Denver
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 1-19-2006
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Ice Box - Low Tech Refrigerator
I've been pulling ideas together for a casita in Baja and in doing so have determined to bring at least one new idea to further efficiency or lower
energy consumption in an off-grid setting.
Today while daydreaming during a Dept. of Energy conference, I came up with an idea for a concrete and polystyrene ice-box that is truly a ZERO
energy appliance. Imagine creating a box with walls, top and bottom of 6" polystyrene core sandwiched between expanded metal lath covered with
concrete/cement stucco. This thing has a small wood door on the front with a 3" blue-board core, a drain in the bottom and 2 wire shelves. I should
scan in my sketch for clarity.
Is anyone using something like this? How long do you think ice will last in a bomb-proof super-insulated concrete box? I know it lasts forever in a
marine-grade boat cooler if it's in the shade.
Looking for the answer to burning propane for refrigeration.
The Declaration of Independence only gives you the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. - Benjamin Franklin
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
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Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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I have one Kind of like that it has walls, top and bottom of 6" polystyrene core sandwiched between expanded metal lath covered with concrete/cement
stucco. inside it is lined with an additional 2 inches of high density insulation. This thing has a a large walk in door on the front with a 8" high
density core and doable gaskets and freezer latch, it is 8 feet by 16 feet and id divided in the middle wit a second door the back 8 foot square room
is a freezer -20 deg. and the front one is a cooler 38 deg. it costs about the same to run as a small house refrigerator. if the power fails it will
keep things frozen for about 2 weeks .
[Edited on 2-9-2006 by Bruce R Leech]
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Mexray
Super Nomad
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Only one add'l suggestion...
...Fit the door to the top, instead of the front...that way you won't allow the cool air inside to flow away each time you open er' up for a
cerveza...
The more insulation, the better...before mechanical refrigeration many moons ago, big slabs of ice cut during the winter were stored for many months
way back inside heavily insulated buildings or even caves! Wasn't there personally, but have read about it...
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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Denver
Junior Nomad
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Small house refrigerator
Bruce,
Are you a butcher or a beer distributor? I've never heard of a cooler so large. Maybe it's house you left in Minnesota?
The Declaration of Independence only gives you the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. - Benjamin Franklin
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Denver
Bruce,
Are you a butcher or a beer distributor? I've never heard of a cooler so large. Maybe it's house you left in Minnesota? |
no it is here in Mulege. I once had a restaurant here. now I just rent space in it.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mexray
...Fit the door to the top, instead of the front...that way you won't allow the cool air inside to flow away each time you open er' up for a
cerveza...
The more insulation, the better...before mechanical refrigeration many moons ago, big slabs of ice cut during the winter were stored for many months
way back inside heavily insulated buildings or even caves! Wasn't there personally, but have read about it... |
the double doors help with that a lot. also I make a shopping list and so I only need to open it once every day or two.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Denver
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walk-in coller
Bruce,
What type of condenser do you use to keep it cold? Sounds like a good business for Baja: cold storage by the month.
The Declaration of Independence only gives you the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. - Benjamin Franklin
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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the condenser is a 2 fan forced air with auto defrost.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mexray
The more insulation, the better...before mechanical refrigeration many moons ago, big slabs of ice cut during the winter were stored for many months
way back inside heavily insulated buildings or even caves! Wasn't there personally, but have read about it... |
The big old ice houses every 1-300 miles along the railroads stored ice for months - used sawdust for insulation in most cases.
A thing to remember - ice that doesn't melt doesn't cool anything else. The faster it melts, the colder it will make the compartment. With about 30%
salt it will keep frozen stuff hard as a rock as long as you keep the ice and salt coming.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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Dianamo
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Mood: ...still in Baja
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That's Brine
Ice with salt = brine
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Dianamo
Your avatar is giving me a headache. Can you turn it down a little?
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I lost the red and green on my computer.
What did you do to it....it went away!
[Edited on 2-10-2006 by bajajudy]
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