Ultra-Energy-Efficient DC Refrigeration

[cat man do]

Bold claims made from these guys

Anyone had any experience with them

Solar Powered Refrigeration

[daddle]

Mostly BS. No way does a conventional setup take as much solar as they claim. Might be a good unit but the BS is over the top. Doesn't look like much insulation, which is pretty much the entire issue.

[Minggat]

Yes, a lot on informaion augmented about conventional house units there. Easily as much or more they fail to tell you about their own unit. May be a great fridge, but you can't tell it by the info there.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by daddle

Mostly BS. No way does a conventional setup take as much solar as they claim.

I realise that

Might be a good unit but the BS is over the top. Doesn't look like much insulation, which is pretty much the entire issue.

STR/STF General Specifications

• Voltage requirement: 12 or 24 VST
• Refrigerant: R-134a
• Polyurethane insulation: 11 cm (4.33")
• Cable length: 2m (6 ft.)

Runs on a single 80 Watt solar module in most climate !!!

110mm of foam sounds about right to me but it's the last claim in red that got me

What sort of miracle have they produced in the US?

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by cat man do

What sort of miracle have they produced in the US?

That's what I was trying to say. But it didn't come out anywhere near as powerful as you said it.

[pressuredrop]

dont the most efficient dc fridges average about 4 amps draw? sounds like it might be possible...

[Tellie]

This is a solar store located near to where I live. I have been there several times over the past four years. I'm not indorsing anything. But they have had a 12V top loading fridge and freezer running there similar to the one mentioned above for as many years. Seems to be working pretty well. They have pics at this website that show it.
Solar Energy, Premium Quality Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, Energy-Saving Devices - Show Room

[colemj]

An 80W panel should produce 3-4 amps. Engle reefers/freezers draw 1-2 amps, so it doesn't seem unreasonable. However, this amp draw is almost continuous, particularly when used as a freezer, so you will be without power 2/3 of the day.

Mark

[cat man do]

Found more info about these sundanzer fridge/freezers here

SunDanzer Solar Refrigerators & Freezers

With reviews

SunDanzer Customer Testimonials

AND, I can get them in Australia
SunDanzer : Solar power : grid connect, off grid and hot water systems, solar panels, batteries, wind turbines - Energy Matters Australia

Here's the supposed power usage, Taken from the energymatters PDF.
I would be interested in comments about this and how it compares with others store bought or custom units of this size.

[osirissail]

Looking at their PDF download for the two sizes of the unit tells a lot. The larger 225 model has a total cubic footprint of 24.5 cu.ft. for a interior box size of 2.0 cu.ft. That means these things are really insulated. As another has said above, insulation is the answer to any refrig/freezer unit. I would say it is 90% of the answer.
- - Vacuum panels have the best "R" per inch and also the highest cost per "R". Using different insulation materials the efficiency drops as the price drops. Manufacturing format of the insulation is another major determinant as to "R" efficiency. Well manufactured flat panels with foil sheathing is the next best below Vacuum panels and "out of the can" or other liquid expandable foams being at the bottom of the "R" value list due to their very inconsistent density.
- - PV power sources seem to be touted using the totally unrealistic idea that the sun shines at maximum 24 hours per day and the sun never varies from its zenith position. In reality zenith +/- 2 hours with a panel orientated perpendicular to the sun is the only time you get those rated wattage output. The rest of the daylight period panel output drops radically especially with panels that are fixed and cannot "track" the sun. Like bilge pump rated output, PV panel tech specs are highly misleading.
- - But as to these refrig/freezer units you have to read the tech PDF sheet to get the "rest of the story."
- - P.S. looking at the energy consumption chart just above shows 75 amp hours per day for the freezer when used in the Tropics. That's about average for the various other freezer configurations for a 2 cu.ft. freezer. And 32 amp hours for the refrigerator alone. So for two units - freezer 2 cu.ft. and refrigerator 2 cu.ft. that adds up to 107 amp hours per day. Again about average for the various different units available on the market.
- - What is the major problem with this unit when bringing it into the cruising boat world is its size/shape. Most of our installations are long and narrow, really narrow along the side wall of the curved hull. This is why most units are custom built into the boat versus using "drop in" units. And air circulation for the condensor plates is a major limiting factor. But if the thing would fit into your boat considering the above - it would sure be nicer than having to do weeks of construction to build your own.

[Austin]

I first learned of the Sundanzer products from their use on the Gunboat catamarans. As stated, they have better insulation than most off-the-shelf complete units, use the same highly efficient danfoss compressors, and are competitively priced. On a custom/semi-custom catamaran with galley up, it is pretty easy to fit them into the fit-out.