What abt Mt Best fridge?

[[email protected]]

Something to this?

Really work?

I'm serious.... live in Missouri and wanting to slowly
go off grid even while living in an apartment

Seems to me the fridge is first and best place to start

see link

http://mtbest.net/chest_fridge.html

Id be wiling to get the module if someone has real
experience with it

 

[Eeyore]

Something to this?

Really work?

I'm serious.... live in Missouri and wanting to slowly
go off grid even while living in an apartment

Why on earth would you want to do that ? You won't save the planet. In fact
you'll probably damage it a little bit through the required waste of resources.

Graham

 

[[email protected]]

Something to this?

Really work?

I'm serious.... live in Missouri and wanting to slowly
go off grid even while living in an apartment

Seems to me the fridge is first and best place to start

see link

http://mtbest.net/chest_fridge.html

Id be wiling to get the module if someone has real
experience with it

Some previous threads on the topic. http://tinyurl.com/224fxf
http://tinyurl.com/yu8w5q

IMO the Mt Best claims are wildly exaggerated, and most of the gain
comes from having the unit in a cool location. Compare with Sunfrost
units with really thick insulation http://www.sunfrost.com/
http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/refrigeration.htm and ask yourself
how the Mt Best conversion could do so much better.

Wayne

 

[[email protected]]

I use Engel refrigerators and freezers in my RV, an off-grid application with VERY
limited electrical resources.

Ok will chk into them John!!

Again.....I'm single, live alone...... right now I'm in
an apartment in town

But at some point 9soon) I hope to be living in very
small super efficient cabin or maybe even RV like you

Also....I like the idea of having a "stock" of frozen
foods such that I don't have to run to store very
often.

All I need is a freezer abt 5-7 cubic feet.

 

[[email protected]]

I use Engel refrigerators and freezers in my RV, an off-grid application with VERY
limited electrical resources

Do you have a link to the manufacturer so I can maybe
get a catalog?

I cant seem to find the makers link.

 

[[email protected]]

If the battery system is 12 or 24
volts then choose as many loads as possible that run on those voltages. 12 or 24
volt CF lights, for example.

OK

So would it be ok to convert 120 vac to 12-24 vdc to
run such a device while I'm still in my apartment?

 

[[email protected]]

This unit is smaller than a domestic chest freezer but to remain man-portable, it has
thinner walls.

how many cubic feet you think?

 

[[email protected]]

My 45s will do me about 2 weeks. A pair of 80s would do a month. Also single and
live alone.

Very cool!!

An you personally can testify to the robustness of the
units? They are built very well? use little energy?

id want to power with solar eventually

 

[[email protected]]

I have a pair of 45s.

why a pair?

do you use one as a fridge and one as a freezer?

do I understand correct that these units can be made to
operate as either a fridge OR freezer no problem?

 

[[email protected]]

I'm not off-grid and don't plan to be, at least not here. But way back in the
mountains, power is fairly expensive and it's out for days and sometimes weeks at a
time during storms. My electrical system is (being) partitioned into two parts - a
very high efficiency, low power "vital bus" and the other "balance of plant", to use
nuclear plant terms. The BOP can be off for an extended time without too much
inconvenience - stove, electrical cooking appliances, central air, etc.

good plan!!

I guess that what I'm thinking of doing in my mind as
well

 

[[email protected]]

I have a 24 volt powered UPS that
supplies my "vital bus"

have a link to this UPS?

maybe I will get one as well

 

[[email protected]]

Sure. That's exactly what I do here in my cabin. I have a 24 volt powered UPS that
supplies my "vital bus", that is, some lights and the fridge and freezer. Some
lights are 120 volt CFs but I've been gradually replacing them with 24 volt CFs and
rewiring the fixtures. I've stopped for awhile to measure and study which
architecture is more efficient and most overall economical.

you think 24 vdc more efficient than 12 vdc?

and.... aren't more 12 vdc things available?

what abt your computer? use laptop strictly...no
desktops that use AC?

 

[[email protected]]

The BOP can be off for an extended time without too much
inconvenience - stove, electrical cooking appliances, central air, etc.

I know this sounds crazy...... but could you really
survive without some air condition?

Is your home/cabin in a fairly cool zone of the US?

I live in north Missouri and it"sweltering: here right
now.... would be VERY hard to go with AC in the
apartment.

 

[[email protected]]

If it's not too much to ask, what county are you in? I'm moving to Cass
County in 10 days.

Marion county Missouri

 

[[email protected]]

If it's not too much to ask, what county are you in? I'm moving to Cass
County in 10 days.

from where?

 

[[email protected]]

I don't know how they compare to stationary reefers optimized for low power but for
something that is man-portable, they just sip electrons. I usually haul them to the
store and stock 'em right there in the parking lot. Given my long drive, frozen
goods are usually gooey by the time I get home if I don't do that. I have a 120
AH AGM battery that I take along to power them. It's good for almost 3 days with
both units set to freeze.

wow


how far and long is your drive to home?

 

[[email protected]]

I found a bunch of these dumpster diving behind Scientific Atlanta sometime in the
late 80s. I hauled a truck load home, combined units as necessary to make them work
and sold them at hamfests, keeping a couple for myself. Until I moved to my cabin it
was supporting my little data center at home.

I'm curious Neon John.... do you live pretty much
entirely off grid? retired? Travel a lot?

Sounds like you have wonderfully varied interests and
life!

I ask cause....well its a long story..... but I just
don't believe in the "work world" any more.... want to
get away from it... and think off grid and living cheap
and SMART would be one way to do it.

 

[[email protected]]

East coast.

how come?

 

[[email protected]]

Neon John....

I curious how you get your Internet access in such a
remote area?

Is it dial up only?

 

[[email protected]]

Comfortably on-grid, retired ("fifty-something"), have traveled a lot, could turn
into a hillbilly hermit now

Ok maybe totally off grid isn't feasible

But maybe a combination of extreme "conservation and on
grid is?

IOW....extremely simple and efficient appliances and
practices that would allow one to have VERY little on
grid expenses.....and to work part time only?