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Karl writes: Today I finally found time to install my new Norcold electric fridge! Idecided a few months ago that I really had enough of the idiosyncrasies andpoor hot-weather performance of the old Dometic, so found a new Norcold DC0040 on eBay for $325. This model is 1.7 cubic feet in capacity, 12 or 24volt, and the dimensions make it a perfect fit into the Vanagon Westy cabinet. The unit is much deeper and shorter than the Dometic, and has a real freezer section not unlike the small office fridges you find at the local Home Despot store. I removed the cabinet front where the original's door hinged, and removed all hinges, latches, and the plastic inner trim, then slightly enlarged the opening's width [1/4"] and squared the round lower corners of the opening. There was about a three-inch space remaining at the top with the fridge mounted, so I filled that with a section of the original door, minus the plastic interior bit. My plan is to later construct a set of tracks behind that, and place a slide-out cutting board / table there. The bottom of the unit required a couple 1.75" thick wood blocks to support the bulk [40 lbs], and then four screws into the face board held it in. To secure the face board, I added two more small metal angle pieces like the one at the top right corner. For now, the fridge is wired directly to my 80 a/h auxiliary battery, soon I'll install the larger deep cycle under the rear seat or elsewhere. The fridge draws 2.5 amps, so with the short run times I've seen so far, should easily go a few days before needing the battery charged. How's the performance, you ask? Well, within an hour, the interior was down to 35, an hour later 23. This with the thermostat set in the mid range and 75 degrees inside the van. Later... Some data from my first weekend with the new fridge: this unit is what I had dreamed of for a long time. Turn it on, it works, no hassles all weekend, every time I opened the door the thermometer said 30-35 degrees, this at a mid-setting on the thermostat [between 2 and 3 on the dial that goes to 5]. Even more amazing was the amount of items I crammed into it, without worrying about 'air space'. Veggie-burgers were mostly frozen [i.e. frost-covered in plastic] at all times in the freezer section. The only downside I found was still not enough space for tall jars, like quart sized, unless I'd remove the middle shelf. The total lack of hassle factor alone was enough to make me smile every time I opened the door. No worrying about the pilot flame going out, no worry about holding the door open too long, nor worrying about spoilage or items falling out when I opened the door to search. The noise level is a nice low hum when it runs, which at the 75-80 degrees I saw this weekend is only 5-10 minutes each hour. Definitely quiet enough for most sleepers, although on a few occasions I needed to move items on the table or stovetop as the little compressor unit of the fridge sent small vibrations into the surrounding cabinet and created rattles. Later in the week I'll finally install the deep-cycle battery, although the group 91 under the driver's seat works just fine as is. I'm more worried about battery longevity on longer run times and deeper discharging. Later... The fridge ran for four and a half days [as a test] on one regular starting battery [I haven't hooked up the big deep cycle one yet] before draining it entirely. Outside temps were 70's to mid 80's, fridge always at 30-35 degrees with the stat set on 2.5 on the 5-scale. I'm satisfied more than you can imagine. Such a relief to never have to deal with the silly Dometic crap again, and being able to refrigerate almost twice as many items! |
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