Re Engel in hot weather

[was80]

Hi Mike,
If you find the Engel struggles in hot conditions, have you given thought to hooking up a small solar panel and one or two computer fans to direct cool air into ... or hot air away from .... the condensor coils?? Would only need the extra cooling during the day and you are not using power from your batteries. Any thoughts on this??

You're probably correct .............. I'm bored and sorta looking forward to being back at work tomorrow.



Wayne.

[sorenityblue]

Hoping the insulation will address a significant proportion of the problem Wayne, fans may help but maybe a bit of mucking around with smaller gains?
I suspect the problem is not so much air movement around the condenser, but heat absorb through the fridge panels. When the car is very hot, the fridge panels are quite cold to the touch, not a good sign.

When I wrap a heavy blanket around the cold bits of the fridge, there is quite a marked drop in the fridge compressor duty cycle and the battery lasted more within the time frames I think it should/need.
I have to do some more trials to see if the bonnet insulation is as good as a heavy blanket, but the fridge panels are no longer as cold to the touch as in the past which is a good start.

The Fans is something to keep in mind if the insulation does not do it though - thanks.

P.S. 4 weeks of holidays coming to a close and I am not looking forward to work by a long shot

Cheers.

[was80]

No problems Mike,
Was just winging an idea that has had some thread time on a number of forums and the mods being done to, mainly dometic/three way fridges and does include the odd Engel. I did see a picture where a computer fan was used to circulate cold air into the two zone extention on top of an Engel.

Back at work after your four weeks off .............. yuk.



Wayne.
I'm off to have some cheese and quackers .......ummm

W.

[crisp]

Hoping the insulation will address a significant proportion of the problem Wayne, fans may help but maybe a bit of mucking around with smaller gains?
I suspect the problem is not so much air movement around the condenser, but heat absorb through the fridge panels. When the car is very hot, the fridge panels are quite cold to the touch, not a good sign.

When I wrap a heavy blanket around the cold bits of the fridge, there is quite a marked drop in the fridge compressor duty cycle and the battery lasted more within the time frames I think it should/need.
I have to do some more trials to see if the bonnet insulation is as good as a heavy blanket, but the fridge panels are no longer as cold to the touch as in the past which is a good start.

The Fans is something to keep in mind if the insulation does not do it though - thanks.

P.S. 4 weeks of holidays coming to a close and I am not looking forward to work by a long shot

Cheers.

Hi Mike,
Can you get the insulating bags for the engel like u can for the waeco, if so it may be worth looking at the cost cause at least then you wouldn't have to worry about blanket or other rig ups dropping while travelling and blocking vents, just a thought.
Cheers
Chris

[was80]

Hi Chris,
AFAIK Mike tried to get a cover but had no joy in finding one to fit his fridge, that's why he bought the insulation and made his own. I have a similar problem with my second hand 15 litre fridge, Mike has passed on his leftover material and I will be attempting to do as neat a job as him, there were pictures of his efforts somewhere on this site............. I just can't find them.



Wayne.

[was80]

you can stop looking now. ........... I found it

in this thread
http://compact4wdwa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=84

in this post
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=84#p283



Wayne.

[was80]

Well .................................. not quite as neat as Mike's................

DSCF1198.JPG

it is sort of neat ...................

DSCF1200.JPG

Wayne.

[sorenityblue]

Not having the join at the front is a plus Wayne.
How did you stick it all down ?

Cheers.

[was80]

Hi Mike,
I bought some adhesive hook and loop .......... aka velcro .......... which seems to be doing the job. Just needs a little more work done on the ends where the adhesive is not sticking to the material as well as it should be.

Not so neat now ............ .............. the cats thought it would be nice to use the lid as a scratching mat.



Wayne.