Dave,
My favorite approach is a Gibson(or similar coil-in-shelves style <http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1241&bih=580&tbm=isch&tbn id=UW2FlKpAEZ9uJM:&imgrefurl=http://forsale.oodle.com/view/gibson-commercial -upright-freezer/3089328239-watertown-ny/&docid=zp1bWc9OglDZ2M&imgurl=http:/ /i.oodleimg.com/item/3089328239u_1x424x360f%253F1341103609&w=424&h=360&ei=Jy XuUMnKFLKu0AHSgoHQBg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=471&vpy=66&dur=803&hovh=208&hovw=244 &tx=119&ty=135&sig=118117522962116310335&page=2&tbnh=142&tbnw=168&start=25&n dsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:29,s:0,i:179> ) up right freezer. Section off the top part where the coils do the most work with some loose foam insulation and fill that portion of the freezer with 1 gallon water jugs. Then run it off the diversion load of the Outback. I have one of these rigs going on the construction trailer at one of our jobsites and it's been an icy cold fridge without fail for the last eight months. And obviously it doesn't add any load to the battery bank. Once the diversion load comes on, the freezer goes to work making ice in the jugs. That ice can carry through five days of cloudiness. In colder weather it's necessary to leave it unplugged a good portion of the time and you have to play around with the parameters on the diversion load to get them to do what you really want. The energy stored in the phase change from water to ice is equivalent to the amount of energy to change the water temperature from 173°F to 32°F, so it's really huge. And water is a lot cheaper than batteries! I have a design for a thermostat that turns it off automatically when the jugs are all the way frozen but I haven't had to build it yet as I've just been unplugging. Conrad Cotuit Solar From: Dave Palumbo [mailto:d...@independentpowerllc.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2013 4:26 PM To: conr...@cape.com; 'RE-wrenches' Subject: RE: [RE-wrenches] Fridge recommendations? Off grid. And good suggestions from Rob and Todd on the cold location. Best, Dave From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of conrad geyser Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2013 3:52 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Fridge recommendations? David, Is this on or off grid? Conrad Cotuit Solar From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Rob Shappell Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2013 3:44 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Fridge recommendations? If possible, locate the refer in a cold room to reduce winter consumption. We had a Sunfrost RF 12, and a cold room for winter. Brrrrrrr. Rob From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dave Palumbo Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2013 2:45 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Fridge recommendations? Im having difficulty finding a RF in the 16 to 20 cu ft range that uses less than 350kWh/yr. All of the GE units listed by Energy Star as 300 to 311kWh/yr are no longer being manufactured according to my local appliance dealers. I see a Fridgidaire 18.2 cu ft that uses 335kWh/yr (reviews that I see on this unit complained of loud clunky noises). Sun Frost units are too pricey for this application. Any recommendations? Thanks, Dave David Palumbo Independent Power LLC 462 Solar Way Drive Hyde Park, VT 05655 www.independentpowerllc.com Vermont Solar Partner 25 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org