Grape solar fridge/freezer

solarpowernovice
solarpowernovice Solar Expert Posts: 135 ✭✭
in Solar Product Reviews & Opinions #1
Does anyone have one of these fridge/freezers? http://www.grapesolar.com/portable-products/refrigerators/glacier-2-75-detail.html I can't find any reviews for it online, but I found it for $400 cheaper than other comparable sized fridge/freezers like Engel/ARB/Dometic. According to the user manual this fridge takes 42watts on DC power and 55 watts on AC power, which seems pretty much equal to the engel/arb models...

I am asking because, I am looking for a small fridge/freezer for my 12v solar system that is in my cargo trailer. My solar system consists of four 232 amp-hour batteries and a 1500 watt inverter. I want to drain the least amount of power possible from my batteries so they will have a longer life span. At first I was planning on buying an AC chest freezer and converting it to a fridge but, I have heard that the vibrations of the road might cause a normal AC chest freezer to break prematurely. Any advice on what type of fridge/freezer you all would recommend for this type of project would be greatly appreciated.
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Grape solar fridge/freezer

    Cute. Tiny.
    16 cubic feet divided by 2.75 cubic feet is a factor of 5.8.
    55 Watts AC times 5.8 equals 319 Watts for the equivalent storage capacity of a normal refrigerator.
    $699 for this midget. Same money buys the full-size unit.
    You have exactly the same battery capacity as I do and I can run a full-size 'frige daily with no problem.

    What savings is there? Space in the trailer perhaps. Buy a smaller size standard refrigerator (example: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/top-mount-refrigerator/813719) run it off the inverter and have yourself some storage.

    My take.
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  • solarpowernovice
    solarpowernovice Solar Expert Posts: 135 ✭✭
    #3
    Re: Grape solar fridge/freezer
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    Cute. Tiny.
    16 cubic feet divided by 2.75 cubic feet is a factor of 5.8.
    55 Watts AC times 5.8 equals 319 Watts for the equivalent storage capacity of a normal refrigerator.
    $699 for this midget. Same money buys the full-size unit.
    You have exactly the same battery capacity as I do and I can run a full-size 'frige daily with no problem.

    What savings is there? Space in the trailer perhaps. Buy a smaller size standard refrigerator (example: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/top-mount-refrigerator/813719) run it off the inverter and have yourself some storage.

    My take.

    The only thing I'm worried about is the vibrations effects on the AC freezer/fridge because I take the trailer down some pretty bumpy roads. I guess If theres no energy savings, I might as well buy an AC freezer like you said and an additional warranty just to be safe :D can you tell me the KWH/yearly of your fridge/freezer and also how many days of backup would this give me (just YOUR fridge/freezer & nothing else)?

    I just found a 5.3 cubic feet freezer which would be plenty of room and all it takes is 215KWH a year... but this guys review on it says "Compressor runs a LOT!!!!" what do you think?
    http://www.homedepot.com/p/Amana-5-3-cu-ft-Chest-Freezer-in-White-AQC0501DRW/205046737#specifications
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Grape solar fridge/freezer
    solarpowernovice wrote: »
    The only thing I'm worried about is the vibrations effects on the AC freezer/fridge because I take the trailer down some pretty bumpy roads. I guess If theres no energy savings, I might as well buy an AC freezer like you said and an additional warranty just to be safe :D can you tell me the KWH/yearly of your fridge/freezer and also how many days backup would this give me (just the fridge/freezer nothing else)?

    I've had the thing for 12 years now; no energy ratings were on it. As it is it uses about 1200 Watt hours per day, or 438 kW hours per year. You ought to be able to do better than that. Have a good, long read through the small 'frige thread: http://forum.solar-electric.com/showthread.php?12272-Just-how-bad-a-small-frige-is Some of them do much better than others.

    I recharge daily so don't worry about back-up power. If the trailer isn't actually tipping to odd angles the refrigerator shouldn't be bothered; the dishes are more likely to suffer first.
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  • solarpowernovice
    solarpowernovice Solar Expert Posts: 135 ✭✭
    #5
    Re: Grape solar fridge/freezer

    ok thanks alot. I guess this freezer i just found that takes 215 KWH/year would be around .7kwh a day, if my math is correct.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: Grape solar fridge/freezer

    Most of the fridge/freezers now are under 360Kwh per year, and getting lower, found one (18 cu ft) in Sears last week at 340Kwh/yr
    Try this list http://library.cee1.org/content/qualifying-product-lists-residential-refrigerators
     
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Grape solar fridge/freezer

    I would not try to power up a household fridge while mobile, I don't think the compressor mount is robust enough to allow the motor/compressor to survive while traveling. Once you are parked, it should be fine, if you are pretty level.
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  • solarpowernovice
    solarpowernovice Solar Expert Posts: 135 ✭✭
    #8
    Re: Grape solar fridge/freezer

    Thanks mike. I was worried about that too, but I can live with turning it off until I get down the bumpy road to my destination. I didn't really make my solar system portable for traveling purposes... I made it portable because I had a thief break in my building on my land and steal all my stuff :(
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