08-06-2008, 12:33 PM
My take?
Propane in Hawaii costs is around 4.00 + per gallon depending where you are going to get it... Say you burn 4 gallons a month, you can get a large 9 gallon tank but they are heavy and require more then one person, well, if you got good back and in half way decent shape you could probably manage it, but, then you you got to swap out tanks, most likely you'll have the 3 gallon bb-q tanks, easy to carry but, got to swap them out faster...
IMO it's just not worth it.... Sorry, I think anyone who is running a refer on propane is people that want to live off grid. With rising propane and wasting gas to go get it not to mention your time and lugging it back and forth is a pain... Not to mention swapping tanks all the time. Should be called "PROPAIN!"
A better option run down to sears and get the best efficient refer you can buy ... like this model...
Frigidaire FRT17HB3J* Top Freezer Automatic No No 16.5 18.86 368 461 20% Yes 5/15/2008
basically it's 368 KiloWatts per year is 18.86 CuFeet. Pretty big with auto defrost.
GE GTH16BBX Top Freezer Automatic No No 15.54 18.12 363 454 20% Yes 5/12/2008
bigger and only 363 KiloWatts per year...
Anyway... Point is, even at 33 cents a kilowatt that would be around 120 a year or 10 bucks a month, and that to me would be cheaper then going with propane.
Now here is where it get's good, you buy one of those for say 600 bucks, probably can get it cheaper then pour the money into a few 80 watt or 170 Watt Panels and with a few batteries and an inverter it could keep your unit running all year long for the next 30 years (properly maintained)...
That is the max savings you can get... Or just plug it in and save! One thing that will save power is take out that STUPID 60 Watt Bulb that heats up to 200+ digress ... And REPLACE it with a 5Watt LED Bulb. The LED bulb will not only save in power for the light itself but is emits almost no heat so your unit doesn't work over time trying to cool it down. You know your not suppose to put warm food in your refer so why put a super hot light bulb in it every time you open the door? Makes no sense.
Tho if you really want to invest your money, (to get the best bang for your dollar) swap out your hot water heater for passive solar one!
Good Luck!
Edit, oh yeah, and if your away on vacation or just doing something where ever and your tank happens to be empty and runs out fuel.. Well, let's just hope you don't have too much food in the fridge that will go to waste, unless you buy those fancy switch overs that will automatically switch when one tank gets empty.
Propane in Hawaii costs is around 4.00 + per gallon depending where you are going to get it... Say you burn 4 gallons a month, you can get a large 9 gallon tank but they are heavy and require more then one person, well, if you got good back and in half way decent shape you could probably manage it, but, then you you got to swap out tanks, most likely you'll have the 3 gallon bb-q tanks, easy to carry but, got to swap them out faster...
IMO it's just not worth it.... Sorry, I think anyone who is running a refer on propane is people that want to live off grid. With rising propane and wasting gas to go get it not to mention your time and lugging it back and forth is a pain... Not to mention swapping tanks all the time. Should be called "PROPAIN!"
A better option run down to sears and get the best efficient refer you can buy ... like this model...
Frigidaire FRT17HB3J* Top Freezer Automatic No No 16.5 18.86 368 461 20% Yes 5/15/2008
basically it's 368 KiloWatts per year is 18.86 CuFeet. Pretty big with auto defrost.
GE GTH16BBX Top Freezer Automatic No No 15.54 18.12 363 454 20% Yes 5/12/2008
bigger and only 363 KiloWatts per year...
Anyway... Point is, even at 33 cents a kilowatt that would be around 120 a year or 10 bucks a month, and that to me would be cheaper then going with propane.
Now here is where it get's good, you buy one of those for say 600 bucks, probably can get it cheaper then pour the money into a few 80 watt or 170 Watt Panels and with a few batteries and an inverter it could keep your unit running all year long for the next 30 years (properly maintained)...
That is the max savings you can get... Or just plug it in and save! One thing that will save power is take out that STUPID 60 Watt Bulb that heats up to 200+ digress ... And REPLACE it with a 5Watt LED Bulb. The LED bulb will not only save in power for the light itself but is emits almost no heat so your unit doesn't work over time trying to cool it down. You know your not suppose to put warm food in your refer so why put a super hot light bulb in it every time you open the door? Makes no sense.
Tho if you really want to invest your money, (to get the best bang for your dollar) swap out your hot water heater for passive solar one!
Good Luck!
Edit, oh yeah, and if your away on vacation or just doing something where ever and your tank happens to be empty and runs out fuel.. Well, let's just hope you don't have too much food in the fridge that will go to waste, unless you buy those fancy switch overs that will automatically switch when one tank gets empty.