Freezer to Fridge

[nancy1340]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/07/man_retrofits_f.php#ch01

[ryanmercer]

See people like that just rock.

[homesteadingnky]

Anyone here familar with this concept? Can it really work this well? We are fixing to build a 12'x24' cabin on runners (quick, less hassle with permits, moveable if need be,...) to live in while we build our dream home/cabin. We can build the cabin for around $2500 but we need to keep the additional cost to a minumum so that we can put everything we can into the house and homestead.

I'm looking for the best ideas on solar (possibly a 12 volt system), which one??? Where should I buy my panels/kit ...???

Can I run a frig efficiently on a 12 volt system??? Would I need a seperate panel/system just for the frig??? Which frig is best? Is a chest freezer a better option for a frig?

It seems that the frig, hot water, and the washing maching are my wifes biggest concerns. Any ideas on how I might keep her happy and be off grid with a 12 volt system that doesn't break the bank ???

Sure would appreciate any helpful info/links. I've read lots of previous post on these subjects, just have trouble sorting it all out. It's like Greek to me! :-/ I know this is lots to ask, too many questions. But I'm stressing trying to figure it all out and we are ready to run with something and I don't want to run the wrong way.

We both want to be off the grid sooooo bad, she just wants to take a few of her luxuries with her. Can't really blame her, she's a very hard worker and spoils us rotten! ;D I don't want to mess that up either! ;)

Thanks,
Homesteading Dad

[Deberosa]

What about a gas fridge or a combo one - they have those in campers I know.

[homesteadingnky]

I just wasn't sure about becoming dependent on another type of gas especially with the way prices are now and if/when things go south I don't want to be without a frig. I guess I just don't want to be depending on an electric or gas company for lights, heat, cold milk or ice for my sweet tea. ;)

Guess I could build an ice house but the ponds don't freeze over here in the winter. ;)

I admit it. We are spoiled and clueless when it comes to how to get off grid with something we can live with. Appreciate the suggestion though! :)

Still searching for answers,
Homesteading Dad

[DavidOH]

They are big energy users. 100 watts is still 100 watts.
A 3-way uses 12v but is still very expensive.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2003206/p-2003206/N-111+10207+600005427/c-10107

[jott]

I have no experience with chest freezers to refrigerators, but I have played around with chest refrigerators on boats. You can get compressors that run on 12V or 24V but a lot of people just use 110V AC since they are much cheaper then they use inverters or gens. The big deal with a chest refrigerator is the cold air stays in. With a vertical one every time you open the door all the cold air dumps out onto the floor, and the refr. fills up with warm air. So if you want efficiency a chest refrigerator is a good step in the right direction.

[Baxtherin]

Dunno if this is a stupid question or not, i'm fairly tired and probably not thinking straight... Can a regular fridge just be laid down on it's back and used like a chest freezer (top opens) to keep the cold air from dumping out on the floor. Or is there something about the inner workings of the fridge that require it to be upright? This idea disregards the automatic ice maker. Also the fridge would have to be put on blocks above so the radiator on the back of the fridge was not squashed. But, aside from those two things... objections?
-Travis

[homesteadingnky]

???

[Deberosa]

I know when we were given a freezer last year we moved it on it's side but had to let it stand upright for a couple of days so the freon could level out (or something like that). Anyhow - if we would have started it too soon after setting it back upright it would have ruined it.

So I would think you couldn't put a fridge on it's side.

[12vman]

I was reading a post at another site where a guy took a small apartment size fridge and made a chest freezer..

He said that he flipped the compressor so that it set upright.. (Must have had enough slack in the lines to do so.. idunno..)

http://shtfmilitia.com/viewtopic.php?p=538#538
~Don

[jott]

You would not want to lay a vertical fridge on its back. They work by change of presser on the Freon so sometimes it is a liquid and sometimes it is a gas. So if it is not sitting right the liquid and gas may not be in the right place. Also most fridges have coils on the back that need air flow for them to work efficiently, so even if you cold easily rotate to the compressor so it will work you would have to consider that too.

[homesteadingnky]

my question that I'm pondering though is, can you crank the thermostat on a chest freezer up to 40 deg. and use it as a refrigerator and it be MORE efficient than a frig.

The post said that it only ran for about 90 seconds every hour I believe. Sounds like (if that is true) that it would be worth looking into.

[jott]

Yes, you could just turn it up to 40 deg, sort of.

The problem is freezers don’t come with temp controls that let you turn them up to 40 deg. (most standard residential ones anyway, I have seen some commercial ones that do)

So when you hear about someone doing a conversion that is generally what they are doing, adding a new temp probe inside then some sort of controller to turn the compressor on and off, bypassing the built in control.

[msta999]

I had a class on this once, there is a valve you have to change out, that can make a frig into a freezer. A guy in Laramie WY use to do this on the side for people. He was a teacher at WYO Tech.

[jott]

Yes if you want to go from a frig to a freezer, most just have a little air valve that lets cold air from the freezer into the refrigerator, if you remove it so air flows all the time then it will all be freezer temp.