Stu;
I won't argue that there is more energy expended, freexing the entire contents of the freezer, vs. a single tray of water, soon to be come ice.
What I am saying, is that I have not touched the dial inside the freezer (as there also is no dial on the alternator), and the freezer does not shut off, when the tray of water, increases its mass, to become ice.
Intead, it continues to run, and fill a massive empty space, with sub freezing temperatures.
My point is not the amount of energy expended, as much as it is the useage of that energy, that is already commited.
And I note that you agree with the part that a freezer full of frozen foods will last much longer, in a power outage. But, it still will spoil if the outage is too long!
A voltage regulator, will in most cases adjust currents, the alternator puts out, however in my case (using the marine battery with both top and side post), I bypass the voltage regulator, using only a solenoid to route current to the generators breakers, and on through them, to ground.
You can validly argue that there is a cost to run, it, and I accept your argument!
But, you are already turning the alternator, so utilize it, to its fullest potential, rather than to waste it!