I posted this over at Ecorenovator.org . Here is the link
Full size to mini fridge experiment - EcoRenovator
I have a full size fridge that I have modified to act as a mini fridge using the freezer.
EDIT :
For those that don't want to click the link, here is the post :
After reading about freezer to fridge conversions like this one :
Man Retrofits Freezer to Make an Ultra-Efficient Fridge : TreeHugger
, I wanted to do something similar.
I have a small 3.1 cubic foot mini fridge that I did a few experiments on ( see the post entitled "Turn my frig on its side ?" )
That amounted to nothing, but I did manage to get the power consumption down to less than 200 kWh per year. The main factor which contributed to this was simply turning the temperature dial up as high as it will go.
Food that spoiled easily went bad a few days earlier than usual, but otherwise, all was normal. I kept the freezer section and my ice cream even stayed frozen ( yet soft ).
Now .....
Recently, I moved into a new apartment that has a normal sized ( 14.5 ? ) cubic foot refrigerator.
As an experiment, I decided to see if I could use just the freezer section of the fridge and use a temperature switch overide to control it.
I purchased a temperature switch from a DIY beer store. It is a simple matter of plugging the cord in, and inserting the temperature probe ito the fridge.
Right off, I'll admit that at my setting of 42 degrees, any frozen items turn to mush - so having ice cream in my fridge is no longer an option ( it melts within a few hours ) I could always dail the temperature down a few notches to where the ice cream doesn't melt, but I don't eat it too often anyways.
Also, frozen veggies thaw out ... which is actually O.K. for me, since they seem to cook faster.
So you are thinking " What kind of frikin moron wants to make their fridge smaller, and loose their freezer ??
Well ... yah, you're right it is pretty lame.
But it is just an experiment.
And the results ? I am currently averaging 143 kWh per year.
( The refrigerator is rated at 497 kWh )
143 kWh is a far cry from the 36.5 kWh that the fellow in the chest freezer conversion got, but he also started with a super efficient low wattage chest freezer rated at something like 170 kWh. I haven't found the freezer he used for under $ 1000.