Off the Grid  Retirement at our remote log cabin in Colorado

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Thermal Runaway

Posted by: Rick

You may remember from earlier posts, that we have a small shed across the driveway from the cabin where we keep our winter provisions. It has a chest freezer for meat. A second propane refrigerator for overflow from the one inside. And, this summer we installed a propane dryer for drying clothes. I worked, last summer, to get the shed insulated and critter proof, with plenty of shelves for storage. This article talks about the provisioning step.

The shed worked well throughout the winter. The heat from the propane refrigerator and full insulation helped keep it warm. Yes, there were a few times when it got very cold outside that we had a few items freeze. So, this winter, only "dry" goods and other items that can be frozen will be stored there. It would be nice to have some source of heat just for those cold days. After all, the freezer and refrigerator tend not to run when the ambient temperature is that cold, so generate no heat to warm the shed.

We have the opposite problem in summer. Even with all the insulation, the inside of the shed gets warm. Sometimes very warm. That causes the refrigerator and freezer to run more. And, the more they run, the warmer the inside of the shed becomes. And, the warmer it becomes the more they run! Thermal runaway results! We don't use the fridge for much in the summer, so I could just turn it off. But, we do use it for beer and wine.

To fix this issue (somewhat), I purchased a solar powered attic fan. It consists of a 70 watt solar panel that powers a 12 volt fan mounted in a 12" diameter housing. I replaced one of the passive vents in the shed with the fan. When the sun is shining (and likely warming the inside of the shed), the fan comes on. The fan speed varies with the intensity of the sun. The fan then pulls air through the shed, blowing the warm air outside and pulling cooler, ambient air inside.

70 watt solar panel that powers the fan.

The fan from the inside of the shed.

The fan vent cover from the outside along with the wires from the solar panel.

I haven't permanently mounted the solar panel yet. It just sits horizontal to the ground on the stack of snow tracks for the Polaris Ranger. It gets sun from first thing in the morning until late afternoon. The fan makes some noise, but I'm pretty happy with the situation. I can just unplug it for winter.

Next entry: Moose Walk

Previous entry: Ten O’Clock Musings

About

Follow our adventures living in an off-the-grid cabin in remote Colorado. Kind of like reality TV on a blog!

Introduction to Off the Grid

Follow us on Twitter and be notified of new content:

If you’re new to this site please visit the archives to catch up.

Membership

Login  |  Register

Share

Quote of the Day

“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” – Art Linkletter

Search

Calendar of Entries

March 2024
S M T W T F S
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31            

Archives

Photo Galleries

Recent Comments

  • Hello Christina! How nice of you to comment about my dusty old blog! I do…

    Posted to: ‘A Chapter Ends’ by Lynne on 12/07/2021

  • Good to know.  I’m just starting construction on my property “over the hill” in the…

    Posted to: ‘A Chapter Ends’ by bill bush on 09/29/2021

  • I began following the New Jersey Girl blog years ago, and I do miss the…

    Posted to: ‘A Chapter Ends’ by Christina Muller on 08/23/2021

  • Hi Steve! Thanks for being a loyal reader through the years. I have thought about…

    Posted to: ‘A Chapter Ends’ by Lynne on 08/06/2021

  • Thanks for the update. I enjoyed the writing both of you did about this adventure.…

    Posted to: ‘A Chapter Ends’ by Steve on 08/05/2021

On This Day...

Syndicate