VW California Refrigerator Use in High Heat (Parked with Closed Windows/Roof)

[tadejs]

Hey everyone,

I'm hoping to get some insights from fellow VW California owners regarding refrigerator use, particularly when parked in high temperatures.

My main concern is whether it's okay to run the refrigerator when the outside temperature is high, and all windows and the pop-top roof are completely closed.

Has anyone had experience with this? Did you encounter any issues with the refrigerator's performance, efficiency, or perhaps more importantly, any concerns about the overall heat build-up inside the California itself when everything is sealed up?

I'm trying to figure out if this is a viable option for keeping things cool, or if it's something to avoid for safety/efficiency reasons.

Thanks in advance for your advice and experiences!

 

[colintfcolintf]

If you had wind deflectors on the front windows you could drop the windows a little

 

[dspuk]

Zero issues. It is designed to do this.

 

[Wish]

FYI Grumpygrandad gave me a "home made reflector" (attached with magnets) to place against the outside panel of the van - reduces the amount of work the refrigerator has to do to keep the food cool...

 

[WelshGas]

Hey everyone,

I'm hoping to get some insights from fellow VW California owners regarding refrigerator use, particularly when parked in high temperatures.

My main concern is whether it's okay to run the refrigerator when the outside temperature is high, and all windows and the pop-top roof are completely closed.

Has anyone had experience with this? Did you encounter any issues with the refrigerator's performance, efficiency, or perhaps more importantly, any concerns about the overall heat build-up inside the California itself when everything is sealed up?

I'm trying to figure out if this is a viable option for keeping things cool, or if it's something to avoid for safety/efficiency reasons.

Thanks in advance for your advice and experiences!

The amount of Heat extracted from the Fridge interior is minuscule compared to the amount of heat accumulated within the vehicle and the fridge is designed to cope with this heat imbalance.

 

[pchmlk]

I’ve got temp sensors in a few places in my van. I checked the other day and the interior was 49 degrees C….the fridge was a barmy 27. It hasn’t been on for weeks and shows the insulation it has.

 

[Betsycalifornia]

Hey everyone,

I'm hoping to get some insights from fellow VW California owners regarding refrigerator use, particularly when parked in high temperatures.

My main concern is whether it's okay to run the refrigerator when the outside temperature is high, and all windows and the pop-top roof are completely closed.

Has anyone had experience with this? Did you encounter any issues with the refrigerator's performance, efficiency, or perhaps more importantly, any concerns about the overall heat build-up inside the California itself when everything is sealed up?

I'm trying to figure out if this is a viable option for keeping things cool, or if it's something to avoid for safety/efficiency reasons.

Thanks in advance for your advice and experiences!

Hi, we’ve just had 4 nights in Bordeaux and 3 nights in Pauillac and we had 34 degree in the shade heat, 46 in the full sun for a lot of the time, only thing we noticed is the fridge used 3 amps quite regularly, internal temp in the fridge was as always around 5 degrees (loose thermometer in the basket at the top). Set on level 4. Rear wall is as usual freezing what we put next to it in the corner. I wouldn’t worry about the heat unless you’re short on power. We have two solar panels and we were on hook up in Bordeaux.

 

[ThomasHJ]

FYI Grumpygrandad gave me a "home made reflector" (attached with magnets) to place against the outside panel of the van - reduces the amount of work the refrigerator has to do to keep the food cool...

This is what Wish is referring to. I made one myself as well. Simple DIY with some reflecting material and a few magnets and a sewing machine. However, your profile shows T7 so this may not be a solution for you.

 

[WelshGas]

This is what Wish is referring to. I made one myself as well. Simple DIY with some reflecting material and a few magnets and a sewing machine. However, your profile shows T7 so this may not be a solution for you.

Not sure that would work for the OPs T7 California.

 

[Dodge1311]

I have a Bluetooth thermometer in mine and while it was parked on the drive this weekend fridge fluctuated from 1 Deg to 4.7 Deg through the day and night outside temp was 21-28Deg through the day. Defo worked harder to maintain temp as the battery dropped 31% versus the usual 20% per day.

 

[Corradobrit]

I have a Bluetooth thermometer in mine and while it was parked on the drive this weekend fridge fluctuated from 1 Deg to 4.7 Deg through the day and night outside temp was 21-28Deg through the day. Defo worked harder to maintain temp as the battery dropped 31% versus the usual 20% per day.

Yes, if the sun is beating down on that panel the battery usage will be significantly greater for the compressor to keep the fridge at its set temperature.

