LH -
Indeed. It's one of my better creations of all time really... a lot of thought, time, and effort went into making it what it is, and it works absolutely beautifully...
Link to the (way overdue but finally posted) update on it...
http://www.anotherpower.com/board/index.php/topic,928.msg11589.html#msg11589I'm in the process now of adding the final magic trick to the software that controls it... will post that update as well when I get it finished.
Nutshell, I'm adding Pload and Peltier demand to it to fine tune it's awareness of what's available to the batteries... So say if I need to run the laptop but the sky is sketchy, it'll favor the battery over the ice core and shut down the compressor until conditions are once again favorable.
The Peltier part has to be done separate because the classic can't "see" it's participation in the mix (high power mode is sourced at the PV combiner and has it's own controller). With summer heat, the fridge tends to dig into the battery further than it should at the end of the day because it's unaware of this additional load...
To answer the question about larger scale walk-in type stuff... I would imagine it's entirely plausible to pull it off... But, that comes with a "warning" of sorts LOL...
Thermodynamics is an insanely complex thing, and I have only begun to understand a tiny fraction of it's wonder, behavior, and propensity for practical jokes (which are apparently hilarious to *at least one* entity somewhere)... Smaller spaces are easier to gain control of, react quicker to input, and likewise, provide feedback as to how one screwed up on the last judgement call
With enough patience, the right phase change material, layout, software, insulation, and finger sized holes in one's scalp, I'd say it's certainly doable. That list by the way being nowhere near exhaustive... The bigger the stakes, the less sanity one will walk away with. That much I can say with absolute certainty
Till next time...