A kwh per day = 41.6w (or whatever number you listed) at a constant draw (ie as if a unit ran steady)
People on solar need to figure out the running draw - my freezer as fridge uses about 75w when running. Sometimes 65 sometimes 81. This tells me what inverter to use. It runs only 10 min in an hour. This helps me size battery and pv array.
I am glad to see this video. My husband and I are wanting to do this as well. When you see how much energy is saved with this system it really makes you wonder why there isn't a company out there that is making chest refrigerators. Another bad mark against the corporations! lol
@rebmahendy I believe sunfrost makes a very efficient reffrigerator, but it costs over 5x the price of a converted unit. As far as I know they are the only one making the refrigerator in chest freezer form. Our conversion has been well worth the extra effort. Now our food lasts 2x as long since we can run it as cold as possible, but just above freezing. We also do a good job of eating leftovers as it is easier manage 5cu feet of food than 18 cubic feet.
@rebmahendy I believe sunfrost makes a very efficient refrigerator, but it costs over 5x the price of a converted unit. As far as I know they are the only one making the refrigerator in chest freezer form. Our conversion has been well worth the extra effort. Now our food lasts 2x as long since we can run it as cold as possible, but just above freezing. We also do a good job of eating leftovers as it is easier manage 5cu feet of food than 18 cubic feet.
This idea is definetely good for people who have an old chest freezer, have a large frdige/freezer or fridge, and need some space for drinks! The best thing is, the thing keeps itself frost free from the above freezing temperatures! And, the water doesn't get placed outside the fridge, meaning vegetables stay fresh for longer! I would recommend placing the thermostat bulb half way down the freezer, then you will get the best results, otherwise, you may freeze your food in the bottom.
I tried the temp controller route on converting a small upright freezer to a keg fridge and it had poor results. A better, cheaper, and easier solution is to remove the factory thermostat and you'll find a 'master' setpoint control. It's usually under a piece of tape or inset in the back or sides of the thermostat. It's used at the factory to standardize the temp. If you adjust that to a warmer temp(leave the other at 0) you can have a fridge with no worry about a separate device failing.
this is cool ive made solar hot water heaters out of full size cheat freezers that did not work any more. it is really cool because thay are all ready insulated just cut it down and fit the lid and run your hot water lines
this is cool ive made solar hot water heaters out of full size cheat freezers that did not work any more. it is really cool because thay are all ready insulated just cut it down ans fit the lid and run your hot water lines
wouldnt dry storage need air circulation? Where do you keep frozen items? Do you have a second freezer that needs to be accounted in your net savings?
We added magnets along the edge of the old upright doors so they can not completely close. We too were concerned about air circulation.
We always had a outdoor chest freezer running in freezer mode since we are not that into canning. The upright unit which had a freezer was redundant for us.
It seems like you have the capability to lean that fridge down on its back and relocate the compressor and so forth to use the old fridge as your new fridge. Then you wouldn't need to adapt to the much smaller freezer you just modified. I imagine the savings wouldn't be as much, but still quite significant. I realize it's a bit of work and maybe not worth it, but perhaps a future project.
@sklarm I bet you could scrounge a used one for nothing;) people throw that kind of stuff out daily. I've been to Truth or Consequences so I know there are not a ton of people and therefore, not as many fridges on the curb, but maybe in Albuquerque or in some dump. Anyway, I have plenty of projects like this so I know how things can get backed up- no hurry. I have no idea how to fix a fridge but I imagine a little surfing would cure that.
@airconguy1 No. "kW per day" is not a measure of average power, a kW is. I thought my previous post was clear on that.
When talking about the typical energy usage of a device over time, one should use energy per time. Such as how freezers are typically rated in kWh per year.
@lambedan Then why do all of the companies that think your old fridge is too in-efficient say that? Here, they use kW per year on the energy stickers, along with stars.
So yes, I believe you can use kW per day, especially if the government here does it
@lambedan Well, here in AU, the star ratings are in KW per year. Our 99 freezer uses 900kW per year. In the US, the situation may be different. But, from all the 'dispose your old fridge' videos I have seen on YouTube, I think it's kW.
