We live 99.9% offgrid using solar with a small gas generator for backup if it rains for more than 4-5 days. We have good efficient fridge freezer 300 Litres total about 80 l freezer. It cost USD$400. It is rated to use only 271 kw/hrs/year- only about 750watt/hours/day. The fridge freezer is perhaps the most crucial element in a basic solar home setup as you do not want it to fail and it demands power 24/7. So if you can get a good efficient one its is well worth it. So to the core solar set up. We started with one 100 ah 24v lifepo4 battery. This is the most expensive part- about USD$600. For inverter we have a 3500 watt rated one that can power a small circular saw and everything else you might want like microwave, lights TV, computer etc. The inverters are about USD$300-400 for a decent one. Solar panels are now so cheap- here in NZ they are selling for about 4 watts/USD- amazingly cheap. So you would want at least 800 watts of solar panels- so at most $USD300. Wiring and some switches etc maybe another USD100. All up cost estimate-
This would give you backup power for most appliances including your existing fridge so you dont have to upgrade while the power cuts leave you without power.
You could even go smallest yet and just get a large battery bank to power your phone and fan for $50 and charge it up when the power is on. If you were not using airconditioner it could probably power everything for you most of the time.
Note above prices are NZ prices we have a flat import tax of 15% which is also applied to all locally made products- so we effectively have free and open trade with all the world at least those who reciprocate which is not everyone!
If you need airconditioner its gonna be a problem - they suck a lot of power.
But a fan, or two or three, is definitely viable for solar setup.
I have used a small airconditioner on our solar setup as you mostly only need them when the sun is shining but you will not want to use it through the night if you are running offgrid solar.
We live 99.9% offgrid using solar with a small gas generator for backup if it rains for more than 4-5 days.
We have good efficient fridge freezer 300 Litres total about 80 l freezer. It cost USD$400.
It is rated to use only 271 kw/hrs/year- only about 750watt/hours/day.
The fridge freezer is perhaps the most crucial element in a basic solar home setup as you do not want it to fail and it demands power 24/7.
So if you can get a good efficient one its is well worth it.
So to the core solar set up.
We started with one 100 ah 24v lifepo4 battery. This is the most expensive part- about USD$600.
For inverter we have a 3500 watt rated one that can power a small circular saw and everything else you might want like microwave, lights TV, computer etc.
The inverters are about USD$300-400 for a decent one.
Solar panels are now so cheap- here in NZ they are selling for about 4 watts/USD- amazingly cheap.
So you would want at least 800 watts of solar panels- so at most $USD300.
Wiring and some switches etc maybe another USD100.
All up cost estimate-
Fridge freezer 400
Battery 100ah 24v Lifepo4 600
DC-AC Inverter 300
PV panels 80 watt 300
Wiring switches etc 100
USD 1700
You could start with a much smaller system eg
1 PV 400 watts 150
wiring 50
DC-AC Inverter 1000 watt 100
Lead acid 24v 100ah battery 300
USD 600
This would give you backup power for most appliances including your existing fridge so you dont have to upgrade while the power cuts leave you without power.
You could even go smallest yet and just get a large battery bank to power your phone and fan for $50 and charge it up when the power is on. If you were not using airconditioner it could probably power everything for you most of the time.
Note above prices are NZ prices we have a flat import tax of 15% which is also applied to all locally made products- so we effectively have free and open trade with all the world at least those who reciprocate which is not everyone!
If you need airconditioner its gonna be a problem - they suck a lot of power.
But a fan, or two or three, is definitely viable for solar setup.
I have used a small airconditioner on our solar setup as you mostly only need them when the sun is shining but you will not want to use it through the night if you are running offgrid solar.