Great video! Like you I’m also DC on almost everything. Use 48v and only step down to 12v when necessary. Main 3000w Inverter only comes on for a few minutes at a time. Also use 300w and 1000w inverters to reduce it even more. The comparison with the energy label on a 120v fridge isn’t apples-to-apples since while you were gone your fridge wasn’t being opened and closed nor was food going in and out. Still a good point though since 120v fridge would require an inverter to be on all the time.

This is almost exactly our setup at our remote off grid cabin. The only difference is we went with a gas refrigerator. We do not live at the cabin and it is left unused for months at a time, especially in the dead of winter. We all 12v except, like you, our well pump. We rarely use the inverter and, like you, turn it off when not needed. It is refreshing to see someone else do a 12v living system. The big push nowadays seems to be you have to go 48v with a huge inverter and all AC electrical system. We do fine with 12v appliances, lights, pumps etc. We really see no need to go all AC which would involve more and larger solar panels, more battery capacity, bigger charge controllers and a huge inverter. I just don't see the need to do that. Thanks for the video which legitimized our system.

Nice video, thanks for sharing the information!

Very useful. Merry Christmas to you guys.

Excellent information. Thank you very much. Merry Christmas

Much appreciated ... from California 😊

Merry Christmas! New to your channel. About your trip options.. Take two 1 pint canning jars and lids. Fill 2/3 full and freeze. After they are frozen put a quarter on top of the ice and reclose the jar. If something happens and your power goes out while you're gone and your regular fridge freezer or your deep freezer thaws, the quarter will no longer be on the top when you get back even if it refreezes then you will know that your food is not safe. You could also just move the deep freezer outside during winter if you have freezing temperatures for most of the day/night. Enjoy your vacation and time with your friends in the New Year!

Useful

Much of the power used in ac refrigerators and freezers is the auto defrost. The dc appliances also have thicker insulation.

Great video and information Dan.....have you considered tilting your panels completely verticle while away for that trip?

Does the dc freezer you have outside operate properly year round or do you need to make changes to it when the temperatures get colder?

units matter - watts vs watt-hours. Painful.

What does a DC plug look like to you? A cigarette lighter?

If I had 4 panels 195 watt each wires in series, could I hook them up to a charge controller and then charge a 12 v battery bank? Same question if I had a 24-volt array?

Who makes the best DC appliances?

Thank you sir. I appreciate the video. Well done! :)