Fridge (not Freezer) climate class ratings sub 10ºC

[syvictoria]

Hi. Does anyone know of a fridge (not freezer or combined) that come with a guarantee to work in ambient temperatures of sub 10ºC? This is for a household situation (so 230V), but must surely be an issue on boats too? Beko do a range of freezers with what they call Freezer Guard technology, but I can't find any fridges that have similar? TIA!

(BTW, this problem seems to be a new-ish thing related to the banning of use of CFCs for cooling.)

 

[VicS]

The classification classes do not seem to go below "SN", which is suitable for +10C to +32C

 

[syvictoria]

The classification classes do not seem to go below "SN", which is suitable for +10C to +32C

Indeed! Not good for those who don't have central heating and/or heat their WHOLE house to 20ºC!

 

[Fr J Hackett]

There's a fellow in central London that might know the answer.

 

[neilf39]

We have a 20 year old Hotpoint fridge and 5 year old Hotpoint freezer in the garage and they have been happy down to -6C. Defrost every couple of years. No idea what rating they are but were a standard range so nothing special. Consistently below 10 in our garage during winter.

 

[thinwater]

I suspect the practical answer is that the run cycle becomes very short at lower temps. I know of dozens of ordinary fridges and freezers in unheated garages. It's just not a problem.

 

[syvictoria]

I suspect the practical answer is that the run cycle becomes very short at lower temps. I know of dozens of ordinary fridges and freezers in unheated garages. It's just not a problem.

It didn't used to be a problem, but I'm not sure the same is true if you buy new now (or have done in recent years)? Or at best, it's now something of a lottery! The scenario that's resulted in the query is a house heated by a woodburner in the living room, with a fridge in kitchen next door. Old fridge = fine. New fridge = not so fine!

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

I suspect the practical answer is that the run cycle becomes very short at lower temps. I know of dozens of ordinary fridges and freezers in unheated garages. It's just not a problem.

Yes it is, in the UK at least. Most fridges sold in the UK will not work at a temp. below 4 deg. C . You can get ones that do but have to hunt around.

 

[syvictoria]

You can get ones that do but have to hunt around.

But herein lies the problem. The rating system doesn't seem to make allowance for anything under 10ºC and I haven't as yet been able to find any makers who provide any sort of confirmation/guarantee that their fridges work outside the standard range (akin to Beko's Freezer Guard technology for freezers).

So far the 'random purchase' approach has had a failure rate of 100%! This could get expensive!

 

[William_H]

Why would a fridge not work at cold ambient temperatures? I would think the gas would warm up when compressed and get cooled PDQ in the condenser. The gas coming out of the evaporator should be cold regardless of outside temp. Just interested. Certainly not a problem here where official max temp yesterday got to 42.5C a record. ol'will

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Hi. Does anyone know of a fridge (not freezer or combined) that come with a guarantee to work in ambient temperatures of sub 10ºC? This is for a household situation (so 230V), but must surely be an issue on boats too? Beko do a range of freezers with what they call Freezer Guard technology, but I can't find any fridges that have similar? TIA!

(BTW, this problem seems to be a new-ish thing related to the banning of use of CFCs for cooling.)

Try here.
Fridges & Freezers for Garages & Outbuildings | Marks Electrical

 

[Bilgediver]

There's a fellow in central London that might know the answer.

Doubt it! Too hot to handle in there..

 

[VicS]

Why would a fridge not work at cold ambient temperatures? I would think the gas would warm up when compressed and get cooled PDQ in the condenser. The gas coming out of the evaporator should be cold regardless of outside temp. Just interested. Certainly not a problem here where official max temp yesterday got to 42.5C a record. ol'will

Thermodynamic properties, b.pt in particular, of the refrigerant.
Consider the unsuitability of butane as a fuel at low temperatures as a parallel example

There's no reason for a domestic fridge to use a refrigerant that is suitable for low temperatures. Below 5C there's no need for a fridge!

ITYWF that the commonly used R134a could be used down to about -5C so perhaps fridge design is another factor
There are refrigerants that could be used at very much lower temperatures

 

[syvictoria]

Try here.
Fridges & Freezers for Garages & Outbuildings | Marks Electrical

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately they only seem to offer fridge/freezers and freezers on the linked page, but I see that the Hotpoint and Indesit models listed have a "Low ambient switch". This warrants some further research! Thanks again.