Gas refrigerator

[Waiting Falcon]

I still have not bought my appliances, I would like to be very sensible about this. I do not like to depend upon electricity as I believe that is the most undependable source there is.
Someone said gas refrigerator , I know nothing about these other than the one that was in the rv I drove 25 years ago. If I recall it was a Dometic and it was a cold machine if I could get it lit. I was reading that the new full size ones run about 3-5 gallons a month which would be around $6-15 depending on what the fuel price was. A good electric one will run $8 per month again depending on power cost. I would love to have solar power but how many solar amps is required to run a large refrigerator? Does it have to bean especially made fridg for solar?
Right now I am using my cellar for my cold stuff but it does not stay cool in the hot weather so it can not be depended on. I believe that cold water is a very good source of cold and will keep most things at optimum freshness. But I am not sure how to go about that . Right now I am just keeping liquids in a bucket of water. I do not have a spring house.
I also have always wanted a brick oven as there is nothing better than food cooked over a wood fire but I am also looking into solar cooking.

So anyone want to discuss this?

[MichaelK!]

Originally Posted by Waiting Falcon

Someone said gas refrigerator , I know nothing about these other than the one that was in the rv I drove 25 years ago. If I recall it was a Dometic and it was a cold machine if I could get it lit. I was reading that the new full size ones run about 3-5 gallons a month which would be around $6-15 depending on what the fuel price was.

Hi WF
I've picked up a propane refrigerator myself. Even when the power goes out, the propane would still flow. Don't expect the freezer to work as well as a 120AC model, but it will freeze. It just won't go sub-zero. Then you can also have a propane stove and propane hot water.

Originally Posted by Waiting Falcon

I believe that cold water is a very good source of cold and will keep most things at optimum freshness. But I am not sure how to go about that . Right now I am just keeping liquids in a bucket of water. I do not have a spring house.

No it isn't! What's cold? 60F, 50F, 40F? Water that's 50+ seems cold to the touch, and it is certainly VERY cold if you jump in, but for food preservation you want less than 40F. Have you measured what temperature your water is? Where are you going to get large quantities of 40 degree water in the summer? Better to stick with the propane frig idea.

Originally Posted by Waiting Falcon

I also have always wanted a brick oven as there is nothing better than food cooked over a wood fire but I am also looking into solar cooking.

Don't bite off more than you can chew at one time. Projects take time to complete. It took me two years to get around to installing the wood stove I bought. Wait till after you've installed gas appliances and solar power for lights. Once you have the basics up and running you can devote time to luxuries like a brick oven.

Do you have a source of wood? It might be a better plan to buy a wood burning cook stove. Once I bought all the parts for the chimney it took only one single weekend to get it installed. Cooking on a wood burning stove might be a lot easier than trying to cook on a brick oven. My stove can also be plumbed to make thermosyphon hot water and I plan on getting around that too. If you can heat your own hot water with wood, that will be another big energy saver!
Good luck!

[Jim-mi]

A very good way to go is with a SunDanzer . . . .super efficient ...
Power with a Good sized PV panel and a battery for cloudy days. . . . .

[Waiting Falcon]

sundaz - $2000 is that what you paid for yours?

[Highground]

We have a Danby propane fridge (bought used from a friend) and it serves the purpose at our summer cabin. Only dislike is the small freezer compartment, 1.09 cu. ft.

[Jim-mi]

I seem to recall $800 for my SunDanzer.. . . . . .a few years ago.

[Tarheel]

Originally Posted by Jim-mi

I seem to recall $800 for my SunDanzer.. . . . . .a few years ago.

Jim, just out of curiosity do you use two different systems, one for refrigeration (38-42*F) and one for freezing (0-5*) ?

I have always herd good things about SunDanzer. I was raised up in the refrigeration business but was more familiar with the gas/ammonia systems using LP to fire the system.

Thanks

[Jim-mi]

My SunDanzer is just a "freezer" . . .. .love it cause it uses so little energy....

If I were starting from scratch on fridgeration I would get two SunDanzers using one as a freezer and one as a fridge.
Then with say 200+ watts of PV, a good battery and controller . .I then would have many years of good quiet fumeless dependable fridgeration.

I'm quite sure the SunDanzers use the tried and true Danfoss units . . .which have proven their worth over many many years.

Just plain good stuff..........Better than the lower priced *big box* store stuff.

[Tarheel]

Originally Posted by Jim-mi

My SunDanzer is just a "freezer" . . .. .love it cause it uses so little energy....

If I were starting from scratch on fridgeration I would get two SunDanzers using one as a freezer and one as a fridge.
Then with say 200+ watts of PV, a good battery and controller . .I then would have many years of good quiet fumeless dependable fridgeration.

I'm quite sure the SunDanzers use the tried and true Danfoss units . . .which have proven their worth over many many years.

Just plain good stuff..........Better than the lower priced *big box* store stuff.

Yep, that's what I was thinking too. I do have a huge storage for propane, but someday that could run out and using PV then all I would have to worry about would be battery 's. Looks like the way to go for me and a lot of others.

Also agree with the quality, you get what you pay for.

Thank's, just another project.

Note to add: Is it the same unit (frig & freezer) with just a different cold control ?

[Gianni]

Biggest drawback for us is the small size for a gas refrigerator. 8 cf is common 12 would be huge. We run a 22 cf now with elec. Consider where you live, our power has gone out three times in the last 5 years, the longest was 45 minutes. If power shuts down for a few weeks due to storms as is reported after hurricanes or ice storms, the risk is still worth the convenience.