Ammonia versus Compressor Fridge...
After all the talk about Danfoss compressor fridges and how much better they were than the old school Ammonia Units, I decided to 'fiddle with mine and do a long term test using a remote digital recor...
Forum Discussion
pianotuna wrote:
Hi,
Your numbers make little sense.
Almost everyone has or wants an inverter if they camp off the grid, so that is an unfair cost.
If you camp off the grid--you need quality batteries, so that is an unfair cost.
Since 2005 I've had one generator die $1200, one walk away $3000, and the replacement is about $3400. That does not include the cost of fuel, oil changes, and having the generators tuned up.
My solar system has not cost a dime since 2005 and was 1700.
Today, for that same 1700 bucks I can get the parts for a 1000 watt solar system. Installation will be taking old panels off. The wire is already run from the roof so that's a zero cost. I have to add a DC breaker, and a new charge controller (included in the 1700 for parts). I'll be generous and say 5 hours work, most of which I could do myself but I will use my "go to" person. Let's say 2500 or $2.50 per watt installed.
jmtandem wrote:
I wonder where you received the $3,000 approximately cost to go solar. It seems a little low to me for permanent panels, quality batteries, all the hardware and chargers, plus labor if somebody else does the work. None of my comments reflected anything about setting up a new solar system being less expensive than filling a propane bottle. I think solar installation labor costs could easily be $1,000, panels (enough to run the refer and some other stuff) another $1200, charger probably $350 or so, inverter $1200, batteries another $1000, plus a few hundred more in misc parts. Total cost more like $4500-5000. Anyway thanks for the post and thread. It is interesting. I have not read on any RV website that those that went solar regretted it.
x2 I just put in 200 watts of solar with charge controller and all wiring for 325.00 bucks. I could buy another couple 100 watt panels for 250.00. Lets call it 600 bucks. That is for 400 watts of solar which is plenty to more than enough to handle a 12 volt fridge and much more. Batteries and inverter's I agree most people have in the first place.
