My. Fridge

[T1 Terry]

More confusing stuff.
Earlier when I put the clips back on the battery, the temperature inside the fridge compartment dropped to an amazing 6 degrees and I then put the gadget on the freezer and it got down to minus 20..o then put it back into the fridge and the temperature started climbing, up to 12 degrees....I just checked everything again and I found the outside of the cabinet was 41.7 degrees, ambient temperature is 35 degrees..
I think the outside temperature is the killer... anyone have any ideas of all that information ??

I think the gas inside the wall's of the fridge is getting to hot... hence the outside temperature of the cabinet?
Which would also transfer inside ??

From that I'm assuming the condenser pipes are in the walls of the fridge, not one of those dust collectors up the back of the fridge. The fact the walls are hotter than the ambient temp says the fridge is working.

Wrap the probe for the testing temp sensor between two slices of bread and put them in a plastic sandwich bag and seal it up. Take the temp measurements from the top shelf, another from the top of the crisper bin and another from the bottle rack in the door. This is how the Aust standards tests are done, but they use 5 sensors and a fully loaded fridge with bundle blocks made from materials designed to mimic the average food load.

The food bundles and fridge are situated in a room at 45*C ambient, no breeze or drafts allow beside the natural airflow created by the heat rising on the outer walls of the fridge .... so make sure you have an opening above the fridge so the heat doesn't get boxed in.

The test is the freezer must reach an temp of -15*C throughout the freezer and 5*C throughout the fridge within 5 hrs ...... if it can do that, it meets the aust standards and you can't ask for more than that .... but if it can do it in 12 hrs I'd be happy that it's doing well for a 12v fridge .....

T1 Terry

[BruceS]

That is sure some testing room Terry at 45*C!! More like Debra's glass furnace!

[T1 Terry]

That is sure some testing room Terry at 45*C!! More like Debra's glass furnace!

The idea is the fridge/freezer should work anywhere in Australia to meet the Aust standard, so 45*C was deemed to be the max inside temp a kitchen appliance would operate in. If it works at 45*C with no additional assistance, then it can carry the Aust Standards mark of approval. From that point, they then do the energy consumption testing to give the appliance a star rating, but I think that one is done at 38*C .... I don't have all my copies of the Aust standards any more unfortunately ..... that pull down time might have been 15 hrs come to think of it, from fully loaded heat soaked 45*C to -15*C in the freezer and 5*C in the fridge, even within a few degrees throughout both the freezer and fridge, but the -15*C and 5*C was the max allowable.

I studied up on all this when I was battling the armchair experts on the CMCA and Caravanner forums about a 240vac household fridge being the better choice compared to the 12v compressor fridges, because the 12v compressor fridges have never actually met a standard that was considered safe for food storage
Even Mr Val eventually conceded that the modern fridges and freezers were far more efficient energy wise than a 12/24v fridge freezer .....

The condenser on the back of the fridge was the first thing that had to go to achieve the better efficiency and even meet the new Aust Standards. The days of stuffing insulation between the fridge and the walls in caravans and motorhomes were at an end and room for air circulation was now required .....

T1 Terry

[nut17]

This thread https://www.nzmotorhome.co.nz/forum/vie ... 30#p177430 covers my last fridge battle, and if I ever end up with another RV it will from day one end up with a modern inverter technology domestic house fridge - Not an over priced energy hungry RV fridge.

[BruceS]

While I do agree with you and in the past I've had heaps of solar, lithium batteries & a big inverter I'm in a different 'position' at present where I have a MH that has an inbuilt Onan generator, very limited 230V outlets, all lights are 12V, only two 120Ahr AGM batteries, one solar panel & a small inverter. (600w).
I'm a single person & I doubt that'll change.
To setup (convert) my unit to lots of solar, lithium batteries, big inverter and a 230V domestic fridge is, in my opinion, just not worth it. I can buy a lot of fuel for the generator or pay for onsite power for what I would need to spend. Then there is the 'danger' of malfunction consequences I don't wish to live with.
Each to his own I guess?

[T1 Terry]

While I do agree with you and in the past I've had heaps of solar, lithium batteries & a big inverter I'm in a different 'position' at present where I have a MH that has an inbuilt Onan generator, very limited 230V outlets, all lights are 12V, only two 120Ahr AGM batteries, one solar panel & a small inverter. (600w).
I'm a single person & I doubt that'll change.
To setup (convert) my unit to lots of solar, lithium batteries, big inverter and a 230V domestic fridge is, in my opinion, just not worth it. I can buy a lot of fuel for the generator or pay for onsite power for what I would need to spend. Then there is the 'danger' of malfunction consequences I don't wish to live with.
Each to his own I guess?

Fair enough Bruce .... I wonder if you will change your tune when the ice cream is a puddle in the plastic container of full of ice crystals where it melted and the refroze?

I don't enjoy the noise of a generator and don't want to have to park in the generator used area because I didn't upgrade to solar/battery/inverter. The zero additional cost once installed, is a bonus, no more caravan park fees or fights with a temperamental generator that doesn't put out power clean enough to run anything with 21st century electronics control .... as you say, each to their own

T1 Terry

[supersparky]

Hey Bernie, how did the fridge finish up? Is it a goer ?
I've got to find an inverter fridge to fit our Winny, the 3 way is driving me nuts at the mo'.

[Newcastle George]

Hi Dave,
I replaced our Waeco frig with a 205l 240V Hisense frig/freezer. It fitted the space perfectly and has worked perfectly ever since. I was able to sell the Waeco and for the sale price I was able to buy the Hisence and an inverter.

George

[T1 Terry]

Hey Bernie, how did the fridge finish up? Is it a goer ?
I've got to find an inverter fridge to fit our Winny, the 3 way is driving me nuts at the mo'.

To get a proper working fridge, take the 3 way out and roll it over top over bottom at least 5 times ..... then it will be far enough away to install a 240vac fridge/freezer and never have another problem

As long as the Winnie is slightly down hill at the front and leaning a bit to the right (bloody Liberal fridge) and on 240vac, it seems to sort of work ok ..... but the ice cubes are sometimes stuck together, so it still can't hold below 0*C and the Drumsticks are sometimes a bit soft on top .... but apart from that, the milk doesn't turn into curds and whey 5 secs after you pour it into that much needed 1st cup of coffee ...... but then we have shifted to UHT Lactose free milk from Aldi, so that might help as well .....

T1 Terry

[BernieQ2]

The fridge is f#@#d Dave I will advertise it as a either a hot box for pie's or a part's fridge
Bernie.