Author |
Message |
madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
|
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject: Propex under fridge |
|
|
some text later _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
|
Back to top |
|
|
climberjohn Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1840 Location: Portland Orygun
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
Love it! _________________ '86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jkidd152 Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2009 Posts: 408 Location: Portland, OR
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
climberjohn wrote: |
Love it! |
x2! This is a must-do for me. Please provide details when you get a chance.
It looks great! Very clean. _________________ '85 Syncro Westy |
|
Back to top |
|
|
purplepeopleeater Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005 Posts: 3117 Location: E. Washington
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Soo nice, exactly how I plan on doing mine this winter.
Whats the black box? I want to put an inverter in that spot. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Hallvalla Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2009 Posts: 224 Location: Oakland, CA
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hmmmmmmm, nice.
Did Earl help you with that? Also, I thought you had this installed a long time ago, did you move it?
This is one mod my wife is actually interested in, so we'll have to meet up soon and let her take a look.
~J~ _________________ 85 Westy
Subaru EJ22 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
markz2004 Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2007 Posts: 944 Location: Portland, OR
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
jkidd152 wrote: |
climberjohn wrote: |
Love it! |
x2! This is a must-do for me. Please provide details when you get a chance.
It looks great! Very clean. |
X3. this is where my propex will go. _________________ 87 Westy, 250k GW 2.4 - 2.0 , 16" wheels |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dubbified Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 1406 Location: Redmond, WA
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
Clean install!
Being down that low, sucking in all that cooler air.. curious about the potential for dust/debris?
Anyone making a filter for these? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
thanks for comments, I'll try to do a write up tonight.
To answer some questions:
* the black box is my fridge converter for 110v. My fridge unit is an Isotherm with ASU and it did not come stock with 12v/110v, only 12v, so I found a brand new Isotherm converter on eBay for almost no money and installed it there. My Xantrex 1000w charger/inverter is under the bench seat, too big to fit under fridge. Yes, you can put a smaller inverter or a hard-wired battery charger or some of your controls like your solar power controller, etc where my fridge converter is.
* Earl (our local marine electrician) only did the propane connection on the Propex. I can say I have learned a bunch of new trades doing this job myself. I actually enjoyed working with wood and laminate. I had to buy a bunch of tools but it felt like therapy working on this after my 9 to 6 job. Yes, my Propex used to be located under rear bench in the stardard location used for most people. Earlier this year I decided to get rid of the 4 pack UB batteries under driver seat (combined 88a/h) and replaced them with a big 110 a/h deep cycle AGM marine battery that I installed where the Propex used to be. This prompted me to move the Propex under the fridge.
* Dust and debris. That is a valid concern that didn't cross my mind but not sure of its importance. In reality, the new location for the inlet/outlet grates is only a few inches lower than the standard location under rear bench so this question would be global for all Propex installs. I don't rememeber the Propex really having much of a deep sucking effect but I will investigate. _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GBA 88West LA Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2008 Posts: 1279 Location: New Hampshire
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 12:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
innovative fresh idea...nice nice nice alternative to usual mounting spots _________________ 88 Westy GL Vanaru 07 2.5 EJ25/AA Trans/oiling plates, 1.14 3rd-.77-4th..solar powered cabin |
|
Back to top |
|
|
pnwkayaker Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2008 Posts: 918 Location: Sammamish, WA
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Madspaniard,
could you plesae provide some measurements and additional pictures ? Specifically:
1 - Height where you mounted the fridge (to clear the Propex)
2 - separation between Propex and Fridge
3 - reference points/measurements of where's the Propex installed within the cabinet
4 - any picture on how you routed the exhaust pipes ? I"m concerned/interested on how it deals with the propane tank under the van.
I'm in the exact same situation as the other people in this thread, I have a TruckFridge and a Propex under the rear bench, and want to free that space for either cargo or a bigger battery.
Thanks in advance! _________________ 87 Syncro Westy EJ25 ("Tardis")
Seattle Meetup at Marymoor (link)
A collection of Simple Useful Mods (SUM) (link) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
chojinchef Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2011 Posts: 1539 Location: Central Massachusetts
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I was just posting about this. I yanked my fridge and this spot makes so much sense for the install. Bravo! _________________ Its a mistress; an expensive, whiney, needy bitch of a mistress. She is a chunky, dirty girl with bad skin, little motivation and yet she always makes me smile. She sure has been around before shacking up with me. She has a direct line to my wallet, plays with my emotions, is consistantly jovial yet with a sarcastic and sardonic side, is consistant in her inconsistancy, and every once in a while gives me a great ride and a fantastic memory. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
singler3360 Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009 Posts: 1191 Location: Corvallis, Oregon
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Mad,
Thanks for coming back and posting on your progress. I've had my TF49 sitting in my living room (serving cold beer) and just this week began prepping the cabinet space. I don't have a Propex yet but figured that mounting the fridge as high in the cabinet as it will go should leave enough space.
