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Post by Rattles on Jan 16, 2017 11:55:56 GMT 10
The way the 2/3 way Fridges were installed in the 60's caravans was to exhaust th Heat and fumes (on Gas)into the Caravan cabin besides heating up the Caravan it also introduced Carbon-monoxide (Gas) into the Caravan, this is Currently not the done thing, but there are many old Caravans with fridges installed with internal venting. The link below is the latest information re installation of Absorption type fridges in Caravan's, Option 1 is the most common for Caravan with Refrigerators mounted under Bench Tops. www.caravansplus.com.au/pdf/Optimal%20installation%20V%205.pdfHope this is of help. Rattles |
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Post by tasmillard on Jan 16, 2017 12:56:59 GMT 10
Good point Rattles re venting, I have read on this before but good to refresh the mind. If I do go with gas as the option for the fridge then yes I will have to vent it properly. However, I may just use it on 240v for the interim (the Millard fridge has only 240v as no gas lines either) and then weigh up the options. Thanks for the link.
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Post by tasmillard on Jan 17, 2017 14:06:25 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2017 14:22:51 GMT 10
IMO the fridge is to close to the back wall as it is. I guess that Viscount put that storage behind the seat to give more room to move in and out.
In my Franklin the front of the fridge it is not line up with the front of the stove and cabinets, it is about 10 cm out.
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Post by 78466noM on Jan 19, 2017 9:14:41 GMT 10
Looks like the fridge is a lot too close to the wall the 240v is good for mains electricity but will kill a battery(s) connected to an inverter very quick as it is a heater element. I would have went for a good quality 12v fridge but new between $1600 & $2000+ and could not find one upright fridge second hand. We were lucky to get the 3 way we got but there are a few for sale second hand mostly at reasonable prices
having the gas stove plumbed in shouldn't cost too much extra for the T-line into fridge area off the main line when done but probably a fair bit to do later.
It is coming along well after you wrote about the fridge covering the cafe seating I noticed that The vans with the front cafe seating and fridge beside it were all covered maybe why in some vans the fridge was put above the wheels and some older millards had it on the passenger side that with the laws as it stands now makes it illegal to have a enclosed annex in that area. Ours is in the same place as yours but not a problem as we have bunks that end.
If it is any help the new fridge is 63cm wide and 95.5cm high dometic model number RM2453
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 9:20:35 GMT 10
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Post by 78466noM on Jan 19, 2017 9:44:36 GMT 10
I have one similar to that gitano except a 92litre single door internal freezer it is a Chinese import just lucky I didn't loose that amount of money. Mine is on way to sims metal on Sunday.The country of origin is on the compressor what they do is they build them in China then people import them and place there own name on them so one fridge the same in every way may have multiple brand names from what I was told by a good fridge that specializes in caravan camping type fridges as ordinary household type fridge mechanics wouldn't look at it as they say they can't get parts well to cut this story down the fridge mechanic said he has seen a lot of these and 90% of the ones he has looked at leak very slow at the condenser that is sealed and non repairable apparently the rest of it is fairly good quality. I am keeping the 240v to 12v adapter and am going to pull 12v led light and switch out and see if I can adapt it into new fridge still won't make up what I lost on it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 9:51:28 GMT 10
I have one similar to that gitano except a 92litre single door internal freezer it is a Chinese import just lucky I didn't loose that amount of money. Mine is on way to sims metal on Sunday.The country of origin is on the compressor what they do is they build them in China then people import them and place there own name on them so one fridge the same in every way may have multiple brand names from what I was told by a good fridge that specializes in caravan camping type fridges as ordinary household type fridge mechanics wouldn't look at it as they say they can't get parts well to cut this story down the fridge mechanic said he has seen a lot of these and 90% of the ones he has looked at leak very slow at the condenser that is sealed and non repairable apparently the rest of it is fairly good quality. I am keeping the 240v to 12v adapter and am going to pull 12v led light and switch out and see if I can adapt it into new fridge still won't make up what I lost on it. Thanks for the input, has it warranty or it is older than 12 months? The problem now is that all the compressors are made in China. I also was looking on the Evakool and Waeco. I do not want a LPG fridge on my van and not use the LPG the one on my present caravan. |
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Post by 78466noM on Jan 19, 2017 10:08:21 GMT 10
from what I have been told the stuff made by reputable companies like Waeco etc though much more expensive as told to me by the fridge mechanic are top quality and have been known to last over twenty years but the chest style fridge freezer in these brands are cheaper than upright and in a small van may be a better option as on slides can be placed any where you have a space and slid out of the way when not needed could also incorporate a bench top on lid so when slid out to give extra bench space.Also this style can be picked up second hand at a reasonable cost if you are lucky to get in first.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 10:47:34 GMT 10
In my old motorhome I have on vertical 110 lt Waeco and one 50lt chest fridge of the same brand.
The chest fridge has a electronic temperature control that use to fail with any small surge on the line.
The vertical fridge was faultless.
Back then the old version with the manual turning knob used to be better.
I do not know how are they now.
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Post by 78466noM on Jan 19, 2017 11:50:06 GMT 10
the best way is to look up forums on them if there isn't much then should be good as this type of forum usually has mainly the complaints about faults not the praising of the product.and look at the compressor fridge rather than the 12v absorption fridge the absorption fridge will only cool x amount lower than temp were fridge is say for instance it will cool 30Deg below ambient and the inside of your van got to 45deg parked while you are of doing things. The fridge can get up to 15deg inside no good for your food.
the few people I know that have waeco and engel one waeco had a problem it was 2 years old and they fixed it strait away I am fairly sure they have a 3 year warranty
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Post by Mustang on Jan 20, 2017 20:46:52 GMT 10
Fridges will always be an Australian topic.