 

[temporarysecretary]

Ran it in Spain with 40+ outside temp. Single solar panel and ran continuously on 4 with zero issues.

 

[sticky1]

I am tracking about 0.7amps per hour, with the fridge in normal use.
It’s now on permanently with the solar topping up any loss during night time.

 

[sticky1]

Ran it in Spain with 40+ outside temp. Single solar panel and ran continuously on 4 with zero issues.

Do you know what temperature setting 4 achieves in 40 degree ambient, I’d be interested to know.

 

[temporarysecretary]

Do you know what temperature setting 4 achieves in 40 degree ambient, I’d be interested to know.

No idea of temp but I do remember having refreshing Fanta limon.

 

[sbmcd]

This is what Wish is referring to. I made one myself as well. Simple DIY with some reflecting material and a few magnets and a sewing machine. However, your profile shows T7 so this may not be a solution for you.

We use an old car windscreen cover with magnets, it works well.

 

[KickingK99]

If the battery is low the fridge can cut out. Just maintain reasonable battery level and it should be fine.
We run on solar, but sometimes when panel is obstructed, the charge drops and the battery runs down. It’s then that the fridge has cut out, but plugging in and building up the battery sorts it.
Should’ve got two panels

 

[Jef4130]

30+ degrees here in Hampshire today. I have my fridge on outside the office, parked in a sun trap, cooling some drinks for my post work bike ride. Van is all closed up. I have parked with the fridge side facing north so its in shade but I use the fridge a lot, not just when camping as my cali is my daily driver.
Fridge will cut out if battery low or past their time.
My Cali is a 2009 with new batteries last year.

 

[colintfcolintf]

What setting to people have the fridge on. 38 degC here at moment. Turned up fridge from 3 to 4 and now to 5. First time used it in high temp off grid. Hopefully Roger’s 3 panels will put more in than fridge takes out

 

[Wannabecamperman]

What setting to people have the fridge on. 38 degC here at moment. Turned up fridge from 3 to 4 and now to 5. First time used it in high temp off grid. Hopefully Roger’s 3 panels will put more in than fridge takes out

Undoubtedly, while charging.

Even if you get 200w from panels, the fridge is probably pulling around 40-60w when compressor on, so 1 hour of sun on panels = a MINIMUM of 5 hours of fridge, even if on level 5 and compressor cycling on a lot.

 

[neilscott]

Hey everyone,

I'm hoping to get some insights from fellow VW California owners regarding refrigerator use, particularly when parked in high temperatures.

My main concern is whether it's okay to run the refrigerator when the outside temperature is high, and all windows and the pop-top roof are completely closed.

Has anyone had experience with this? Did you encounter any issues with the refrigerator's performance, efficiency, or perhaps more importantly, any concerns about the overall heat build-up inside the California itself when everything is sealed up?

I'm trying to figure out if this is a viable option for keeping things cool, or if it's something to avoid for safety/efficiency reasons.

Thanks in advance for your advice and experiences!

https://www.screwfix.com/p/warmroom-195mm-x-500mm-radiator-heat-reflector-foil-6-pack/716py?ref=SFAppShare

Bought some of these magnetic foil heat reflectors from Screwfix in anticipation of issues with high temperatures in France … I hope they help !

 

[sticky1]

What setting to people have the fridge on. 38 degC here at moment. Turned up fridge from 3 to 4 and now to 5. First time used it in high temp off grid. Hopefully Roger’s 3 panels will put more in than fridge takes out

I have three of Roger’s panels and it’s not even bothering the batteries running the fridge on level 4 with the van in full sun.
If you use the fridge a lot you can see the consumption go up but the solar quickly recovers the batteries. I wasn’t sure if the consumption would be higher in a hot van or lower when the doors are open a lot and my unqualified observations is that opening the fridge regularly is your biggest consumer, the fridge must be very well insulated as heat doesn’t seem to affect it very much.

 

[pluc99]

I have the cooler permanently on during the summer months on my T6.1, typically from June until October. I have 200W solar on the roof and other than one or two instances where the fridge turns itself off I have had no issues. I suspect the turning off is related to software updates but am not sure.

I have a small ventilator in the access hole next to the cooler that spins in sync with the cooler cycle to pull out some of the heat from under the cooler to the cupboard, which I keep slightly open. I'm not really sure if it makes a significant difference but it's just one of the gadgets I saw and needed to have because I liked the idea.