@airconguy1 I just looked up some AU freezers. They are using kWh/y.
If you are seeing people use kW/y, then its clear they are using it wrong. I see people using units wrong on YouTube often.
I am an electrical engineer. I am actually working on products for saving energy on HVAC systems, and have developed integrated watt meters in them. I would be in trouble if I didn't understand this stuff.
BTW, you seem interested in HVAC stuff. Do you work with them?
@lambedan Your completely right! I was mistaken and didn't look at the label correctly! I am interested in HVAC, but not yet old enough to have a job! Do US fridges have some information on how many KWh Per year they use, or no? I saw one in a shop here that just had an energy star sticker on it. Nothing else
this is awesome! good job
steveman223 6 months ago
Lambedan
A kwh per day = 41.6w (or whatever number you listed) at a constant draw (ie as if a unit ran steady)
People on solar need to figure out the running draw - my freezer as fridge uses about 75w when running. Sometimes 65 sometimes 81. This tells me what inverter to use. It runs only 10 min in an hour. This helps me size battery and pv array.
LordHarHar 9 months ago
So Mikey - could you share your controller design? Thanks - Dan
djc1210 9 months ago
@djc1210 All the designs are open hardware you can find he schematic, board layout, bom and firmware here.
screwdecaf.cx
sklarm 9 months ago
So what wattage solar panels would you need to run these?
BurtBartlow 11 months ago
@BurtBartlow 1 50W panel
sklarm 11 months ago
how long was it before you switched back :)
7thFelonTV 11 months ago
@7thFelonTV still using it. Nobody goes back.
sklarm 11 months ago 2
I am glad to see this video. My husband and I are wanting to do this as well. When you see how much energy is saved with this system it really makes you wonder why there isn't a company out there that is making chest refrigerators. Another bad mark against the corporations! lol
rebmahendy 1 year ago
@rebmahendy I believe sunfrost makes a very efficient reffrigerator, but it costs over 5x the price of a converted unit. As far as I know they are the only one making the refrigerator in chest freezer form. Our conversion has been well worth the extra effort. Now our food lasts 2x as long since we can run it as cold as possible, but just above freezing. We also do a good job of eating leftovers as it is easier manage 5cu feet of food than 18 cubic feet.
sklarm 1 year ago
@rebmahendy I believe sunfrost makes a very efficient refrigerator, but it costs over 5x the price of a converted unit. As far as I know they are the only one making the refrigerator in chest freezer form. Our conversion has been well worth the extra effort. Now our food lasts 2x as long since we can run it as cold as possible, but just above freezing. We also do a good job of eating leftovers as it is easier manage 5cu feet of food than 18 cubic feet.
sklarm 1 year ago
This idea is definetely good for people who have an old chest freezer, have a large frdige/freezer or fridge, and need some space for drinks! The best thing is, the thing keeps itself frost free from the above freezing temperatures! And, the water doesn't get placed outside the fridge, meaning vegetables stay fresh for longer! I would recommend placing the thermostat bulb half way down the freezer, then you will get the best results, otherwise, you may freeze your food in the bottom.
airconguy1 1 year ago
I tried the temp controller route on converting a small upright freezer to a keg fridge and it had poor results. A better, cheaper, and easier solution is to remove the factory thermostat and you'll find a 'master' setpoint control. It's usually under a piece of tape or inset in the back or sides of the thermostat. It's used at the factory to standardize the temp. If you adjust that to a warmer temp(leave the other at 0) you can have a fridge with no worry about a separate device failing.
chrispcarrot 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
this is cool ive made solar hot water heaters out of full size cheat freezers that did not work any more. it is really cool because thay are all ready insulated just cut it down and fit the lid and run your hot water lines
the cheap guy
iwantosavemoney 1 year ago
this is cool ive made solar hot water heaters out of full size cheat freezers that did not work any more. it is really cool because thay are all ready insulated just cut it down ans fit the lid and run your hot water lines
the cheap guy
iwantosavemoney 1 year ago
wouldnt dry storage need air circulation? Where do you keep frozen items? Do you have a second freezer that needs to be accounted in your net savings?
pwcthug 1 year ago
@pwcthug Good observations.