At Parkes 3 of our neighbours lost fridges in the 40 degree heat, that,s what we knew of.
Our compressor never missed a beat although it runs for 30 minutes in the hour, on cloudy days its hard on batteries.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2017 20:55:19 GMT 10
I like the Trailblaza from Northcoast Refrigeration but bugger that they are expensive.
They have 12.5 cm insulation !!
Just wonder if the Luna is as good as the cost of it?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2017 8:05:10 GMT 10
I like the Trailblaza from Northcoast Refrigeration but bugger that they are expensive. They have 12.5 cm insulation !! Just wonder if the Luna is as good as the cost of it? The answer is to build your own have a look here DIY Fridge Not hard and this way you get the exact size to fit the hole and can put any amount of insulation needed  |
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Post by snoops on Jan 21, 2017 20:05:29 GMT 10
A mate has one of these in his van - www.engelaustralia.com.au/2products_details.asp?pid=24&productid=21415Been all around Australia with it, and with 2 x 100Ah batteries and 250 watts of solar panels, never run out of power for it and never camps in a Caravan park. I'll be getting one within the next year for mine, I'm sick of warm beer on hot days using the crappy old 2 or 3 in 1's. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2017 20:32:00 GMT 10
A mate has one of these in his van - www.engelaustralia.com.au/2products_details.asp?pid=24&productid=21415Been all around Australia with it, and with 2 x 100Ah batteries and 250 watts of solar panels, never run out of power for it and never camps in a Caravan park. I'll be getting one within the next year for mine, I'm sick of warm beer on hot days using the crappy old 2 or 3 in 1's. I cannot justify to pay $1750 for one of those, having previously a faultless upright Waeco in my motorhome I will go for one again and save nearly $400 compared to the Engel. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 4:54:36 GMT 10
A mate has one of these in his van - www.engelaustralia.com.au/2products_details.asp?pid=24&productid=21415Been all around Australia with it, and with 2 x 100Ah batteries and 250 watts of solar panels, never run out of power for it and never camps in a Caravan park. I'll be getting one within the next year for mine, I'm sick of warm beer on hot days using the crappy old 2 or 3 in 1's. I cannot justify to pay $1750 for one of those, having previously a faultless upright Waeco in my motorhome I will go for one again and save nearly $400 compared to the Engel. I agree Gitano having had Engel Vitrifrigo and Waeco I will take a Waeco every time the danfoss compressor is way more efficient than the old swing motor Engel and quieter , our 130L upright Waeco in the motorhome has been running sweet as for 8 years never missed a beat it replaced a Vitrifrigo that was a constant problem and never held proper temps even in winter  The new larger 3 ways are more sucessful than the older onesbut not in over 35 deg weather they struggle , the only reason they are better is the bigger/taller the 3way the further the condenser is from the evaporator so the system has some hope with the small older ones they are so close they cannot work |
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Post by tasmillard on Jan 28, 2017 16:17:59 GMT 10
Did some more work today, I cleaned up the old single fridge vent and added a top one. Unfortunately I couldnt get the size I wanted, but I think it will do. I can however add a 12v fan if I need to push more air through OR add new wider vents as I have a bit more room on the side. Anyway, this is an improvement  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2017 21:08:30 GMT 10
Neat job, do not forget to keep the off cut of the cladding so you can get someone to mix the right paint color to touch up the van in the future.
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Post by 78466noM on Jan 29, 2017 19:45:49 GMT 10
That will help your fridge big time and looks very neat to boot.
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Post by Rattles on Jan 29, 2017 20:57:26 GMT 10
Yes the 60"s Caravans vented the Heat and Gases into the living space via a Fancy shaped slot above the fridge. It is a good idea to insulate the two sides and top of the fridge and seal the back so the heat/gases cannot enter the cabin. See Link:- www.dometicrvcentre.com.au/documentmanager/item/421Rattles |
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Post by tasmillard on Jan 30, 2017 6:25:49 GMT 10
The only issue I have with this fridge is that the bottom door (where you access the fridge controls) is a spot where gases can vent back into the living area. I guess thats why they changed the fridge design later on to seal that off???
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Post by 78466noM on Jan 30, 2017 7:38:56 GMT 10
A piece of aluminum or galvanized tin and heat proof silastic at back cut where wires and pipes go though and fill gaps with heat proof silastic. then back of fridge will be sealed for you even the new fridge I have I will have to cut a piece of thin aluminum flashing to cover small gap under fridge.
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Post by Rattles on Jan 30, 2017 7:50:27 GMT 10
Tas:- If you seal the back of fridge from the interior then you really do not need the flyscreen mesh covering the vents,
thus increasing the rate of the air flow which will increase the efficiency of the fridge. However if the fridge keeps the
amber cold then that is all that is needed, it is not that you live in the north of Australia.
Another part of your build well done.
Rattles
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Post by tasmillard on Jan 30, 2017 12:56:27 GMT 10
THanks guys for the info. Thats what I also figured, the important thing is to seal the back of the fridge against the wall (I remember reading a thread on here about this and thought that is spot on). So ill see how we go, but I had it on again over weekend and it works great so I know I am not wasting my time with the install.
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The new larger 3 ways are more sucessful than the older onesbut not in over 35 deg weather they struggle , the only reason they are better is the bigger/taller the 3way the further the condenser is from the evaporator so the system has some hope with the small older ones they are so close they cannot work 