Sun Frost Refrigerator

Re: Sun Frost Refridgerator

We are not big fans of Sunfrost.

For the price, you can get a much more modern off the shelf Energy Star rated standard refrigerator or freezer + more than enough solar panels and the inverter to run it.

Some of the new GE and Whirlpool reefers beat the energy efficiency of Sunfrost at 1/3 the cost.

Re: Sun Frost Refridgerator

Windsun wrote: »

Some of the new GE and Whirlpool reefers beat the energy efficiency of Sunfrost at 1/3 the cost.

And when it comes to repair or replacement, you won't have to take out a second mortgage.

Re: Sun Frost Refridgerator

There comes a point, where the efficiency gained in a search mode type of setup approaches 1 to 2 percent of the overnight Ahr draw of an "always on" system. While it is always good to switch heavy loads to opportunity times when possible, I have found myself asking where that extra .1A is going on a 24V system on a Trimetric, then realizing that if I chased it down, I might have 2Ahr out of an 800 Ahr battery bank overnight.

There seems to be an economy of scale here, and with 18 CF electric refrigerators breaking the 1kwhr/day barrier and costing in the $500-$800 range, I agree with Windsun that it is more cost effective to increase your generation, battery and inverter capacity than to buy a ultra energy efficient refrigerator at this time.

Re: Sun Frost Refridgerator

Ralph Day wrote: »

Will search mode stress/wear electronic components more than always on?

Ralph

No, and probably not as much. The output components are constantly switching @ 60 Hz when in full operation anyway, but in search mode, they'd only have to do a couple of cycles once every few seconds, and 'rest" in between. Most inverters in search mode appear to only cut the signal to the actual output FETs, leaving most, if not all of the inverter control and timing circuitry up and running. (just like satellite TV receivers when turned "off") The big energy saving with inverters in search mode thus appear to come from not having the actual outputs operating full time, and continuously powering the output transformer for those that have such a transformer.

Re: Sun Frost Refridgerator

westbranch wrote: »

Wayne, I wonder if is possible to power the electronic controls from a smaller 300W inverter and the compressor off the 'Big Daddy"?

It's probably possible to have the electronics power a relay instead of the compressor, and have the relay connect the compressor to Big Daddy when needed. I'd have to give it a try. Should be able to find the supply wires going to the compressor, cut them and go from there. As long as they don't have the computer monitoring the compressor current, it should work fine. You're fridge will then have two AC plugs. One will connect to the 300 watt inverter, the other will go to Big Daddy
Might also be problems if there is an electric heater in the defrost loop. That would suck
I'm thinking along those lines with my garage door opener. It's the last thing that "needs" grid power, because I'm not willing to have the Xantrex on 24/7. Just haven't got to that project yet, but I will. lol

Re: Sun Frost Refridgerator

Volvo Farmer wrote: »

I imagine it would be very difficult to separate the function of the compressor from the main control board.

Depends on the design really. yes, it could be complicated, but then again, if the computer bard doesn't monitor the actual power being consumed by the compressor, it wouldn't see the difference between powering the compressor and powering a relay that would then connect the compressor to a different inverter. It's possible it could be quite straight forward. Would have to be investigated. Of course there goes the warranty, but hey, that would be part of the deal.

Re: Sun Frost Refridgerator

http://www.energystar.gov/certified-products/detail/refrigerators

I'd also fill unused space with water bottles and use a timer to turn it off for the last n hours of darkness. Maybe 3am to 8am or whatever doesn't cause too much temperature drop.