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

tadejs

tadejs

Messages
1
Location
Maribor
Vehicle
T7 California Ocean
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!
 
If you had wind deflectors on the front windows you could drop the windows a little
 
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...
 
tadejs said:
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!
Click to expand...
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.
 
tadejs said:
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!
Click to expand...
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.
 
Wish said:
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...
Click to expand...
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.
4fb2b46a-1547-4f98-8607-769c8291ae38-png.71628
 
Last edited:
ThomasHJ said:
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.
4fb2b46a-1547-4f98-8607-769c8291ae38-png.71628
Click to expand...
Not sure that would work for the OPs T7 California.
 
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.
 
Dodge1311 said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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.
 
ThomasHJ said:
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.
4fb2b46a-1547-4f98-8607-769c8291ae38-png.71628
Click to expand...
We use an old car windscreen cover with magnets, it works well.
 
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
 
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.
 
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 :)
 
colintfcolintf said:
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 :)
Click to expand...
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.
 
tadejs said:
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!
Click to expand...

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