[RE-wrenches] Off-grid refrigerator
Dana
dana at solarwork.com
Sun Sep 9 17:29:04 EDT 2018
Our last off grid ref was an LG @ 512 KWHR/year and the latest ref is an LG
/icemaker [wahoo] @ 520 KWHR/year.
Freezers are: Sears chest freezer with 2” of pink board foam glued to the top & a 16 CuFt Sunfrost 24 VDC on an Iota power supply.
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Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc.
C - 208.721.7003 dana at solarwork.com
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From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of Tom at wagonmaker
Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2018 11:26 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Off-grid refrigerator
Almost 25 years ago, when we built our off grid home, we looked at the limited options then available one of which was the Sunfrost. After looking into things like relative efficiency, initial purchase cost and system requirements, it became pretty obvious that the Sunfrost was an overpriced option that had too many problems. For half the cost we bought a Vestfrost and then simply added a bit more generating capacity to our array at far less than the difference in cost between the Vestfrost and the Sunfrost. It was the best decision on appliances we ever made. The 120 vac Vestfrost was a bit less efficient but since we were generating our own power that difference was irrelevant as the cost to provide the necessary capacity to handle the efficiency difference actually resulted in us saving money and also gaining a very reliable appliance.
That was then and the Vestfrost was massively more efficient than the standard refrigerators then available. Now, that model of Vestfrost is nowhere near as efficient as the newest Energy Star compliant refrigerators available at most appliance stores. Don’t waste time or money searching for another DC refrigerator, there simply isn’t any benefit. It will be cheaper to buy off the shelf and if you have to add a bit of generating capacity getting another panel on your system will be way cheaper than than it was for us back in the day...and back then it was still the better option.
Tom
From: Will White
Sent: Saturday, September 8, 2018 3:20 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Off-grid refrigerator
Hello Off-grid Wrenches,
After 10+ years my Wife is finally sick of our Sunfrost RF-12. We'd like to upgrade to something a little more modern that doesn't leak water all over the floor when it's humid
For you off-grid installers what's your go to refrigerator recommendation? I'm going to go through the energy star website but I thought I'd consult with the experts too. I'd like to find something that has a form factor similar to the Sunfrost although I know that's going to be hard to find.
Thanks,
Will White
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Will White
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