2 ms·
I'm waiting for someone to build a grid-solar hybrid refrigerator/freezer that can attach to a 50w or 100w PV running at "low-voltage" ie: < 48V. No permit/elec
by Scoundreller 4y ago
I'm waiting for someone to build a grid-solar hybrid refrigerator/freezer that can attach to a 50w or 100w PV running at "low-voltage" ie: < 48V. No permit/electrician required, no grid-intertie inspection required.
Modern fridges are often inverter drive, so should be easier to incorporate a DC power source. And they generally run all the time because they do variable-frequency drive.
Best part, it keeps working during power outages. Extra points for putting on a USB charging port (only works during the day, but still!).
- fbdab103 4y agoI am waiting for the same, but with air conditioners. A crappy $100-$200 window unit, plugged into an equally baseline solar panel. Free opex cooling that could be installed for basically no work.
- irq 4y agoAn air conditioner - even a crappy $200 window unit - will draw an order of magnitude more power than OP’s 50 watt refrigerator. You’ll need much more solar, either more panels or bigger panels (likely both).
- fbdab103 4y agoAh nuts, you are right. Cursory glance is showing smallest AC units at 450 watts. Still kinda-sorta-attainable by a couple of bigger panels, but significantly more capital expenditure when hoping to get some minor "free" cooling.
- adrianN 4y agoJoey Hess built one: https://joeyh.name/offgrid/fridge/ https://joeyh.name/offgrid/fridge/