DC powered white goods

[Adrian Bathurst]

Hi all! I am building houses in Spain using Solar power for hot water & electricity. Using inverters to convert the DC power from the PV panels to AC is consuming large chunks of power. Anyone know a DC white goods and A/C manufacturer. There are massive EU grants for anything to do with Solar power and the Spanish Govt have told me they will include the extra cost, if any, for DC white goods over AC goods. So come on spread the word, because dear old Gordon, will have to dish out the same grants as they are EU grants.
I have rummaged through the internet but it is slow going, so if anyone can help!
Thanks
Adrian

[wyleu]

Marine boating catalogues is probably a good place to start...

[Loir]

Don't forget caravans and mobile homes!

[Ted]

There are full size DC powered fridges and freezers available in the US.

Pretty expensive though.

http://store.sundancesolar.com/su80cuftdcfr.html

[insolare]

Danfoss do a series of DC refrigeration compressors. It might be possible to replace the compressor in your existing fridge or freezer.

See here.... http://www.rparts.com/Catalog/Major_Components/compressors/Danfoss/danfoss.asp

Most of the 12v compressor fridges, like the Sundance ones, use these.

12v microwaves are readily available but cost the earth. I'd be tempted to run a 240v one off an inverter. Many other 12v devices seem to be under powered. I know the 12v kettles take an eternity to boil, the toasters seem to dry the bread before toasting it! I've no experience of them but I reckon the 12v slow cooker would work well. Satellite receivers, freeview boxes, DVD players and smaller LCD TV's are all available in 12v and probably work as well as any mains device. HTH.

[solaluvva]

Low voltage supply and power (heat) using appliances, or those that use reactive components, are always problematic bedfellows, because of either a lack of frequency component for a phase dependent network, or the heating effect of massive currents on flimsy internal wiring. Um, I have a rather cheeky third solution.
Can you the PV run to a high voltage battery, e.g. 220v?
I have a formerly dead inverter (step-up stage fried) with a 240DC battery (20x 12v @ 2Ah connected across its HT electrolytic. It's heavy but only the size of a big leisure battery).
Even though the 150W inverter is a modified square-wave job, it now happily runs high-induction loads that even 1000W mod-sq-wv's struggle with (like the 20 year old fridge I put in my camper-van cool-box). Result of the battery offering its orders-of-magnitude lower ESR to relaxation currents.
10 or 12 PVs seriesed-up could reach a suitable charge voltage.
Must admit, I've not tried the last bit yet.