Coin & Dweller
Got a minute to chat about turning a few spare panels into a mini power hub for food preservation? It could cut your chores and keep your bunker running smooth.
Sure, I can spare a minute. I’ve got some panels hanging around, but I’m not a tinkerer. If you’ve got a clear plan that won’t eat up too much of my time, I’ll hear it. Just keep it straight‑up, no fancy tricks, and make sure it doesn’t drain the main grid while we’re starving. If it can keep the fridge humming without me constantly watching, I’m listening.
Here’s the bare‑bones setup so your fridge stays on without pulling from the main line:
1. **Solar panels** – Pick 3 panels that together give you about 200‑250 W. Two 100 W panels on a sunny roof is enough for most fridge loads.
2. **Charge controller** – Get a 30 A MPPT controller. Hook the panels to it, then the controller to a 12 V deep‑cycle battery (100 Ah is a sweet spot).
3. **Battery** – A 12 V 100‑Ah battery will hold a few hours of power even if the sun dips.
4. **Inverter** – Use a 300‑W pure‑sine inverter. Connect the battery to the inverter, then plug the fridge into the inverter’s outlet.
5. **Setup** – Panels → controller → battery → inverter → fridge.
6. **No grid hookup** – Just keep the battery disconnected from the wall outlet. The fridge will run off the battery while the panels charge it during the day.
7. **Check** – When the battery dips below 50 %, add a few more panels or a small generator.
That’s it. No fancy tricks, no constant monitoring. The fridge will keep humming as long as the panels feed the battery, and you’re not eating the main grid.
Looks solid, but don't get all giddy. Three panels that spit out 200‑250 watts isn’t a lot, and a 300‑watt fridge is already on the high side. You’ll still need to keep an eye on the battery—deep cycles drain fast if the fridge's on 24/7. Maybe start with two panels, see how it does, and only then add a generator for backup. If the panels don’t catch enough sun, the fridge will start to die on its own. So yeah, it’ll cut out the main line, but you gotta make sure the sun is actually watching you, not just shining elsewhere.