off-grid solar for camp

[ArlyA]

Ok, I think that the devil is in the details on this one, but in general chest freezers as refrigerators (with mods) are hands down more efficient compared to upright refrigerators. Chest refrigerators (which generally have less insulation than chest freezers) are a little better than many upright refrigerators, but apples to apples, right? The Sunstar refrigerator linked by @ArlyA above is way, way more efficient than pretty much any other upright refrigerator. The other thing that I notice about chest refrigerators, is in my experience, organization is hard, and getting to lower layers is not so easy, so more cu. ft. of chest refrigerator really, really helps the accessibility to food in a chest refrigerator (I.e. basically 1/3 or 1/2 full). So, what's the apple to apple comparison? Same volume of refrigerator or same volume of accessible food?

Plus for those folks with motion issues, vertigo, bad backs, etc. any possible gain in electrical power efficiency for a chest refrigerator comes at a rather large personal cost, right?

All the best,

Peter

Not to mention a jacuzzi needs to be installed first!

 

[ponytug]

If you really want an efficient refrigerator, check out some of the vacuum (think thermos) insulated cold chests made for marine use. $$$$$ Horses for courses.

@ArlyA Wood fired hot tub?

All the best, Peter

 

[LittleBill21]

is this something your planning to leave running indefinitely or only while your there? is there a reason you don't want a power station? it has all the functions built in.

 

[ArlyA]

is this something your planning to leave running indefinitely or only while your there? is there a reason you don't want a power station? it has all the functions built in.

What is a power station?

 

[ponytug]

What is a power station?

This sort of item; inverter/charger, plus battery in one portable unit.

https://us.ecoflow.com/collections/portable-power-stations

All the best, Peter

 

[ArlyA]

This sort of item; inverter/charger, plus battery in one portable unit.

https://us.ecoflow.com/collections/portable-power-stations

All the best, Peter

So we could have a refrigerator on this for a week or two? We'd like to run one over the summer months.

 

[cholland]

Check out Jackery or Bluetti for power stations. They have an inverter built in. They are a simple plug and play for off grid or RVs. The fridge is going to be the big draw. You can do it with a bunch of panels.

 

[nyone]

We have the jackery 1000 plus with one extra add on battery, and 4 200 watt panels.
Works well and on sunny days, recharges, maintains well.
We use it when we boondock and for power outages at home.
We considered the 2000 because of the 30A outlet, but it weighs 60+ lbs.

12VDC refers suck batteries dry quick. I don't know the amp draw, but our trailers we've had will draw down quick. They use resistance coil heat, so....
I think they were only meant for while driving down the road. We've killed our vehicle battery while eating a meal at a restaurant and forgetting to unplug from the car.

Now, the propane side of the fridge uses a very tiny flame to heat ammonia and absorbent rocks.
No compressor, no moving parts, no coils to keep clean, etc.

I don't like snow, but it's been fun seeing you really enjoying your new cabin.

Patrick

Not exactly. The 12v/propane fridges are power hogs. The 12v only ones don't use that much. However for the price difference of a 12v vs 120v fridge with inverter and more battery is about the same. But with 120v power you can run alot more stuff.


I suggest not trying to save a few watts by spending alot more on low voltage/propane appliances. A 100ah lithium battery shouldn't have much trouble running a small/medium sized 120v fridge especially since you have 1200w of solar.

A few months ago for our offgrid cabin i bought a $200 7.5cuft 120v fridge. It uses about 70w of power and runs about 50% of the time. Thats about 140ah. You will have solar input durring the day so using 140ah off a 100ah battery isnt to bad.

 

[shooterdon]

Not exactly. The 12v/propane fridges are power hogs. The 12v only ones don't use that much. However for the price difference of a 12v vs 120v fridge with inverter and more battery is about the same. But with 120v power you can run alot more stuff.


I suggest not trying to save a few watts by spending alot more on low voltage/propane appliances. A 100ah lithium battery shouldn't have much trouble running a small/medium sized 120v fridge especially since you have 1200w of solar.

A few months ago for our offgrid cabin i bought a $200 7.5cuft 120v fridge. It uses about 70w of power and runs about 50% of the time. Thats about 140ah. You will have solar input durring the day so using 140ah off a 100ah battery isnt to bad.

Agree

I would look hard at the numbers. I don't see 12V as saving much in efficiency. 120v fridges are cheap and sometimes free.

 

[airbiscuit]

... with 120v power you can run a lot more stuff.

I suggest not trying to save a few watts by spending a lot more on low voltage/propane appliances. A 100ah lithium battery shouldn't have much trouble running a small/medium sized 120v fridge especially since you have 1200w of solar.....

Maybe you should game out both 12v and 120v options. Include total cost of generating energy and cost of appliances. If they're close, 120v offers more flexibility and future upgrades.

 

[ArlyA]

We will get a 120ac or 12v-40vdc fridge. Not propane and we have not mentioned them here.

Our goal is not be hauling Jackery or Bluetti battery's in and out.

 

[civilian]

That hot tub is going to take a lot of trips to the creek to fil with 5 gallon buckets. Jon

 

[ArlyA]

That hot tub is going to take a lot of trips to the creek to fil with 5 gallon buckets. Jon

That was a joke. Someone mentioned a freezer, so I thought "why not a hot tub at the same time?"

 

[shooterdon]

We will get a 120ac or 12v-40vdc fridge. Not propane and we have not mentioned them here.

Our goal is not be hauling Jackery or Bluetti battery's in and out.

Why would you need to haul them in and out?

 

[civilian]

That was a joke. Someone mentioned a freezer, so I thought "why not a hot tub at the same time?"

But after a long day of hiking, a soak in the hot tub could feel good! (yes I was going along with the joke) Jon

 

[caver]

Years ago I had a small camper fridge fail right before a trip so I ordered a Engle cooler. I think it is 40 qt. Runs off 12vdc or 120ac. Sips dc. Cools off in about 15 minutes from startup. Dudes in the shop thought i was crazy spending $4-500 on a cooler. Well a similar one now is double that price. Sort of like this link Engel MT45 Platinum Series Top Opening 12/24V DC - 110/120V AC Fridge-Freezer

 

[caver]

I would even look at a marine fridge. I've had Dometics and Norcolds in various campers. It seems like every Dometic has had an issue. I've also had Norcolds and no problems whatsoever with those.

 

[ning]

Personally I'd overbuild the 120v AC setup a bit - get a few more kWh - and buy a normal AC-only fridge.

Buy once, cry once (we're not talked a ton extra here anyways); set it up once, be freer with the power budget in the future, and not be too worried about an expensive fridge crapping out because you can shop the normal fridges.

 

[D'oh]

I have a 11 cu ft, 12v fridge, it draws 6-7A when running, but it doesn't run often if yhe door stays shut.

600 watt Array, handles it all summer May-Oct. however, the time we are there, we run a Gen in the evenings, lights, TV DVD and 15A Charger for 2-3 hours before Bed. Charges up the 400Ah LAcid Battery Bank.

During the Day, we run a Car Sterio, charge phones, etc. But Sunny Days, it charges way more than we use.

 

[ArlyA]

I fellow we got helping us with setup states this.