| Author |
Message |
John that newguy (199.232.240.144)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 9:04 am: | |
Is anyone familiar with this brand or type of unit? Can diesel
be piped to it, or simply be used as needed as fuel for it?
http://www.thenaturalhome.com/servel400k.htm
Servel model RK 400A
63.5" H x 23" W x 26.5" D
8 cubic feet of interior space (6 in fridge)
Separate freezer compartment (2 cu ft)
Total shelf space of 11.5 square feet
reversible refrigerator and freezer doors
AC "back-up" power is standard
6 Sturdy, rustproof wire shelves (2 in freezer)
4 adjustable racks in the door & 2 veggie bins
Battery powered interior light
$1549* plus freight |
Dick Bell (205.188.116.136)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 9:49 am: | |
I would think that even if you could run it on diesel, the weekly maintenance aspect would negate any advantages over a similar propane fired unit. |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 10:22 am: | |
Weekly Maintenance? How so?
Gary |
John that newguy (199.232.240.144)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 10:36 am: | |
I read about the maintenance of it's wick, etc and didn't find it
too objectionable of a chore.
I would like to set this bus up without the addition of a propane
tank, if I can. There's ways to heat with oil, and there's usually no
need to run the air conditioners at night even here in Florida, but
refrigerating food can be a problem.
I'm trying to find a way to refrigerate food in a large-sized
refrigerator without having to depend on the genset or propane.
Inverted battery power is an option, but depletes the batteries
quickly, especially with a large-sized refrigerator/freezer.
They make 12 and 24 volt compressor type refrigerators, but
I'm not sure how much they'd drag the batteries down, either.
Oil seems like a good way to go, since the bus is already full of
it. Diesel's not as clean as Kerosene, but I think it'll work?
Options?
PS:
(wick cleaning and resetting, Gary) |
Deacon (204.184.224.31)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 11:13 am: | |
Back in the 1960's I lived in the hills of North San Diego county and had a Servel gas fridge, wish I still had it. It never gave me a problem, made no noise and I only had to clean the gas jet once a year. If I remember correctly it was made in Ohio around 1940. We used a 5 gal bottle of LP gas about every three months.
John F. |
John that newguy (199.232.240.144)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 11:16 am: | |
Was that a "regular" home-sized one, John?
And have you heard anything regarding their oil model? |
Deacon (204.184.224.31)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 12:24 pm: | |
John, that baby weighed a ton. Yes, it was a home unit, very large with a top freezer. I was not aware of the kerosene model until you posted it. I believe that it would be unwise to use diesel fuel in place of kero as it is much more likely to soot and smell more.
Ammonia is one of the best refridgerants known, and cheapest to operate.
John F. |
Jim-Bob (12.46.52.74)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 2:07 pm: | |
I'll bet Servel could tell you how the unit would work on Diesel fuel. I know that Kero is not generally suitable for Deisel engine fuel (not enough lubricity) but I'll bet it would work in the fridge. |
FAST FRED (4.245.191.230)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 13, 2004 - 6:36 am: | |
The problem may be with acceleration , deceleration and cornering.
The only kero units I have seen were on boats where they were in gymbals to keep sorta level.
Rocking and tiping actually improve the cooling , but boats don't corner hard .
Perhaps you could use it ONLY when still, and install a 100W 12 (or 24) electric heating element as a "keep alive" on the road.
With "Blue Goo" or a similar eutectic sloution
(even salt water in a milk jug) you might hold very well in transit as these units have far superior insulation compared to RV units.
Kero burnes far cleaner than diesel in a wick flame , I might use mineral spirits in an emergincy , but never diesel.
20-# of propane will operate most fridges for a month , kero has more btu than propane so 5 gal should last a long time.
IF you also wish to cook/ bake with kero , Primus or other pressure burners are very hot (10,000btu) and 5 gal of kero will usually last 6 months of 2 burner operation for a cruising couple that cooks a lot.
Works for me,
FAST FRED |
John that newguy (199.232.240.225)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 13, 2004 - 7:27 am: | |
They make a propane/110 model also, but the idea was to get away from
having to carry propane, or an extra fuel. Using diesel fuel for everything
aboard, would be optimum. Filtering the diesel may also be an option,
if for the model I noted. I'm waiting for a call back from the company. |
Adame (129.82.52.142)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 11:42 pm: | |
Sundanzer makes a couple of 12vdc chest type refers which can be powered by a 75 watt solar panel. |
John that newguy (199.232.240.220)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 11:53 pm: | |
Actually, 12 or 24 volt, Adame! But they make a freezer and a
refrigerator and no combination. Buying one of each would be
expensive, and consume too much space. Especially since they're
top loading chest types.
Thanks for the heads up, though. |