Power Converter for US kegerator

[BlackIsland]

I'm wondering if anyone has experience using a US fridge in the UK? I'd like to not have to give up my Rosie the Kegerator if/when we move to the UK, but I understand that the power converter might still end up frying it. It's a 1959 General Electric. Oh, and I'm wondering now if I will even be allowed to import it due to the freon...

 

[crowcrow]

I'm sure you can get a step down convertor that would have the amps to handle it - but I've not had any experience with anything of that level sorry - just small electronics. Good thing is our cycle is the same unlike some of Japan, so that won't be an issue.

Worth noting the high price of electricity here - a good chest freezer, well insulated, running as a fridge/keezer might only use £15 of electricity a year. But even an OK one from 15 years ago can cost upwards of £150 a year to run. So I could imagine yours might be even more than that.

 

[kelper]

Can you photograph the name/rating plate on the back or possibly inside? Or do you have the original instruction leaflet to give us the power rating in amps or watts?
I'm sure it will run well from a transformer.

 

[Gerryjo]

I'm quite sure a 3.3kw 16a / 110v site transformer should run it..
Under £60 on amazon.

 

[kelper]

I'm quite sure this should run it..

Wrong link, surely?

 

[Gerryjo]

Wrong link, surely?

Yip

 

[Gerryjo]

Should have been this
https://www.screwfix.com/p/carroll-...4wPXqmcgPPHnTUNfO6physfqI0SbYRFhoCxNsQAvD_BwE

 

[kelper]

That's a bit overkill for a fridge!!!!!

 

[Gerryjo]

Should have been this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-...ransformers&qid=1602268592&sprefix=110&sr=8-3

 

[kelper]

It would be better to get a new compressor fitted and probably cheaper.

 

[Gerryjo]

That's a bit overkill for a fridge!!!!!

I'm sure if he's coming from the states there maybe a few other electrical items he may want to bring over.
Besides there is enough amperes to allow for voltage drop of he wanted to place it closer to a fuse board and run a radial circuit to it for his 110v appliances.

 

[Gerryjo]

It would be better to get a new compressor fitted and probably cheaper.

I'd hardly think you would get a new compressor fitted for less but if you were to take in the overall running cost of new v old then certainly it would and would also be converted to 240v

 

[kelper]

I'd hardly think you would get a new compressor fitted for less but if you were to take in the overall running cost of new v old then certainly it would and would also be converted to 240v

You are right, I had not realised how much the price of site transformers has dropped. But compressor swop out is an option, especially if a refrigeration technician can be found to fit a second-hand compressor.

 

[crowcrow]

I'd hardly think you would get a new compressor fitted for less but if you were to take in the overall running cost of new v old then certainly it would and would also be converted to 240v

I know I'm derailing this thread now, but I've found it interesting, watching people who are spending £300 plus on kit for a keezer or kegerator but baulking at buying a new freezer or fridge - yes you can get old freezers for free on gumtree etc but unless it is well rated you'll be spending more on electricity if you run it for a couple of years+.

That said I can see the attraction of something interesting like this fridge - it certainly looks cool and would be especially unusual here!

(don't get me started on people cladding their chest freezer in wood - most need 10 to 20 cm of free flowing air to each side and nothing on top, to run efficiently)

Maybe I'm just very tight

 

[kelper]

If he's had that fridge since 1959, I can see why he is attached to it! They don't build 'em that good today!

 

[crowcrow]

Totally! And given the lower (average) cost of electricity in the states, I doubt it would be an issue there.

Def is a nice set up (and was derailing more in reference to people building on the 'cheap' but not factoring the running cost - rather than people building something interesting

 

[Gerryjo]

You are right, I had not realised how much the price of site transformers has dropped. But compressor swop out is an option, especially if a refrigeration technician can be found to fit a second-hand compressor.

There's plenty of air con services that could do but then it has lost its authentic appeal to being a complete genuine working artifact from that era.

 

[BlackIsland]

I hadn't thought of changing out the compressor, so if, in the end, it gets fried, at least I might be able to replace it.

I haven't had it since 1959, that's just when it was made. I found it for on Facebook Marketplace for .$75 . I had been looking for over a year for a vintage fridge that would hold 4 corny kegs. I'd like to get many more years it if it.