BajaNomad

refrigerator

BAnn - 10-27-2009 at 10:20 PM

We need to buy a electric refrigerator. We are all solar. Some ideas please? What kind and where to buy. We are south of San Felipe.

Diver - 10-27-2009 at 10:27 PM

Why not propane ?

BAnn - 10-27-2009 at 11:03 PM

Why not propane? Well we all ready have a bunch of solar panels up, so the eletric would be a better for us. No need to buy propane when the sun works for us.

oladulce - 10-27-2009 at 11:39 PM

I scoured the Energy Star and other sites on and off for the past year researching a fridge that wouldn't cost thousands of $$$ in extra solar equipment and here's what I chose:

Whirlpool "Resource Saver" refrigerator/freezer Model # W9RXXMFW
Top Freezer 18.92c.f.

It uses 343 kWh/yr which is the lowest I found on the energy star website for this medium size fridge.

939 watts per day isn't too shabby for an electric fridge.

I don't know if you'll find it in Mexico, I had to hunt around to find a place that sold them in CA because this new, "specially designed" model must not appeal to everyone. Not available from Pacific Sales and Lowes could order one but it was almost $200 more than were I finally purchased- Renwes Sales in Lake Forest , CA.

We've had our new one running in the garage for a couple of months so it won't look so new when it gets loaded in the trailer next week for the move to BCS.

BajaWarrior - 10-28-2009 at 04:17 AM

I have an LG with bottom freezer that has a 3.5 amp motor and that's as low of amperage as your going to find in a full size fridge (20 cu. ft.).

We bought it at the Sears outlet center with minor dings at a good price but I saw it at Home Depot on Balboa Ave. in San Diego for about $850.

We're also in south campos, Playa Hermosa/Santa Maria km 31

[Edited on 10-28-2009 by BajaWarrior]

Pacifico - 10-28-2009 at 05:50 AM

Do you want to go 120AC or 12VDC? Here are some options:

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago102.html

http://www.sunfrost.com/refrigerators_main.html

http://www.sundanzer.com/Home.html

larryC - 10-28-2009 at 07:34 AM

I boiught a sears 18cf about 5 years ago for my solar house, works really well uses about 900 watts a day in the cooler months according to my kill-a-watt meter.
Larry

rob - 10-28-2009 at 09:13 AM

We have friends at a solar-equipped ranch down the road who had two unloved propane fridges- they were very expensive to run and functioned OK but without enthusiasm.

After much research into expensive low-wattage replacements, they bought a standard LG domestic fridge - they love it and it works well.

comitan - 10-28-2009 at 09:17 AM

The new fridges like LG have very low current drain.

Sun Frost

MrBillM - 10-28-2009 at 09:41 AM

You can't find a MORE efficient Electric Refrigerator.

My 16 cu. Ft. runs 3.5 amps @ 12VDC on each separate compressor.

monoloco - 10-28-2009 at 09:55 AM

If you are looking for something with a super low draw also check out the Engel and Waeco brands. I have an Engel and it will function as a refrigerator or a freezer and only draws about 1.5 amps at 12 volts. It will also run on 24V or 120vac.. It really is nice for bringing back frozen fish from Baja and will freeze to below zero.

bonanza bucko - 10-28-2009 at 10:21 AM

We are at Alfonsina's south of Puertecitos about 50 miles. We are all solar too. We have two fridges; one is a small upright that we got for $250 at Walmart--it is very efficient..burns about 0.6 amp at 120V AC. But the one we love the most is a chest FREEZER....a major brand which we got at Home Depot for about $300. But we have it hooked up to an electrical device sold by www.kegworks.com which allows us to set the temperature in the freezer to refrigerator temperatures.....32-35 F usually.
This turns out little chest freezer into nice chest fridge.....the same usefulness and capacity as the chest fridges sold by Sunfrost and etc. for more than $1000. This is the best and least expensive way to get a chest fridge that we know about. A chest fridge, of course, is better because the cold air stays in it when you raise the lid...unlike an upright where all the cool falls out.

oladulce - 10-28-2009 at 03:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bonanza bucko

But the one we love the most is a chest FREEZER....a major brand which we got at Home Depot for about $300. But we have it hooked up to an electrical device sold by www.kegworks.com which allows us to set the temperature in the freezer to refrigerator temperatures.....32-35 F usually.

This turns out little chest freezer into nice chest fridge.....the same usefulness and capacity as the chest fridges sold by Sunfrost and etc. for more than $1000. This is the best and least expensive way to get a chest fridge that we know about. A chest fridge, of course, is better because the cold air stays in it when you raise the lid...unlike an upright where all the cool falls out.


How much power does your chest fridge use Bucko- have you checked?