Is a Sunfrost Fridge worth it?
nepalm
Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭
I'm looking for a small refrigerator for a small cabin in the mountains. It's a weekend cabin so the fridge doesn't have to run for more than 4-7 days at a time.
Is it truly worth going with a SunFrost refrigerator or are there similar ones for less money?
thanks!
Is it truly worth going with a SunFrost refrigerator or are there similar ones for less money?
thanks!
Comments
Typically, the answer is not--they are not worth the money.
From years ago, our host's take on off-grid solar electric refrigerators:
And on design/quality:
Read the whole thing...
Two options--If the cabin is not used for the better part of 9+ months of the year, look at a propane powered refrigerator/freezer. You only pay for propane when you are there. Sometimes you can get a good deal on a used fridge from an RV wrecker.
If you really want a solar powered refrigerator--take a look at a chest freezer conversion... Uses much less power (down to ~25% of a standard refrigerator) than any of the small refrigerators out there.
-Bill
It is a conversation we have had many times on this forum. In general, the more a fridge is used, the smarter it is to use the most efficient fridge. From a PV perspective, I am a fan of LP fridges for part time use, (weekends, holiday weeks etc) as they allow the Pv system to be much smaller.
As for Sun Frost specifically I think you have to look carefully at real world performance numbers. Basic, simple Energystar fridges come at a much smaller cost, and perhaps nearly as good energy use numbers.
Tony
Ps You got me by a minute! I knew that there was some controversy about SunFrost.
you know i never bothered to check, but do you guys know if they make any of those small refrigs as energy star?
You can use the Energy Star Search Tool. You will get 3 brands of E.S. listed refrigerators smaller than 8 cu.ft.
Most use around 250 to 350 kWhrs per year... Even the 1.7 cu.ft. rated for 278 kWH per year...
Compare that with a 18.7 cu.ft. Kenmore that rated at 407 kWH per year--Ten times the volume using only 2x the amount of power.
-Bill
thanks bb as i was being lazy.:-) i was the one who first placed the estar link here on the forum and only asked if anyone knew off-hand. i did look and it seems there are plenty of them listed as long as the numbers weren't fudged which was in another thread.;)
I'll have to get the kill-a-watt plugged into the fridge, and verify what I'm burning.
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,
Yea, I'd say go with LP. My camper has a frame mounted horizontal 5 gallon propane tank. The little Norcold 323 in my camper will run for 3 weeks on high, and 4 weeks on low from that tank. I usually leave it on low because on high it tends to freeze things.
It's also dead simple - no thermostat or sensitive control board (the part that normally goes bad on an RV fridge).
http://www.thetford.com/HOME/Products/NorcoldRefrigeratorsHome/323T/tabid/209/Default.aspx
Thanks for the info. My client is h*ll bent on a SunFrost so I guess they will have to pay the price.
Been there, done that.
-Bill
What about these Sundazer units? Anyone tried one? Yes, they're pricey, but I was wondering if anyone had experience with them. I understand one could probably buy one of the freezer models and turn it to it's lowest setting then use it like a refrigerator without freezing the contents.
http://www.sundanzer.com/Products.html
thanks,
I've heard roughly the same as sunfrost, a honest energy star fridge will work as well, repairable without "special parts", and gives more space.
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,
I own one and I'd say it's worth it. I measured 0.67 amps when the compressor's running--which isn't often. You could run for days off a 100 amp-hour battery. Incidentally, there's no difference between the freezer and the fridge other than the thermostat, which you can switch out yourself. The fridge thermostat will take you down to just above freezing. The freezer thermostat's warmest setting will still freeze. It would be nice if they offered a thermostat that spanned the freezing point so you could choose. But even without this, the unit is so simple and hackable that it wouldn't take much to add any thermostat you like.
How long have you had it, and what size is it?
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,
Not long so I can't attest to its reliability. In accordance with the Goldilocks Principle, I got the medium-sized model--about 6 cubic feet of capacity. Both the medium and large models use the same compressor. I'll probably regret not getting the larger model...
Ordered the Sunfrost RF12A almost three weeks ago and have yet to see it. I guess they build them to order.
It's pedestrian but block ice in the bottom of one of those super-insulated Coleman coolers does just dandy for 3-4 days. We have to fly into our cabin so saving weight and bulk is important. So, we pre-freeze the food and transport in soft coolers then right into the Coleman with the block of ice. Main challenge is getting my kids to close the lid tightly.
The neighbor has a propane fridge-freezer and I confess to keeping a beer or two there (cold vs. cool) and borrowing a bit of mayo in an "emergency."
Also, dug myself a very small root-cellar which keeps beer and soda nice and cool and it doesn't freeze in the winter either. Both of these options, while not refrigeration, are cheap (and my neighbor drinks hardly any of my beer).
