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Refrigeration; dc vs. propane

gamcgaha

wondering which would be best a dc fridge ,would cost $2000 more, or propane fridge? i will have propane at site but who knows what propane prices and availability will be in future. the dc fridge would be very hard on budget.

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Submitted by gamcgaha on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 14:21.

allyourgreen
allyourgreen's picture
Re: Refrigeration; dc vs. propane

 

Yeah, I find that to be true. I generally try to conserve electricity, but when I started doing cost per distance comparisons between a small gas motor and a small electric motor for a commuting scooter, I realized just how reasonable the grid really is.

Of course, I'm also biased as there's no way to refill a gas tank with my hobbist's solar panel...

In general, I've had pretty good luck running inverters for smaller appliances when needed, but a full size fridge? Is that what we're talking about, or is this a smaller unit, like ctyankee says, in a boat, etc.?

--

Roy

Owner, All Your Green LLC

www.allyourgreen.com


Wed, 02/20/2008 - 22:30

ctyankee
Re: Refrigeration; dc vs. propane

Need more info.

You could buy an inverter to run an AC fridge for much less than $2000, so that makes the DC fridge a pretty poor alternative.

Propane means an absorption chiller cycle... that's less efficient that a compressor, but the operating cost can be cheaper...???

Are you equiping a boat or RV/camper?  I always have to ask why anyone would want to go off grid if they don't have to?  Grid power is the cheapest, and most reliable.  And since you tossed in propane, the grid power probably pollutes less in the grand scheme.


Wed, 02/20/2008 - 14:08