Solar powered freezer?

[Chef]

I'm not sure if this has been asked before or where to put this so please remove/move as appropriate

I know nothing about solar power at all apart from it converts sunlight into power. Now we've got my level of understanding sorted I wonder if someone who does understand it could tell me how much solar energy would it take to run a freezer? Could you panel a 6' x 4' shed for instance with solar panels enough to charge/run a med. sized chest freezer inside the shed?

Salting & drying meat etc., is all well and good and does work surprisingly well but a freezer is so much more efficient so it makes sense to me to try and keep the use of said freezer should SHTF?

Cheers

C

[preppingsu]

From my limited knowledge the solar power would charge a battery that you could use to run the freezer, but probably not all the time. Just enough to keep it frozen.
I'm sure someone will be along soon who has the knowledge.

I do know that Maplins do a good range of solar stuff.

[C4tch]

This is my big thing this year. I want to install a solar system that will run part of the house and I am also looking at a freezer for this project. I am still reading up on this, but it seems best to go with 12V gear. You will need batteries to store the solar when it's not producing enough. I'm still struggling with working out which necessities to run and how to size the batteries etc. it's looking pretty expensive so far

Be great to hear from someone who has done it or knows about it...

C

[Chef]

Cool I'm not alone then

I'm thinking either that or some kind of wind generator, or maybe a combo, but I'd prefer totally solar as it's reasonably discreet, well more so than a ruddy great wind turbine. A few of my mates boats down in the harbour have reasonable freezers on them, they are bloody expensive new but can be had pretty cheaply at auctions etc.

I think anything that saves you money, first costs alot of money, solar power is a prime example unfortunately, I don't know whether this is because they can make us pay through the nose or the technology really is that expensive? Anyway I digress....

Back to solar powering a freezer, say a 12/24V 1.8A/Hr kinda range?

C

[the-gnole]

The items needed are a small 12v freezer, difficult, but there are the tri-powered camping fridge/freezer type things.

http://www.amazingoutdoors.com/shop/ao_ ... 12243.html



Only 42ltr though.

Then you might need a couple of batteries, 115Ah deep cycle ones

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280709325668? ... 584wt_1159



60watt solar set up with control consol from Maplins

http://www.maplin.co.uk/60w-solar-power ... =Frontpage



Add in a small verticle axis 50w wind turbine

http://www.maplin.co.uk/12v-50w-telesco ... ine-396269



And so far you have spent about £700+

How long it will run for is difficult to say, but adding more batteries will keep it going for longer.

So if you go that route you are probably looking at £1000 all in

Or get it to run on the gas, look out for caravan breakers yards and see if they have any freezers/fridges on sale.

http://www.caravanbreakers.net/

[Chef]

Hmmm, lots to consider... Thanks TG.

Boat freezer is better than a camping one imho, alot more room in em and easier to find I reckon, well if you live near a harbour anyway.

Already saved myself £160 on the wind turbine as the reviews reckon it's pants. But I did glean one interesting thing I never knew... "Its a shame we still have to pay the standard rate of VAT for these green items so I have to question the governments true commitment to renewable energy." Cheeky basts, want us all to go green then charge us VAT on it!!!

Now I know the kinda things I'm looking for I'll do some research.

C

[the-gnole]

Maybe this kit to get you going

http://www.windtrap.co.uk/generate-elec ... udget-kit/



Then add the panels and a few more batteries

[Chef]

Why is all this kind of stuff so sodding expensive?

C

[Chef]

Those solar panels get a good write up and I reckon a couple of those could run a boat freezer of a decent size, batteries are expensive but reckon they can be had cheaper maybe. Hmmm.....

C

[maddriver]

I've been thinking thinking about this tread over the last few days. Perhaps we need a rethink on how the freezer is powered?

(Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not a refrigeration expert) But the compressor pump that pressurises the coolant as it leaves the cool box to the radiator consumes the most electric, and spikes the consumption when it kicks in. Might it be more efficient to drive this pump directly with a fuel powered motor than try to generate electric and have an inverter that can deal with the spike?