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Posted by Uncle Monster on September 27, 2008, 7:48 am
nicksanspam@ece.villanova.edu wrote:
> Frigidaire sells a $29 5303918301 laminated "garage heater kit," with
> 2 wires that wraps around the cold control of a fridge to allow it to
> work in to work in a cooler room, down to about 40 F.
>
> It apparently heats the thermostat to fool the compressor into turning on,
> even if the fridge compartment is cool enough (eg 40 F in a 40 F room.
> Without this kit, the compressor does not run often enough to keep ice
> cream from melting.
>
> How does this work, exactly? Is the heater always on? Is it just adding
> enough heat to the fridge compartment to make the compressor run long
> enough to keep the freezer compartment frozen? If so, why is it
> wrapped around the cold control, vs somewhere else in the fridge box?
>
> I just bought an 18.2 CF Hotpoint fridge. I'd like to cover the outside
> with 2" foamboard and run it in a cool kitchen to reduce the energy used
> from 480 kWh/year to 240 or so, but Hotpoints don't come with these kits.
> Would leaving the light on all the time in the fridge compartment do
> the same thing? Is there a more energy-efficient way to do this? Warming
> the whole fridge box takes more power than just warming the thermostat.
>
> Nick
>
I found some information. I originally thought the heater
was a crankcase heater for the compressor but something I
read indicates that the heater is for adding heat to the
"control compartment" to fool the thermostat into making
the compressor run for a longer period of time. It also
negates the Energy Star rating of the fridge. I do a lot
of commercial refrigeration where pressure controls may
be used in lieu of thermostats ie, better temperature
control over a wider ambient but much more expensive. I
could adapt a home refrigerator to run well in low ambient
conditions by adding extra controls and sensors but the
control compartment heater is simple and cheap. KISS
[8~{} Uncle Monster
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