I'd like to hear from people using propane-powered refrigerators and generators. What makes/models? Evaluation of performance compared with electric refrigerators and gasoline generators? (This is not Y2K-related since we are permanently off the grid.)

-- WK Grady (wkbg@pacbell.net), September 24, 1999

Answers

We have a Servel, Model RGE 400. We went from a 14 cubic foot electric to the Servel which is about 7.5 cubic feet. For me the biggest change was simply the size change. It is sometimes hard to get all the stuff we need into the fridge. Often we set up a cooler with a ice block on the back porch for extra milk or whatever. The Servel works fine. I've defrosted it about 4 times in the last year. Defrosting is the main difference. The electic fridge needed defrosting of the freezer only about once a year. The Servel is quiet. There are no strange smells or anything odd about it. Most people don't relize it's propane unless we tell them.

We bought ours from a nearby Amish mechant who carries them in Kalona, Iowa. He pointed out it is important for the new propane fridge to be "burned off well" before it is installed in one's home. He warned that the first burning is pretty foul smelling.

Good luck.

-- Kathy Dice (redfernfarm@lisco.com), September 25, 1999.

We have an ancient Servel that we bought for $25. It doesn't have much room inside in ratio to the size of it, and the shelves are poorly designed but I am guessing it is at least 50 years old and I know they have changed the design of them since. It does produce fumes so we keep it in a back room away from the living quarters. As far as being efficient it uses about $120 worth of propane a year, which I don't think is bad.We operate it on its warmest setting so that the contents won't freeze, and they will at any other setting than warmest.

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), September 25, 1999.

I don't use a Servel or LP Gas generator, but thought that I would give you the url of a company that does Servel repairs. It is: http://www.tcp-ip.com/business/Kerns/prices.htm They should be able to answer any questions that you may have.

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), September 25, 1999.

We used an older model Servel, with a freezer section across the entire top of the box, but with only one door for both refrig and freezer parts. Some of the even older ones had a tiny freezer big enough for 2 ice cube trays and a pint of ice cream that would melt soon, just to differentiate between some of the styles of refrig. We used it for 6 or 8 years (still have it sitting in the pole shed) and replaced it with a 12 volt dc Sunfrost to avoid gas fumes in the house, which was a very well sealed and superinsulated structure. We didn't really notice any gas fume problems, but decided to avoid them. The refrigerator and our cooking used a 100 pound cylinder of LP about every 6 weeks if I remember correctly. I cleaned the flue of the servel at least annually so that it burned efficiently. I think that they are good units and seem to last forever. I would add some kind of ventilation to exhaust the fumes if I used one again, but I'm not sure how to do it without disturbing the flame of the burner of the refrigerator. The reason we replaced it was that with our windgenerator and solar panels we figured the operating cost of the superefficient electric Sunfrost was almost zero, or rather we had already paid for 20 years worth of electricity by installing the wind/solar system that furnished all of our electricity, so in the long run a $1200 refrigerator (the Sunfrost) was cheaper than buying LP to run a $20 Servel. There was some publicity about the danger of the old Servels a few years ago, and I think all the danger was due to no maintenance of the burner and flue assembly. The newer gas refrigerators are probably even safer .

-- Jim (Jiminwis@yahoo.com), September 27, 1999.

A friend gave me a Serval refrigerator 32 years ago, I was living off the grid then, it was a big model for it's day, (1955) with a large freezer compartment, it had a light inside and an electric cord? The top panel about the freezer was missing and the seal was old and hard, still it used only 3 100# cylinders a year, at that time they were $11.00 ea. we alszo had one Humphrey gas light. Years later I found out that it would also run on electricity for a back up, sort of the cart before the horse sort of thing.

In more recent times, 4 years ago I bought a new Serval that came from Lehman's, the inside was smaller but it served me well for the short time i had it, fuel consumption was about 2-3 gallons a week, but then I ran 4-Humphrey gas lights and a LPG kitchen range.

A couple of years ago my wife and I bought a cabin in the mountains and it had an old Serval, it was a 1948 model, I was able to find that out from a parts dealer in Shasta Lake CA. who also helped me by phone get the old thing running & for $6.00 sent me a manual & parts list, I replaced the door seal but had trouble keeping the flame going, We sold the camp and the unit stayed there, had we not i would have loaded it up and taken it down to CA. for an overhaul.

As I understand it, LP generators lose about 10% of thier power output, 3500KW -350KW = 3150KW, they run cleaner and have a longer life span but are less portable. Here on our place we have too many fuel choices, Electric, gasolin, diesel, kerosene & LP but if you are off the grid asnd have only a couple of fuels to choose from, I think LPG would be one of the firsts.

-- Bob Henderson (redgate@echoweb.net), October 03, 1999.