We added magnets along the edge of the old upright doors so they can not completely close. We too were concerned about air circulation.
We always had a outdoor chest freezer running in freezer mode since we are not that into canning. The upright unit which had a freezer was redundant for us.
sklarm 1 year ago
It seems like you have the capability to lean that fridge down on its back and relocate the compressor and so forth to use the old fridge as your new fridge. Then you wouldn't need to adapt to the much smaller freezer you just modified. I imagine the savings wouldn't be as much, but still quite significant. I realize it's a bit of work and maybe not worth it, but perhaps a future project.
Nice job on this one.
leloodallasmultipass 1 year ago
@leloodallasmultipass the compressor died in the upright and we were told to replace it would be $385 plus $115 in labor.
sklarm 1 year ago
@sklarm I bet you could scrounge a used one for nothing;) people throw that kind of stuff out daily. I've been to Truth or Consequences so I know there are not a ton of people and therefore, not as many fridges on the curb, but maybe in Albuquerque or in some dump. Anyway, I have plenty of projects like this so I know how things can get backed up- no hurry. I have no idea how to fix a fridge but I imagine a little surfing would cure that.
leloodallasmultipass 1 year ago
Nice project. Maybe using shelves that slide up vertically might make it easier to get stuff out.
I really have to comment on the usage of units.
2000 watts per day of power?
That statement is wrong in multiple ways.
2000 watt hours per day of energy would make more sense, is this what you meant?
watts measure power.
watt hours, kWh, and joules measure energy.
watts per day would be measuring a rate of change of power, such as
"I have been lowering my average power used by 3 watts per day"
lambedan 1 year ago
@lambedan good point, 2kWh versus .1kWh is how the power savings should have been worded.
sklarm 1 year ago
@lambedan Actually, they are correct. That fridge uses 2kW per day, or 2000W
airconguy1 1 year ago
@airconguy1 No. "kW per day" is not a measure of average power, a kW is. I thought my previous post was clear on that.
When talking about the typical energy usage of a device over time, one should use energy per time. Such as how freezers are typically rated in kWh per year.
lambedan 1 year ago
@lambedan Then why do all of the companies that think your old fridge is too in-efficient say that? Here, they use kW per year on the energy stickers, along with stars.
So yes, I believe you can use kW per day, especially if the government here does it
airconguy1 1 year ago
@airconguy1 A kW and kWh are not the same.
Companies use kWh per year, or equivalent unit. Take a look at the sears website.
If someone was using kW per day, then they don't understand basic units.
If you look at the uploader's post they also recognizes the difference.
A kW is a unit of power
A kWh per day is a unit of power; 1kWh/day = 41.6 W
A kW per day is not a unit of power
power != power / time
lambedan 1 year ago
@lambedan Well, here in AU, the star ratings are in KW per year. Our 99 freezer uses 900kW per year. In the US, the situation may be different. But, from all the 'dispose your old fridge' videos I have seen on YouTube, I think it's kW.
airconguy1 1 year ago
@airconguy1 I just looked up some AU freezers. They are using kWh/y.
If you are seeing people use kW/y, then its clear they are using it wrong. I see people using units wrong on YouTube often.
I am an electrical engineer. I am actually working on products for saving energy on HVAC systems, and have developed integrated watt meters in them. I would be in trouble if I didn't understand this stuff.
BTW, you seem interested in HVAC stuff. Do you work with them?
lambedan 1 year ago
@lambedan Your completely right! I was mistaken and didn't look at the label correctly! I am interested in HVAC, but not yet old enough to have a job! Do US fridges have some information on how many KWh Per year they use, or no? I saw one in a shop here that just had an energy star sticker on it. Nothing else
airconguy1 1 year ago
@airconguy1 Many of them don't seem to list the power consumption. Sears does on their website, but they sometimes leave the field blank.
They probably think most people don't understand those numbers and have an easier time with stars.
I wish people understood this stuff more. We would have more energy efficient products.
People will probably understand it more as more products report their actual energy usage to people. This is one of the things I am working on.
lambedan 1 year ago
briliant!!!
maankindj 1 year ago
nice
pinetar100 1 year ago