refer and PS/SW inverters [RE-wrenches]

sunwise at cheqnet.net sunwise at cheqnet.net
Sun May 20 10:59:37 PDT 2001


jay peltz wrote:

The PS uses enough power 18-20 watts that the
customer is replacing it with a unit that has a manual defrost.


Hey again Jay,

Good move.  I'd be interested in what you find for manual defrost (and
some like GE who refer to some as semi-or partial auto defrost, that are
actually manual).  Cycle defrost may also be a term you run into.  The
problem I've seen with manual units is that they are usually the lower
end of the line and small (10-11 CF).  

SunFrost ofcourse makes some larger and very nice units such as the
RF16.  Also, be aware that the most efficient frig's out there made by
GE and others are the old single door style frig, with the ice-box
compartment inside. They tend to run a smaller compressor on these.  The
problem here is that the ice box is not very large, generally does not
reach deap-freeze temperatures, and it could be said that such frigs
require more frequent defrost than the two door units (totally seperate
frig/freezer section).  The seperates have larger and colder freezer
sections, but draw more amps.  

I really like my GE TAX10SNXCRWH, which is a single door with the
freezer section operating around 20 degrees F.  The defrost tray that
sits under the freezer section not only makes defrosting very clean and
simple, but it works well as another food storage section.  I often use
it to freeze unfrozen foods prior to moving them into the main freezer
section.  I have another client who wants more freezer space and colder
temps.  He recently purchased a similar frig AND a Danby 5.3 CF
Freezer.  He got both for well under a thousand dollars AND, with minor
efficiency modifications, can operate both for right around 1KWH/day
(about 1.3 unmodified).

I still haven't added more insulation to my frig, but I did install a
heat shield between the compressor and the bottom of the frig, along
with a small 120 vac muffin fan that comes on with the compressor and
blows air through the back/side of the frig across the compressor and
out the back.  This simple modification took the unit from 750 WH/day to
just over 600.  I had to add some insulation (bubble wrap) to the
underside of the previously mentioned defrost tray, as suddenly it was
hard to keep the frig section from freezing, even with the thermo turned
all the way down.  I think I will have the unit operating at less that
.5KWH/Day once I add another inch or two to the insulation package.  I
have heard that "Fine Home Building" magazine has recently ran a few
issues with articles that discuss customizing frigs with wood surfaces
and such and could be a good reference for adding insulation and
finishes to these frigs, which typically only have an inch (or two?) of
insulation.

Also, be aware that the efficiency standards recently went up in regards
to refrigerators (Jan 2001).  There are new models around as well as
older ones distributors are still trying to sell (E buyer beware).

Good luck -- Kurt Nelson

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