Which fridge to choose?

[Zambi]

I need to decide between 2 fridges.
It will be for general use and my old one will become my fermentation fridge.

The difference between them:
1 is a 220 volt fridge, the other a 12 volt fridge

I run a small 12 volt set up with chest fridge/freezer, 100 ah lithium ferro battery, 225 watt in panels. I'm not sure if it's big enough to run a 2nd fridge

Plus I have a 5kva inverter set up.

And I do have a 12 to 220 volt converter/transformer from an old car fridge

So which should I get?
The 12 volt and run it on 220?
Or the 220 volt?
They are similar in size

 

[Minbari]

220 compressor is going to be more efficient

 

[Donoroto]

The fewer times you convert the voltage, the more efficient the process. Converting has losses.

Each fridge has an efficiency rating, pick the one that has both good efficiency and reasonable cost. The internet has efficiency values for most every model ever made.

 

[Zambi]

The fewer times you convert the voltage, the more efficient the process. Converting has losses.

Each fridge has an efficiency rating, pick the one that has both good efficiency and reasonable cost. The internet has efficiency values for most every model ever made.

That makes sense.
Cost is the same (2nd hand, I can just choose)
I'll check energy/efficiency rating.

I thought maybe the 12 volt one will be better insulated or maybe the compressor has a longer (or shorter) lifespan

 

[Donoroto]

That makes sense.
Cost is the same (2nd hand, I can just choose)
I'll check energy/efficiency rating.

I thought maybe the 12 volt one will be better insulated or maybe the compressor has a longer (or shorter) lifespan

If I had to guess, I’d bet they are about equal. If either one is several years newer, pick that one. Otherwise, throw a rock: the one it doesn’t hit, take it.

 

[Brew Cat]

From running my 12v system at my camp and also an RV I know hat your inverter needs enough juice from your battery to run . My system has some lights and stuff that are direct 12v so when the bank gets low and the inverter shuts down I'm not dead in the water. This way I can wait until morning to fire up the backup generator.

 

[Zambi]

I run totally of grid, with a 5 kva system.
So I can run the 220 on that (8.5 kva lithium ion battery)

The 12 volt system is older, from when I was building. It got a new 100 ah lithium ferro battery. It runs a 12 volt chest freezer/fridge. Battery is not going below 13.2 volt on this set up.
I'll be taking that battery with me on holiday later this year and put an old one back, which will only run the chest friidge/freezer during day time, but thats not an issue as the fridge just contains water & beer and so on.

If I buy the 12 volt fridge, I will then have to run that on the 220 volt system.

I'll just have to make up my mind

 

[Brew Cat]

I run totally of grid, with a 5 kva system.
So I can run the 220 on that (8.5 kva lithium ion battery)

The 12 volt system is older, from when I was building. It got a new 100 ah lithium ferro battery. It runs a 12 volt chest freezer/fridge. Battery is not going below 13.2 volt on this set up.
I'll be taking that battery with me on holiday later this year and put an old one back, which will only run the chest friidge/freezer during day time, but thats not an issue as the fridge just contains water & beer and so on.

If I buy the 12 volt fridge, I will then have to run that on the 220 volt system.

I'll just have to make up my mind

Yeah well my fridge is dual power so I run it on propane mostly
My old propane fridge used a lot of propane this new one is way more efficient. New technology I guess

 

[Brew Cat]

Another thing I've learned being off grid is it is more efficient to turn a small chest freezer into a refrigerator using an inkbird style temperature control. The freezer has better insulation and the cold air doesn't "fall out" when you open the door. You probably already know this but just putting it in for others

 

[Zambi]

Another thing I've learned being off grid is it is more efficient to turn a small chest freezer into a refrigerator using an inkbird style temperature control. The freezer has better insulation and the cold air doesn't "fall out" when you open the door. You probably already know this but just putting it in for others

Good point and yes, I got one runing like that, but on it's own temp control.
It got my oxebar kegs, beer & some other stuff in it.
It's just that I loose things in a chest fridge/freezer and it's not handy for jars, sauces, bottles etc.