FAQ Regarding Solar Refrigeration

1. Why should I use a Solar System?
Solar technology has made significant advancements in recent years. As consumer demand continues to grow worldwide, economies of scale have helped lower the manufacturing costs of solar panels and controllers. The increasing efficiency of solar systems allows for substantial power generation from just a single, affordable solar panel. However, this power is not produced on demand; instead, it is generated gradually over time, aligned with nature's pace. If you have an effective system for harvesting and storing this energy, you can tap into a fantastic renewable resource that remains largely untapped. This energy source is accessible anywhere, even in areas where conventional power sources have yet to be connected. Read more about solar systems in general

2. What appliance works best with Off Grid Solar Power?
A refrigerator consumes the most energy during the summer months. This is because summer days are longer and brighter, providing more solar energy throughout the 24-hour period compared to winter. In winter, the ambient temperature is only slightly higher than that of a refrigerator or freezer, so minimal energy is needed for operation. A quality solar generator, which includes a solar panel, a controller, and batteries, can power a solar refrigerator during the day while simultaneously charging the batteries. Once the batteries are fully charged, they can keep the refrigerator running at night and maintain the temperature inside the freezer. This is why refrigerators are an excellent choice for running on solar power: the energy demand from the fridge aligns well with the energy supply from solar sources.. Read more about solar fridges.

3. What is one of the most energy-consuming appliances in the home?
You guessed it! The fridge needs to be left on 24/7. However, the compressor does not run continuously. Instead, the thermostat monitors the temperature and activates the compressor only when necessary, which uses a small amount of energy. While this energy consumption seems minimal, it adds up over time—costing approximately $1,500 per year if you are connected to the grid. In contrast, it is free to operate if you are connected to an off-grid solar system. This makes a solar fridge an excellent investment.

4. Why can't I use an inverter to run a 240-volt fridge through a solar system?
This approach works well if you have a robust and expensive solar system. However, smaller solar systems may struggle to keep up with the energy demands of the inverter, which needs to be left on standby 24/7. Even in standby mode, inverters consume energy as they convert 12-volt DC to 240-volt AC. In many cases, the energy used by the inverter is greater than that consumed by a 12-volt compressor fridge, which doesn’t require an inverter. To avoid draining the batteries, it’s best to only leave the inverter switched on while using appliances. Fortunately, many appliances are available in DC, 12 or 24 volts. These are designed for use in boats, motorhomes, and caravans, and are typically made to a very high standard. You can find options such as 12/24-volt TVs linked here.

5. Who uses solar fridges?
Solar fridges are highly sought after by individuals living in off-grid homes, hunting lodges, baches, farm sheds, motorhomes, caravans, boats, remote medical labs, hiking lodges, and communities on remote islands. Additionally, small portable fridges are available for whitebait fishermen, including options like beer fridges and portable picnic fridges.

6. What is so different about a solar fridge?

• Quality insulation around the cooler box.
• An efficient compressor that gets rid of heat fast due to its large heat exchange.
• An efficient DC 12 or 24-volt operating system that taps into the Solar DC power source.
• No auto defrost feature, as auto defrost uses large amounts of energy.
• See the link to solar fridges

• Good quality, maintenance-free batteries that have enough capacity to store the energy used daily, even in overcast weather.
• A solar panel large enough to keep up with the energy demand of the fridge and other appliances.
• An MPPT type of solar controller that still harvests energy from the panel even when the weather conditions are not ideal.
• A digital display to monitor what is harvested and what is being consumed accurately, thereby informing the user of the system's performance. This can be especially helpful when the system is in deficit.

DC Solar generators