JB
We have had our Sunfrost RF12 refrigerator for 20 years, using it as our only refrigerator serving a household of 3 in San Francisco. It has been reliable and has long since paid for itself in comparison to the refrigerator it replaced -- a 1950s GE that used 3.5kwh per day. We did experience some of the problems mentioned here and elsewhere (sweating, latch issues, seals failing, and the most annoying clogging of the drain), but have managed to fix or live with each issue as it arose. Our tolerance stems from the fact that we really really want to keep our energy consumption down and there is no competition. The only way to get a refrigerator with a freezer that is this efficient is to buy the SunFrost (at least according to the EnergyStar list). We would love it if Sunfrost could make improvements without losing the efficiency, and I suspect that they could (and would if there was some competition). Instead, they are probably totally focused on satisfying the demand for their worlds-most-efficient refrigerator. From an energy perspective, as long as the refrigerator works well enough that people are still willing to pay the price, maybe it is just best for them to be producing as many refrigerators as they can.
That is not entirely true - in fact many of the Energy Star rated ones come very close to, and a few are better, than the Sunfrost (at least the 19) - and at 1/3 the cost and 90% less hassle.
For us, purchasing a 12 cubic foot refrigerator was an important part of the energy saving decision. The old refrigerator from the 1950s that we replaced was also 12 cubic feet, so we weren't downsizing -- we just didn't upsize. And we have been perfectly satisfied with the size, even when we've had 18 people for Thanksgiving dinner. It's true that by purchasing one of those 400kWh commercial refrigerators (if they had been available in 1990) we could have saved $1000 dollars up front and would only have paid $700 more for electricity. There were definitely people who told us that would be a better way to go (financially more prudent). We were ready to take a loss just for the sake of seeing how far we could go with our energy conservation plans. Because of our conservation efforts, our electic use went down to a lower rate and then we were able to get solar panels and take advantage of time-of-use rates. When people ask why we would buy solar panels that might never pay for themselves, we ask "When will your car pay for itself?" We got rid of our car 20 years ago and that has more than paid for our solar panels (as well as the $300 we may have "lost" but will win back eventually by not buying that other refrigerator). Rather than having regrets, we are continually amazed at where this decision led us.
A key here is to watch out for the time frame.
There have been significant changes in refrigerator efficiencies in just the last few years. Comparing refrigerators now is not the same as comparison made even just a few years ago.
We've had our SunFrost fridge/freezer since the late 80s. It was pricey, as they still are. It is extremely efficient. Ours is an older model no longer made, with a very small freezer compartment. The total capacity is 10 cu. ft. and that is smallish, though we are only two people living here and it is ok. There are, of course, larger models. This small unit is no longer available as a 'fridge/freezer combo. [They offer a 10 cu. ft fridge and a 10 cu. ft. freezer instead.]
Two years ago, we added a SunFrost freezer, also 10 cu. ft. It is every bit as good as the old fridge. The freezer makes a little more noise than the 'fridge, but neither is at all noisy, and we have a very quiet home [PV and wood heat, no motors or fans running all the time and two miles from the nearest highway or town or people]. We notice even a slight noise and I don't hear the SunFrost stuff unless I am near them, in the same room. Not an issue. The 'fridge is so quiet that I usually must press my ear up on the outside of the door to tell it is running.
The only issue we've had is with the 'fridge, in which the freezer compartment must be defrosted once a month to remove ice build up. SunFrost sent me a new set of gaskets, which were quite simple to install but did only a little to solve the issue. I am accustomed to defrosting and just do it. With the freezer, I've defrosted once in two years.
Customer service has been exemplary. I have had a few questions over the years and twice in 20+ yr. the door latch on the fridge has broken. They shipped me new latches pronto, for no charge, even 20 yr. out of warranty. I've always reached a human, immediately, when I called. These days, that is remarkable.
As to whether they are worth the cost, for us they are. I paid a lot of money, to be sure, but then installed them and forgot about it. Except for the two door latches, no problems, no repairs, no down time.
Ours are 12 v. models.
As far as I know, they still make these to order and, yes, there is a bit of a wait to get them. I seem to recall our freezer two yr. back took 3 weeks to arrive.
I have a sears 18cf frost free that uses a little over 1kwkh/day. It has been running for 6 years on my 1.2kw solar with two sets of 8 year old L16's in parallel with a 4024 trace inverter. Never a problem. My batteries have never dropped below 85%. Never owned a generator. Live in New Mexico, high altitude.
The energy star ratings were a big help in choosing a fridge. Also have a sat tv, computer, etc. All heating propane or wood except coffee pot.
Yes, I'm very happy with Samsung so far (but buyer beware they don't cover mobile homes or RV's in their warranty, in NZ but might be different in US)
The same would be for most/all AC powered refrigerators to some degree, the DC - AC inverters efficiency may also be affected by poor power factor, so probably the best way to determine actual useage, would be to measure the battery current.
Second system 1890W 3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah FLA 24V nominal used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.
5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
Pleased with both ... lg build probably a bit better .
Second system 1890W 3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah FLA 24V nominal used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.
5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
Second system 1890W 3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah FLA 24V nominal used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.
5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.