Small refrigerator running on 30 watts

[morongobill]

If this is the wrong forum, please move this. I came across a video from a "tinkerer" who has found a small refrigerator/freezer that will run on 30 watts and has hooked it up to a small solar panel setup and a 1,000 watt inverter; instantly I thought of this forum.

Such a setup would work anywhere from a van to a box truck- granted a 3.1 cubic foot fridge isn't huge, but in my lifetime, I have made do with a similar size fridge.

I don't know if I can embed video so here is the link to the guy's Youtube video and by the way he has a lot of good videos such as this one there.

Well worth a visit. The link to the actual product that he is using will be below the YT link.

Solar Powered Fridge/Freezer

http://www.sears.com/kenmore-3.1-cu...p-04695693000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

The fridge/freezer is around $159.

 

[James AKA Lynx]

Nice, but not rated for RV and will break to soon if traveling to much.

Best, James AKA Lynx

 

[freenez2]

Whynter refrigerator


http://www.whynter.com/productdetail/refrigeration/portable_freezers/282

 

[signman]

Hi all, Can anyone give us an up to date rundown of the 12 volt compressor refrigerator/freezers, which ones have the good compressors, and which are the Chinese copies? Spec's, sizes etc. Sorry, there might already be a thread on this, idk. Thanks, Duane

 

[compassrose]

Nice, but not rated for RV and will break to soon if traveling to much.

Best, James AKA Lynx

And what makes you think that anything has to be "rated for RV"? Do you know what that "RV Rating" involves? I do as I had it explained to me by a tankless water heater company. Residential refrigerators and freezers do just fine in an RV. There are many installed in highway coach conversions, skoolie conversions and now in the sticks-&-staples RVs. We put a GE 4.4 under counter compact refrigerator from Wal-Mart in our bus. I still need to buy the second one to stack on top of the first one. It will replace the $10 thrift store vintage 3 cf one we have been running for the past 2 years. We have an upright residential 12 cf freezer (from Lowes) as well.

The old class C is still running the 3.2 cf Haier refrigerator and the 4.4 cf Avanti freezer. Installed in 2006 and bounced down the interstates and primary highways for many miles. No problem. No springs, cushioning any anything needed except to come up with a way to secure them. That gets tricky. You cannot simply bolt thru the sides as the coils have been moved from the back (exposed) to being run next tot he metal skin on the top and sides. It's why you need to allow 2 - 3 inches of air space on each side of the refrigerators and freezers. We took it a step farther and added a vent at the rear of the refrigerator stack and the freezer. We did that because we found in the Class C that adding a fan at the old refrigerator access panel helped keep the units cooling better in 100+F heat. We have not needed to add the fan with the bus but we also have more side & top space than we did in the Class C.

 

[James AKA Lynx]

I have seen this before where non-RV/car rated items could not handle the stress that an RV can put on them. I do not understand why somebody would make an RV and install non-RV rated appliances. Even the electrical codes are different for RV's vrs houses.

Knowing about this I would not put a non-RV rated appliance inside my van.

 

[Willy]

Couldn't find any 'claimed' power draw specs on the Sears site but, if it truly operates at such a low wattage, then it would definitely be worth looking at. I suppose that one has to also factor in the inverter power losses into the equation. Overall, a 12v compressor (Waeco for example) fridge would probably still draw less power.. but cost considerably more. The price difference between the two could buy ya an inverter/solar panel/battery setup, which would MORE than make up for the slightly lower efficiency.
One thing I'd like to mention, having pulled apart many an RV/camper, is that a lot of the stuff that goes into them is plain ol' cheapass crap. If ya want quality, then go for marine appliances.. but it'll cost ya. Funny thing is, seeing how overpriced a lot of the RV stuff is, it might not cost too much more. ..Willy.

---

Alrite.. bug on the sitebwon't let me edit my post (it's been considerably MORE than 5 minutes!), so I'll just add this here: Failed to mention that, if the 30W/hr rating is the overall power draw, then a 12v compressor fridge might very well well use considerably LESS power, since the fridge might very well draw abt 30W.. but the duty cycle would likely be considerably less. My Waeco fridge, for example, draws around 30W.. but only runs for, maybe, 10 minutes every hour (depends on how cool I'd like it to be inside). That could lead to something like a 5W/hr overall power draw. ..Willy.

 

[James AKA Lynx]

From what I understand a lot of the extra cost is how things are supported and connected for RV. For marine you can add different things to handle the salt air.

However, these units will last over a year. I know of people who put in big freezers in the back of a van and they last for years, plugged in to a converter and running all the time.

Best, James AKA Lynx

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Can anyone post the dimensions of it? cant see them on my phone.

 

[coultergeist]

Hey Dazar,

It's 20.5 wide x 21.5 deep x 34.4 inches tall.

Patrick

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Thanks! Wow its bigger than i thought..id have to remove some counter...

 

[Ballenxj]

Thanks a LOT for posting these links. If these refrigerators work as shown this will save me a bundle of money.

 

[MK7]

However, these units will last over a year. I know of people who put in big freezers in the back of a van and they last for years, plugged in to a converter and running all the time.

Best, James AKA Lynx

Hey so why do you say that big freezers (made for homes) will last for years in a van and not these 30watt home refrigerators?

I've got a little small home unit and moving it around, the compressor is clunking around noticeably as it's not made for it. I wonder if strapping everything nice and tight with lots foam padding at the contact point will make it road worthy.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Well ill put this to the test myself and see how it goes. Ordered this plus 100w panel (to start with)...i can also plug in if panel isn't enough.

 

[Simran]

Keep us posted on your progress here Dar.

Well ill put this to the test myself and see how it goes. Ordered this plus 100w panel (to start with)...i can also plug in if panel isn't enough.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Will do! Altho i don't boondock, i live in west virginia mountains and visiting my sister is probably more off road than most average rvers see lol (but seriously, had to be pulled out of mud by chain twice and drive thru a body of water to get there lol)

So i can put the leveling and abuse thing thru some trial at least.

 

[GotSmart]

I think I will take a gamble and go this route. I can use the extra $300 in other places. As long as I use my sears card, I have nation wide coverage.

 

[Simran]

I like Sears because they are everywhere in the mid west

I think I will take a gamble and go this route. I can use the extra $300 in other places. As long as I use my sears card, I have nation wide coverage.

 

[GotSmart]

Too bad the quality has gone to China. By using a Sears Points card, everything I buy is registered, so the new requirement of needing proof of purchase for warranty or exchange is bypassed. They keep the information in their mainframe, so those receipts printed in disappearing ink don't matter any more.

 

[Ballenxj]

I too am following this to see how well it works.