1. My preliminary measurement for the aluminum angle supports is 21 3/8" from the top of the cabinet space or 5" from the bottom. Sound similar?
EDIT: On the right half, I was thinking of using undermount drawer glides to create a pull-out shelf for all the gadgets (Battery-Minder, solar controller, etc...). Also a master SPST switch to the fridge. Overkill? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Sam Bateman Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2010 Posts: 101 Location: Arvonia,VA
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
Where did you find the best price on your Isotherm?
Sam Bateman |
|
Back to top |
|
|
madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
Sorry I have not had time to do a write up on this, coming up
singler3360 wrote: |
1. My preliminary measurement for the aluminum angle supports is 21 3/8" from the top of the cabinet space or 5" from the bottom. Sound similar?
|
yes, more or less, I think I was close to 21" to the bottom of fridge when the fridge rubber legs are off.
Sam Bateman wrote: |
Where did you find the best price on your Isotherm?
Sam Bateman\
|
Prices were about the same everywhere I looked, The difference is that some distributors were not allowed to ship to CA (some weird arrangements with manufacturers and vendors) so I ended up buying mine here
http://www.defender.com/
I'm assuming you are aware of other fridge options like Truckfridge and Vitrifrigo. The only reason I went with Isotherm was the ASU option. Check out this thread if you haven't yet.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=359831&highlight=fridge _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
|
Back to top |
|
|
scobax Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2007 Posts: 236 Location: Bend, Oregon
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
With regards to dust getting in, I took some metal screen material from the hardware store and formed it over the outlet and inlet vents before clamping the hoses on. It keeps a fair bit of the larger particles (or bugs) out and the metal screening will not melt.
_________________ 87 Syncro Westy w/ Suby 2.5
RIP: 2.1 WBX. You were a good dog 'ol feller
“The word adventure has gotten overused. For me, when everything goes wrong, that's when adventure starts” -Yvon Chouinard
"It's not expensive, its priceless" -Unknown |
|
Back to top |
|
|
madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
scobax wrote: |
With regards to dust getting in, I took some metal screen material from the hardware store and formed it over the outlet and inlet vents before clamping the hoses on. It keeps a fair bit of the larger particles (or bugs) out and the metal screening will not melt.
|
yup, I did the same. _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
|
Back to top |
|
|
PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6234 Location: Portland OR
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
madspaniard wrote: |
scobax wrote: |
With regards to dust getting in, I took some metal screen material from the hardware store and formed it over the outlet and inlet vents before clamping the hoses on. It keeps a fair bit of the larger particles (or bugs) out and the metal screening will not melt.
|
yup, I did the same. |
This might be a good idea only if the Propex unit can handle reduced airflow. The wire screening reduces the free area of the opening by 70-75%. That means the grill has 25% of the open area it had without the screening. This will make it noisier and make the fan work a lot harder to get air into the unit. It probably significantly reduces the airflow. The units are specified for 60-80 CFM which is already a lot through the small opening. Your performance may be greatly affected and the unit may act funny or get a fault happening. _________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
|
Back to top |
|
|
madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
PDXWesty wrote: |
This might be a good idea only if the Propex unit can handle reduced airflow. The wire screening reduces the free area of the opening by 70-75%. That means the grill has 25% of the open area it had without the screening. This will make it noisier and make the fan work a lot harder to get air into the unit. It probably significantly reduces the airflow. The units are specified for 60-80 CFM which is already a lot through the small opening. Your performance may be greatly affected and the unit may act funny or get a fault happening. |
good point, not sure about those numbers, 70%-75% opening reduction sounds like a lot to me, where did you get those numbers? honest question. I have used my Propex with this set up (screen) for 2 years now, maybe 15 nights of total use, and haven't noticed any performance issues, noise has never been an issue with my unit, other might have different experiences... _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
|
Back to top |
|
|
pnwkayaker Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2008 Posts: 918 Location: Sammamish, WA
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Madspaniard,
do you have any pictures on how you routed the exhaust lines ? I'm interested to see how the exhaust ports clear the propane cylinder.
Thanks a lot! _________________ 87 Syncro Westy EJ25 ("Tardis")
Seattle Meetup at Marymoor (link)
A collection of Simple Useful Mods (SUM) (link) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
pnwkayaker wrote: |
Madspaniard,
do you have any pictures on how you routed the exhaust lines ? I'm interested to see how the exhaust ports clear the propane cylinder.
Thanks a lot! |
not my pic but mine looks exactly like this
_________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|