Freezer in unpowered garage

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior

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Joined
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Wilds of suffolk
Whats peoples views on whether this is achieveable?

We have a separate garage that in reality we cannot run power to, bar illegally tapping into the adjacent street light ;)

So i was wondering with modern chest freezers being so insulated with realiatively low energy usage could I possibly do the following?

Mount 1/2/x solar panels on the roof, connect to a UPS type device, and connect the freezer to the UPS.

The question I am struggling with is the current the freezer would pull, its not a listed part of specs that i can see. Annual usage sure, obviously 240v, but i cant find the draw Obviously a UPS get very expensive for high draw.

I know this will end up being quite an expensive arrangement but really need the extra freezer space.

Risk is of course that the UPS doesn't get enough charge regularly enough to keep topped up for demand.
BUT, I assume, higher demand is in the summer when its hot, when in reality the cells would produce far more energy than in the winter when demand would be low.
With freezers now often having 12hr safety times due to the level of insulation I dont see the need for a constant supply if its getting plenty of supply rest of the day.

Anyone have the stats for current draw for a typical well insulated freezer, and also any input as to whether this is viable?
 
Small chest freezer at 24W powered for 12 hours a needs 7KVA ish that's about a £3500 UPS. Plus you'd need sufficient Solar power all year round for 12 hours a day! Where do you live? Don't think this is a starter.
What about a freezer in a shed in the garden if you have a garden.
Andi.
 
robj20 said:
Get a company in to mole some mdpe under the path for you, shove some suitable twin and earth through it. Job done, surely thats going to be easier and cheaper.
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Would require a probably 50m run as elec distribution box is diagonally opposite side of my site to where the garage is.

The estate management arent keen to have anything encroaching on the shared areas and whilst I may be able to sneak the cable underneath I prefer to stick with the rules (which prohibit this without permission).

We have been round the options of normal power and its something ruled out for now, hence looking for other options.
 
If you feed them to the pigs you can reduce your freezer space requirement. Or charge more per hit, that way you have less lying around but still earn as much.
 
andicole0 said:
Small chest freezer at 24W powered for 12 hours a needs 7KVA ish that's about a £3500 UPS. Plus you'd need sufficient Solar power all year round for 12 hours a day! Where do you live? Don't think this is a starter.
What about a freezer in a shed in the garden if you have a garden.
Andi.
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Is that on all the time though?

Eg I picked a cheapo freezer, so hardly likely to be the best in class, but typical for sure.

Annual Energy Consumption 226 Kwh
Average would therefore be 0.62kwh per day at 230v

I know factors will increase load etc but that doesnt seem that high. Plus the freezer is in this example food safe for 24 hours unpowered.
 
andicole0 said:
Small chest freezer at 24W powered for 12 hours a needs 7KVA ish that's about a £3500 UPS. Plus you'd need sufficient Solar power all year round for 12 hours a day! Where do you live? Don't think this is a starter.
What about a freezer in a shed in the garden if you have a garden.
Andi.
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The KVA is a rating of load and not run time. It won't need a 7KVA UPS, 1kva would be more then enough for a freezer but extra batteries may be required.

http://www.apc.com/uk/en/tools/ups_selector/home/load
 
The problem is that at winter time, batteries work less effectively in cold weather. Combine that with the lack on sunlight, I doubt you'd be able to sustain constant operation (not enough to keep perishables).

Whilst modern freezers do have a 12h safety margin, I doubt anything within would like the conditions of changing temperature every day.
 
Trifid said:
The KVA is a rating of load and not run time. It won't need a 7KVA UPS, 1kva would be more then enough for a freezer but extra batteries may be required.

http://www.apc.com/uk/en/tools/ups_selector/home/load
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Thanks far more in line with my thoughts.

So for example for £190 on that site and assuming a draw of 250watt (would need clarification on model of course)
APC Power-Saving Back-UPS Pro 900, 230V, this would last 18mins

Sounds little time, but the assumption is that the following day it would get a decent charge again. If the freezer is fine for 24 hours and also I would add to the heat(cold) sink by keeping a decent amount of ice blocks in there.

I think I will look more into the panels themselves, its looking like the generation issue is more the high cost item. I doubt a decent freezer brand will use a higher input power compressor, they could be well std across whole ranges. I bet old coals could help with some tech stats if needed.

Supplying enough juice to charge the UPS frequently enough looks to be the riskier end of the issue :)
 
Remember a freezer doesn't run the compressor constantly. There will be a base load of say 10w and then the peak load cutting in and out. There is also more like 8 hours of light in the winter, of which is not going to be overly bright on overcast or rainy days.

I think you're going to get food poisoning. :)
 
wordy said:
Permission? **** that! I'd just do it, no one tells me what to do!:mad:
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Yeah cos what could possibly go wrong.

Some contractor has to work on the path, cuts through the cable and somehow electrocutes himself, I know he shouldn't be, but not a risk I would want to take.

I don't want a load of public liability risk that can be avoided
 
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