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Aloha- we have found this Puna chat to be most helpful. We are in need of some sort of folding unit compatible with off grid solar/wind. We have done many hours of research and before I pull trigger on a Sundazer unit, we would like to hear what others think.
Have a unit for sale, have info about where to get used items ornparts? Where to find a deal of new units?
Does anyone use a freezer as a fridge?
The lay down chest model is the best right?
Two people would be fine with a 5-7 cubic ft unit?..
What are your experiences, looking forward to reply’s.
Aloha
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For the price of a DC freezer, you could buy enough pure-sine inverter to run a commodity AC freezer, along with a timer to keep the whole setup from eating too much battery overnight. I ran a dorm fridge (and lights, laptop, water pump) with 400W of panels, the whole system cost less than a DC appliance.
If you'd rather avoid all the complexity, yes, Sundanzer or Steca; some models have enough thermostat range that they can be used as a fridge without modification.
A new DC appliance will just be expensive because you have to pay "island price" at a "specialty retailer".
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I had a large Sundanzer freezer with refrig thermostat. Some say it's better to keep the freezer thermostat, turn it on low and keep frozen on bottom, refrig stuff in the plethora of sliding baskets. It's a solid unit lasted years but as a refrig I constantly cleaned up the water from condensation which would not happen if it was a freezer. You also bend down to reach anything and the food stacks up like in a freezer so it's a daily ordeal to find what you need bent over. No, get an upright 12v refrig/freezer. Jeff Stone has some great ones he converts with 12v yacht parts, mine(in a rental)has lasted years with no issues about same price as Sundanzer. 965-0538 Jeff.
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Check out the 10 cubit foot upright model at Home Depot. Mine uses less than 1kw hour per day, less than the dorm fridge it replaced. I keep it in a lanai with good ventilation for cooling efficiency since we don't have A/C. The only problem has been humidity icing up the fan area, have to let it melt once in a while (few months).
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I have a 10 cf standard off the rack 120 VAC model from Home Depot. IMO you are best off if you simply install enough solar PV and batteries to run the standard AC appliances. If I were buying a new one today I would get one of the inverter style refrigerators. They don't have a big power spike when they start.
Once upon a time it was worth it to have DC appliances. No more.
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Mainstream fridges have gotten very efficient. I agree that it is hard to justify the 12v stuff theses days.
Energy Star ratings:
https://tinyurl.com/y6qxgtf9
For reference, a Sunfrost RF-16 is rated at 254 kWh per year. And costs about triple a comparably sized mainstream model.
Cheers,
Kirt
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The AC refrigerators have auto defrost(heating element) which isn't easy to disconnect and you lose your warranty if you mess with it. I find the DC to be much more efficient in the long run.
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buy an AC refrigerator, and use the extra money you save on more panels or batteries. don't waste your time and money on DC appliances. it is a nightmare that doesn't end.
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"Does anyone use a freezer as a fridge?"
Yes. Get a regular AC freezer NOT the frostless type and if it doesn't go down to refrigerator temps (some of them do) use a gizmo like this to convert it:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079GW...tl?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=pw016-20&linkId=83d8c7ac190e9b862c1f8238f64d9045&language=en_US
And run it with an inverter.
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Not really off grid, but you can get a propane refrigerator.
Stacey
Living the life in Cali and Hawai‘i
Stacey
Living the life in Cali and Hawai‘i
