Mini Fridge power backup

[LoeiI]

Hi all due to the amount of power cuts recently I am thinking of buying a Mini Fridge (85 watt 50 litre capacity 1.7 cubic roughly the size of a hotel bedroom fridge) to store my insulin in and would appreciate any advice on the best power backup source, I've seen the portable power stations on line but the amps/watts/MAH values are a bit confusing so any help on which size would be required and whether it could be configured to kick in automatically in the event of a power cut would be of great help (Not sure if this is the correct forum location please feel free to move if required) TIA 

[Kwasaki]

Lecky forum to Crossy. ????

[Crossy]

An 80W fridge should be within the capability of pretty well any UPS (particularly if you can get an "inverter" type fridge), but how much autonomy (power-off run time) do you think you will need??

 

[Havefunme]

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2143230-looking-for-uninterrupted-power-supply-ups-for-a-mini-refrigerator

[TimeMachine]

For your purpose you could get a 12 or 24 v dc operated chiller.  Then you would only need a used car battery and appropriate car battery trickle charger.

Other avenue is an inverter and battery setup.  I can recommend a 1400watt real value inverter that i use for fans if power goes out think it was around 1200 baht. Pm me if you need that kind of thing and setup advice.  

[KhunLA]

How often & how long are your outages.

YT'er Prof Hobo does reviews of more power than you should need, actually solar/electric generators.  Of all sizes, and here one that would be overkill.

 

But at 6:55/58 or vid, he shows a chart of how long some standard appliance would last.  Many folks use these for camping, vanning & weekend trips where electric might not be available.

 

 

As I said, overkill, but they do come in different sizes & price points.  Just the first Ecoflow I noticed, and they offer smaller units.

https://shopee.co.th/ecoflow_thailand_distributor

Review of cheapest one on that site:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyb774YnIy0&ab_channel=HOBOTECH

I don't think the standard desktop UPC last very long, and longevity has been very poor with the couple I've had.  With replacement batteries here, being total crap.

 

Edited August 22, 2023 by KhunLA

[patman30]

if just for insulin, one of these may be suitable with a car battery
https://www.lazada.co.th/products/ubest-4l-12v-i1450868947.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.54.49736f7a5qcKwU

[OneMoreFarang]

I would buy a 12V car refrigerator.

It's easy to run from a 12V battery, and it's easy to charge the 12V battery on mains.

And because these things are common they are not expensive.

 

 

 

 

[Crossy]

@LoeiI is it just your insulin, or do you (or yours) need room for beer!

 

The peltier units are small and work well, but they are rather power hungry, so if you need long run times maybe look elsewhere.

[LoeiI]

Just now, Crossy said:

An 80W fridge should be within the capability of pretty well any UPS (particularly if you can get an "inverter" type fridge), but how much autonomy (power-off run time) do you think you will need??

 

I think the longest power cut I've seen was about 8 hrs not sure if that is pretty normal ? probably safe to go for around 18 hrs would you agree ? the mini fridge id been looking at was an  ACONATIC Single Door Refrigerator (1.7 Cubic) AN-FR468 it doesn't mention Inverter in the bumf so I guess its not 

[Beachcomber]

Have you considered a caravan/Camping fridge ?

 

These can be run on mains, 12vdc and gas. 

 

A gas bottle would give weeks of running the fridge and you wouldn't have to worry a UPS having enough juice to last the blackout.

 

Just a thought. 

Caravan Fridges

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by Beachcomber
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[retarius]

I have a Honda generator and use that for selected circuits in the house.

[brianthainess]

40 minutes ago, Beachcomber said:

Have you considered a caravan/Camping fridge ?

 

These can be run on mains, 12vdc and gas. 

 

A gas bottle would give weeks of running the fridge and you wouldn't have to worry a UPS having enough juice to last the blackout.

 

Just a thought. 

Caravan Fridges

 

I had one in OZ when camping 3 week on a small gas bottle around 4kilo but not sure those gas bottles are available here. Another option are freezer jell bags.

[LoeiI]

Just now, brianthainess said:

I had one in OZ when camping 3 week on a small gas bottle around 4kilo but not sure those gas bottles are available here. Another option are freezer jell bags.

I've been told by the professionals that insulin is quite delicate and has to kept at 2 to 8 degrees also the small pen vials are made of glass and quite easy to break I've tried the freezer gel bags in a cool box before but its a right faff and if the insulin goes below 0 degrees its buggered. My main thoughts about a mini fridge and UPS was it could be stand alone with no need to handle it, cheers 

[brianthainess]

56 minutes ago, retarius said:

I have a Honda generator and use that for selected circuits in the house.

I have an old car on LPG and use that with a inverter to run a selected circuit of one room but only 500w not big enough for a fridge though.  

[Beachcomber]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

I had one in OZ when camping 3 week on a small gas bottle around 4kilo but not sure those gas bottles are available here

There was a thread on here earlier listing some camper van/ motor home companies, sure they would know all about availability of fridges and the gas for them.

 

Any company supplying gas fridges would know about the availability of the gas. 

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by Beachcomber

[brianthainess]

31 minutes ago, Beachcomber said:

There was a thread on here earlier listing some camper van/ motor home companies, sure they would know all about availability of fridges and the gas for them.

 

Any company supplying gas fridges would know about the availability of the gas. 

 

Its just that I have never seen the very small bottles, but the next size up would work fine, (but IMO to heavy when camping,)   

 

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, LoeiI said:

I've been told by the professionals that insulin is quite delicate and has to kept at 2 to 8 degrees also the small pen vials are made of glass and quite easy to break I've tried the freezer gel bags in a cool box before but its a right faff and if the insulin goes below 0 degrees its buggered. My main thoughts about a mini fridge and UPS was it could be stand alone with no need to handle it, cheers 

If you want a really robust solution then something like this will do the job, it’s an APC - UPS that is virtually infinitely expandable. This one is a 1500W version the batteries are 55 Ah deep cycle ones, if I want a longer run time I would just add more batteries, if I want more power either add a second 1500W CPS unit or a bigger one.
These are the kind of units used in data centres where power loss will kill the business and company. Though they aren’t cheap they are comparable with higher end UPS units.
FWIW this unit is about ฿16,000 + batteries and is 24v

you can get a lower power one that is 12v it’s output is 420W

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by sometimewoodworker

[Beachcomber]

4 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Its just that I have never seen the very small bottles, but the next size up would work fine, (but IMO to heavy when camping,) 

The OP does not want to go camping, just for home use in case of power failure, don't see why a normal cooker gas bottle can't be used. That would last for months ????

[brianthainess]

8 minutes ago, Beachcomber said:

The OP does not want to go camping, just for home use in case of power failure, don't see why a normal cooker gas bottle can't be used. That would last for months ????

Sometimes added info can help other people not just the OP.