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Ejm
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 01:39pm
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Could anyone suggest what I would need to run just a refrigerator while I am away from the cabin. The refrigerator is energy star and uses 358 kWh/yr. I was going to go full solar, but my demands were to high, so I ordered Honda generator EU7000IS to run the cabin. All I am looking for is enough power to keep my refrigerator running when away. I will switch to the generator when we get to the cabin.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 04:44pm
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Did you neglect to tell us the duration of the away time; a few hours or days at a time?
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Wilbour
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 05:26pm
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Quoting: Ejm All I am looking for is enough power to keep my refrigerator running when away
This is always a risky idea. We have become accustomed to this luxury while on grid power. I'm not sure I would trust anything left in unattended fridge for more than a day. Unless you just want to keep it cool at all times so you can just restock when you arrive?
As ICC stated, there are many variables. First thing is the dreaded compressor startup load. You can contact the manufacturer for this or buy/borrow a Watt meter to see how big an inverter you need.
My little 200kw/y fridge needed a 500w inverter to get it going as the initial pull is over 725w for a split second.
We do need more info to be of any help to you right now. 
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Ontario lakeside
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 09:46pm
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Just leave a ice cube on a plate in the freezer. if its still cube shaped all is well!
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Ejm
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2018 10:05am
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It sounds like it just wont be worth the money. We are at the cabin once a month 6 months out of the year. I wanted to run it from May to November. When we get to the cabin it would all run on the generator. More or less I wanted to avoid always bringing up a cooler to stock the freezer. just keeping burgers and hotdogs etc ready to go for the BBQ.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2018 10:23am
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What you need is that "full solar, but my demands were too high"
The fridge is the single biggest load you have, even if you are not there
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Wilbour
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2018 12:14pm - Edited by: Wilbour
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Personally I wouldn't leave meat in a freezer un attended.
At home we always know when the power goes out or if we are gone for a period of time, someone is watching the home. That way if the fridge/freezer gives out (as they seem to do every 10 years or so now) there is a human to intervene. They can save the $$ load of meat from spoiling.
The icecube trick works great a knowing if your power failed due to an excess of days without sun (sepecially in the fall when the days are the shortest). A flat icecube tells you not to eat the food but now you have a lot spoiled frozen food.
I just don't want to take that chance or loosing $$ due to spoiled food.
But if you are serious about it, it's not as expensive as you may think to go almost all solar! Check our Ontario Lakeside's setup.
Even if you think that your maximum loads exceed a reasonable system, think again. Perhaps you just need the genny for running a saw and then run the genny for that short period of time.
Solar is much quieter 
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2018 08:46pm
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My solar has been running reliably since Feb 2013. I have taken it down a few times. Upgrades. While traveling. But I leave my farm for a week at a time. Not worried at all. Never had a power outage.
Solar for a fridge isn't that expensive. Compared to a propane fridge I've already saved over $2500 in propane. Can't imagine how much I've saved on gas.
So, let's see. Honda says your genny eats 5.1 gallons every 6 to 18 hours. Let's say you get max run time. call it 8 gallons a day. X $3/gal. So 24 bucks a day.
Now I've been at my place over 8 years. So my solar system has saved me a mere $70,080 in gas money. Geez that's a pretty good investment. Considering I have something like $5-6k in solar equipment.
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bobrok
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2018 10:10pm
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Quoting: Wilbour Personally I wouldn't leave meat in a freezer un attended.
Totally agree. We tried that just one time and almost ruined our refrigerator from the awful stench when it malfunctioned. It took weeks to get rid of the odor of rotting meat.
Better safe than sorry.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2018 11:10pm
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A well designed and assembled solar system can be more reliable than the power grid in many places.
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Wilbour
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2018 12:19am
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Quoting: ICC A well designed and assembled solar system can be more reliable than the power grid in many places
I agree. My point is that you don't often leave the grid tied house for long periods of time. When you do you usually have someone drop by from time to time. Where as the cabin is often left for days/weeks at a time.
Creeky knows and trusts his setup, and that's great.
So hey, if it's not likely to fail then go ahead.
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