
> of the horizontal cabinet doors would be the access doors for the fridge.
One could put one or 2
> cooling units in.
>
> I put this out on the list so as to invite reasons why this would not work
and to get it the
> archives. I may be wrong, but I think this DIY fridge has potential! Do
you? Malcolm
>
>
>
>
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