[RE-wrenches] Fridge Recommendations

[Hilton Dier III]

Hi Dave,

It's a stretch, but consider Nova Kool. This is not a low-initial-cost 
option, but it can be an ultra-low energy option. Nova Kool makes a high 
efficiency DC refrigerator kit - just the mechanical and electrical 
guts. You build the box. It was originally designed for boaters who had 
to make odd shaped refrigerator boxes to fit curved hulls, or wanted to 
convert ice boxes.

I put together one of these last year for the repro historic boat Lois 
McClure. It is disguised as a big packing crate in the hold and has 4" 
of foam in the walls and an airtight door seal. It uses less than half a 
kWh a day for 10 cu. ft.. The compressor assembly is located 12' away 
behind another crate.

In the case of off grid residential use, your client could build a 
hyper-insulated (6"? 8"? 12"?) box right into an outside wall with the 
compressor outside. They could even incorporate a closed sheet metal air 
exchange box in the back to use the winter cold sink. If the box has to 
be interior the compressor can be located up to 12' away, or 16' with 
the extended kit. The whole kit costs about $1,000. Yes, pricier than a 
commercial fridge, but think of the cost of a depreciating generator 
plus fuel. Think of the extended lifespan of the battery bank. It 
probably works in terms of fuel, maintenance, and deferred capital 
costs.I've always found that it pays to spend a little more up front on 
the demand side management.

A gag I used to use when I had a propane fridge was to set a few water 
filled 1-liter soda bottles out on the porch in the winter. Then I'd 
swap them in and out of my fridge a pair-three at a time, making it a 
semi-icebox.

Good luck and please report back if you find a good fridge.

Hilton


-- 
Hilton Dier III
Renewable Energy Design
Partner, Solar Gain LLC
453 East Hill Rd.
Middlesex, VT 05602
Tel: 802-223-6652

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