batteryless refrigerator

Started by Dave Sparks, July 03, 2012, 04:56:29 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Dave Sparks

This was the Nasa 2011 private sector product of the year. It is a little pricey now but perfect for someone who is too busy building to fool around with batteries, charge controllers, ect, and just needs to work on their house. A solar panel and 4 or 5 days of bad weather and the beer is still cold. 12/24V automatic

Don had said how much I like the Stecca units as they are freezer or reefer and automatic 12 or 24V.

It is getting easier out there off the grid!

http://sundanzer.com/wp-content/uploads/BFR105-Specs.pdf


"we go where the power lines don't"

hpinson

Wow. Have you seen it in action?


UK4X4

so to me thats just a standard 12V fridge with some extra cooling ballast, ie the plastic cool things for coolers

i run an Engle 45 fridge as my beer fridge in the house and for everything when offroading , exploring

When off roading etc for food I use it as a freezer, and turn off at night to conserve energy, and start again in the morning -everything is still frozen.

It consumes about 8 amps when running - so an 80watt panel and a battery gives you enough juice for continual operation

There are others too very similar some with better consumption than others

national luna- Engel - ARB are probably the best

Some offroaders have had luck with the with the cheaper edgestar - norcold copies

Mines 5 years old and running 24/7, I blew the original internal power board by plugging it into 220V and now just use a computer block supply now and run it on 12V

Native_NM

We put an Engel into the field to keep samples cold and the thing is amazing.  It was pricy at $900, but it sure does a good job. 
New Mexico.  Better than regular Mexico.

Dave Sparks

Quote from: UK4X4 on July 03, 2012, 05:55:14 PM
so to me thats just a standard 12V fridge with some extra cooling ballast, ie the plastic cool things for coolers

i run an Engle 45 fridge as my beer fridge in the house and for everything when offroading , exploring

When off roading etc for food I use it as a freezer, and turn off at night to conserve energy, and start again in the morning -everything is still frozen.

It consumes about 8 amps when running - so an 80watt panel and a battery gives you enough juice for continual operation

There are others too very similar some with better consumption than others

national luna- Engel - ARB are probably the best

Some offroaders have had luck with the with the cheaper edgestar - norcold copies

Mines 5 years old and running 24/7, I blew the original internal power board by plugging it into 220V and now just use a computer block supply now and run it on 12V

Not really a standard as a battery is not required ! Soft start Danfoss compressor that drives directly off a solar panel.  If the sun does not shine for 5 days you are not spoilng food.  Also this is quite a bit larger capacity and it will run on any voltage up to 45vdc. This would allow one to use the reefer later when they have a house  electrical system built.

I like your system also, this is just modern engineering at work which is why NASA was impressed.
"we go where the power lines don't"


UK4X4

any of the fridges mentioned will run off a 130w panel- most use the same compressor as well engel being diferent has the fuji swing, luna the danfoss, the others are a mix

The refridgerated blocks are off the shelf, used in coolers and also enviromental enclosures in deserts, where they have vents opening at night taking on the cool temps then shut during the day with the blocks cooling the instrumentation cabinets

its also 104KG the equivalent sized Nat luna at 90ltrs weighs only 28kg the edge star 30kg

sundanzer says 80watt same as edgestar  only 7 amps but from experience on other forums usually higher

the natluna states 2.5 average running current  and its also 12-45v- running the same danfos compressor

heres a review of some of the common ones
http://www.expeditionportal.com/resources/equipment-review-and-testing/556-overland-journal-portable-12v-fridge-review.html

Most are 100-22v capable too, even Engle has changed in their later versions to staop what I did to mine.

If I had to choose- I would go for a standard one just for the size and weight benefits- I'd really like a nat luna weekender 50-52ltr as my next one