Fridge/Freezer Separate Circuit.

[TheSlinger]

A question for the electrical engineers among us.

The average fridge at the top and freezer at the bottom combo. Would it be possible to split them so that say the fridge can be off while the freezer remains on?

I've tried googling, but I'm just not finding anything I can make sense of.

 

[Username:]

No

 

[Kosmik]

A question for the electrical engineers among us.

The average fridge at the top and freezer at the bottom combo. Would it be possible to split them so that say the fridge can be off while the freezer remains on?

I've tried googling, but I'm just not finding anything I can make sense of.

You could probably install a switch but my understanding in a combi fridge is that it leverages the same compressor, part of the cycle is the freezer and the balance goes forward to cool the fridge.

Why would you want to do that? My house always have a shortage of space , both fridge and freezer and thats with a seperate chest freezer too.

 

[TheSlinger]

You could probably install a switch but my understanding in a combi fridge is that it leverages the same compressor, part of the cycle is the freezer and the balance goes forward to cool the fridge.

Why would you want to do that? My house always have a shortage of space , both fridge and freezer and thats with a seperate chest freezer too.

I have an old fridge that I would like to be able to keep things frozen in the freezer and keep the fridge at a specific set temperature (so it would turn off/on as needed).
While that is easy to do for the whole thing - it won't be good for frozen things obviously for the freezer to be off and on.

 

[Gordon_R]

Short answer, no, as stated above.

Slightly longer answer, the thermostat in the fridge section controls the temperature range of that compartment, in most models there is no separate switch for the freezer compartment. In theory you could do this, but there is limited benefit.

In any case a modern fridge/freezer uses very little power (as little as 200W), and even less once the inside has stabilised.

Edit: Older model fridges are uneconomical. People are reluctant to throw them out, but it is false economy to keep using them just because they still work.

 

[The_Ogre]

In any case a modern fridge/freezer uses very little power (as little as 200W), and even less once the inside has stabilised.

Agreed. I've got a big LG fridge which uses 300Kwh per year! I know this because there's a bigass sticker on the front with that energy rating mumbo-jumbo on it.

 

[Gordon_R]

Agreed. I've got a big LG fridge which uses 300Kwh per year! I know this because there's a bigass sticker on the front with that energy rating mumbo-jumbo on it.

LOL, I tore my sticker off!

KWhr/yr is a weird unit (except to nerds). 24hrs X 365 days = 8760 hours per year. 300,000 / 8760 = 34 watts average!?

WTF, thats less than most phone chargers, though admittedly a fridge is always in use (like geysers).

 

[The_Ogre]

LOL, I tore my sticker off!

KWhr/yr is a weird unit (except to nerds). 24hrs X 365 days = 8760 hours per year. 300,000 / 8760 = 34 watts average!?

WTF, thats less than most phone chargers, though admittedly a fridge is always in use (like geysers).

Almost forgot to post a pic in case you don't believe me, how they got this right I have no idea

 

[Gordon_R]

Almost forgot to post a pic in case you don't believe me, how they got this right I have no idea ATTACH 515121

LOL, I believe you (and I saw those numbers before I tore my sticker off!) BTW, I was just looking at the Wikipedia entry, which describes the standards: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator#Energy_efficiency

The insulation in modern freezer compartments is pretty thick (compared to older models), and they use special foam with gas that doesn't conduct heat, and extra thick magnets on the doors. Normal appliances go from A to G ratings, but fridges are so good that they introduced A+, A++ and A+++ categories for the most efficient.

P.S. The worst mistake you can make is to put large quantities of warm food into a modern fridge, expecting it to cool down quickly. It won't, and the rest of the contents will go mushy...