My Refrigerator Build less than 400 Wh a day under $300

[gaudior]

I converted a 3.5 cu ft chest freezer into a refrigerator for my wolf pup 16bhs travel trailer that I boondock in for 6 months out of the year.

I was inspired by this video.

and this video

Parts:
$100 Magic Chef 3.5 cu/ft Chest Freezer (I bought this on Facebook marketplace new in box normally $159)
$120 Victron Phoenix 375VA 24-volt inverter
$10 Wheels to replace front legs on freezer
$5 Misc. wire and connectors
$38 Freezer Organizer Bins

The quick description is that I removed the wires from the thermostat that turns on and off the compressor and spliced them together. From where those wires where originally connect I ran new wires to the remote connection on the Victron inverter. I then plugged the freezer into the inverter. After a few hours of adjusting the switch as described in the second video, I got the freezer to run in the temperature range of a refrigerator. (Some freezers can just be put into the lowest setting and not have to do all the adjustments that I had to do.) The bottom layers are perfect for meat and drinks and the top layers are great for condiments and vegetables. I also added a strap around the whole freezer to make it easier to pull it out.

The meter picture shows a 24 hour run and the wattage used. This was after I got all the settings correct and just left it running and only opening it a few times throughout the day to check the temperature. I did at one time see it average closer to 350 Wh after I left it at camp for 5 days with no one opening or closing it.

This setup means there is no vampire draw, since the inverter doesn't turn on unless the fridge needs to cool, making it more efficient than the way the first video describes to build a similar setup.
Also, in my camper when I pull out the fridge I gain extra counter space

I have been running this for a year now and the only problem I have had is that about every 3 months or so I have to take a towel and mop up the water that has condensated in the bottom. And I had kept the meter hard wired in and the meter died which meant that the fridge wasn't getting electricity, but I was at camp when it happened and found it in just a few hours.

My solar setup is 200ah 24V batteries and 400 watts of panels.

 

[dopeassjackson]

Alot of a fridge use can vary by the external temp of the fridge. I'm not even sure if theres any standard for this and the energy star rated useage.

 

[gaudior]

The unique thing about this setup is that there is no vampire draw from the fridge itself or the inverter.

As far as temperature goes, I run this in Texas and it often gets into the 90s while I am boondocking. And, I don't see a noticeable difference in my daily usage. As measured, very unscientifically, by me checking every morning when I wake up to see what my battery level is.

Here is the energy star guide for the refrigerator, but I chose it on luck(it was on Facebook marketplace for cheap, new in the box) not efficiency. There are more efficient refrigerators and as long as they use an analog temperature sensor they could be modified in the same way.