Gas Refrigator

[peter nap]

I'm looking for gas refrigerators now. I have a Dometic now in the camper but as usual, my wife says it's too small

She wants one around 15 cu ft. The closest I can find is a Norcold that's 12 cu ft and must be gold plated. Anyone have a favorite place to look?

[bayview]

Might be less expensive to buy 2 and install side by side . . . Had seen a high end rv like this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Diamond-Propane-Gas-Refrigerator-19-1-c-f_W0QQitemZ150172322392QQihZ005QQcategoryZ20713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Redoverfarm]

Have you searched the web. I found a site that had several brands. This may be it or one of the others listed.

http://www.ajmadison.com/
http://store.altenergystore.com/
http://www,backwoodssolar.com/

[MountainDon]

I have a 5 cu ft Norcold in the RV. 1983 model still running on original everything except for the thermocouple / temp control. Great fridge, but in reality it's a little small for extended stays up in the mountains. Actually it's mainly the freezer that's a tad tight.

I agree the bigger RV fridges cost a lot new. Two new smaller ones cost a fortune too. Maybe adding one similar sized one to the existing one would work. Nice thing is you can shut one down when not required for food storage.   :-/

Do you have an RV salvage yard nearby? I don't, but have seen some good deals on used Norcold & Dometic fridges in AZ and CA. They don't ship used stuff though because of shipping/crating problems.

My closest neighbor in the mountains has a Danby propane fridge. Only about 8 cu ft though.Here's a link so you can see it. Never bought from them;not an endorsement, just info. They bought theirs through a brother in law's construction business so no reccomendation on where to look.

The next closest neighbor, also off grid, has a Servel. Also about 8 cu ft. I believe it may be better made than the Danby. Looks & feels better.  :-/ They bought it from a place in CO.    http://www.thenaturalhome.com/servel400.htm  Freezer is bigger.
I've not bought from them, but have talked with someone there. Sounded helpful. Called me back to advise what the shipped to me price would be. I'm thinking that I may spring for one of the Servels from them. I'm fortunate in one way. They have a freight depot near me they can ship the unit to. Saves about $175 over what their website says is the average shipping price to most reisdential addresses in the contiguous 48.    Still pricey. This Servel model is also sold with the Dometic name.Same thing.

Here's a link I have to a site with larger sized propane refrigerators.  http://www.warehouseappliance.com/propane_gas_refrigerators.htm
No idea about the quality of the fridge or the vendor.

I'm interested if you find any other good info.

[MountainDon]

I have also considered, and rejected, or placed in second choice category for various reasons, the 12 VDC like Sunfrost, etc. They do use an extremely efficient Danfoss compressor. Lots of folks are happy with them.   :-/

Nice thing is they do not rely on a fossil fuel. Nice if you size your solar or other power system to accommodate it.

Still not 100% sure what I'll do.

[peter nap]

Thanks everyone. Lots to look at. Don. your link to the warehouse is the same group that has the ebay store bayview posted. Looks interesting but I need to do a lot of research on them.

I looked at the DC models also Don. I am hesitant because I'm not there during the week and like to leave the electrical on bare bones. Of course the gas is a problem leaving it on also (once again, issues with the BOSS)

I have some time to think about it so if you come up witha good solution, let me know. I doubt I'll go to the farm this weekend since my controller won't be here until next week. I'll just run up on Wednesday or so.
I should go to the gunshow on Saturday anyway. The million mom march and Handgun control plan a demonstration. I should be around to make them feel unwelcome

BTW, you made me think about building the bus to minimum specs. I tore it apart last night and put in copper strips that I had scrounged from a heavy 3 phase air handler on an HBO movie.
I have no idea what the max amperage is now but I expect somewhere in the 6.5 gigawatt range.

[Cyric30]

Hay all

i was wondering how efficent these propane fridges are .? in terms the ignorant can understand

[MountainDon]

i was wondering how efficent these propane fridges are .? in terms the ignorant can understand

That's a difficult question to answer as the EPA, our source for Energy Star information does not rate gas refrigeration appliances.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.

It is interesting to note the Sunfrost DC refrigerators are listed and do perform very well.

The non RV refrigerators like Servel tend to be built with thicker insulation than our typical home refrigerator, although has been changing. I renovated my RV and added 2 inches of blue foam to each side, the top and bottom. That did make a noticeable difference. When parked in the blistering NM sun the fridge would hold temperature much better. Never tried to measure the gas consumption but the temp diff logically indicates lower fuel use.

FYI, IF a person was to consider an electric, compressor driven refrigerator however, I am not convinced that the large additional cash outlay for the Sunfrost (type) is counterbalanced by the lower energy use. I ran the numbers many months ago. A less expensive, but highly rated (but not as frugal on power as the Sunfrost) refrigerator saves a bundle on the purchase. I calculated that spending a part of the difference on another good PV panel would provide the needed power difference.  :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/

[MountainDon]

1...interesting but I need to do a lot of research on them.

2...and like to leave the electrical on bare bones.

3...million mom march and Handgun control plan a demonstration...

4... building the bus .... 6.5 gigawatt range.

1. Yeah, all I did was make the bookmark when I was searching. If you find out anything good/bad I'd be interested.

2. That's more or less what I was thinking.  ...  a little note: I've been thinking of adding side and back insulation and skinning with an FRP panel or something, to whatever I go with. Maybe doing the door(s) as well. Made a big difference with the RV fridge.

3. misguided fools

4. ya' can never have too big a bus.    well, within reason.

[Sassy]

We have the RV Dometic - 8 cu ft + 1.5 cu ft freezer & the 1934 Monitor freezer approx 8 cu ft - so with both we have plenty of room - I couldn't make it with just the Dometic or with just the other.  Plus we have an 8 & a 20 cu ft freezer - all off grid    - so how much does your wife need, Peter?  Ya just gotta have some things.

After I told DH that it was pointless to grow so much food in the garden if we can't store it we got the big freezer.  I like freezing stuff the best - keeps it fresher & the vitamins intact more than canning.  Besides, in the underground cabin - during part of the summer, even though we are underground, its much to hot to do a lot of cooking or canning...

[MountainDon]

There's no doubt that freezing produces a better product with those things that can be frozen. I've read in some places that in some ways frozen may be better than fresh. We're talking about purchased food there. Premium commercial frozen veggies frequently go from the field to the freezer in a matter of hours, whereas fresh may be days/weeks from the field by the time you take them home.

You can't freeze things like sauerkraut though.  

[Sassy]

why?

[MountainDon]

Comes out mushy when thawed. Tried it with leftovers once. No crunch left.   :'(  ...after the ice crystals melted. Good krauts gotta crunch.