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Old 24-08-2011, 20:43   #1
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Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

Have a DC refridge that keeps the food cool and the drinks not cold enough for my taste. Works great as a prechiller to keep from melting ice in the cooler though when restocked.
Do ac/dc fridges get any colder while in the ac mode?
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Old 24-08-2011, 20:55   #2
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Re: Fridge colder on AC or DC

I'm not totally clear on just what fridge you refer to, the one on my boat works equally well on either AC or DC. If you are referring to something like an Engel, I'm afraid I can't say but I'm considering one. If your fridge only keeps the food cool, which is a potential health hazard, perhaps you need to get it serviced. Mine keeps foods cool and provides a source of ice for those ever popular glasses of "thought provoker".

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Old 25-08-2011, 03:42   #3
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

I found that keeping the frig full helped keep things colder so the volume to cool is reduced. When food or drinks were consumed plastic jugs of water were used to replace that space. Jugs of ice help too treating the 12v fridge as an ice chest. Keeping kids out of it and keeping the door open only as necessary helped too.
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Old 25-08-2011, 04:17   #4
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

Mine is the same on ac or dc
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Old 25-08-2011, 07:38   #5
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

Mine only runs on DC and the freezer is sub-zero
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Old 25-08-2011, 09:46   #6
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

AC/DC compressors are typically from what ive seen are danforth50's. Compressor runs the same AC, or dc. Things that will effect cooling are in no apparent order are
Blocked/restricted condensor, blocked/resticted evaporator(you need good airflow or waterflow in some instances for efficient use on both), insulation of the box (is of sufficient, theres some space age stuff available now, door/lid gaskets (are they worn and stiff or stool nice and pliable. Once you initially cool the space and everything in it , solid objects don't absorb heat as fast as air, therefore if the box is fuller and you open the lid, you have less airspace that quickly absorbs heat comparitively...
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Old 25-08-2011, 10:43   #7
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

All Danforth compressor boat refrigerators (which are the great, great majority of them) run the same on AC or DC.

RV type, absorption units that are installed on some cats and trawlers will run warmer on DC because the DC wattage is lower than the AC (or propane) wattage and so it will run warmer. Dometic says that DC usage is only for use for a short period while being towed to a new site and isn't meant for heavy duty cooling.

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Old 25-08-2011, 13:22   #8
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

Thought Danforth made achors

Danfoss makes compressors.
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Old 25-08-2011, 14:16   #9
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Unicorn Dreams View Post
Thought Danforth made achors

Danfoss makes compressors.
Oops, Freudian slip perhaps!lol Danfoss , danfoss, danfoss...
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Old 25-08-2011, 14:52   #10
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

I just couldn't resist...
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Old 25-08-2011, 15:08   #11
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

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Mine is the same on ac or dc
As you'd expect. Fridges are controlled by thermostats. Should be the same thermostat, therefore the same temperature, regardless of the power source.
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Old 25-08-2011, 16:46   #12
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

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As you'd expect. Fridges are controlled by thermostats. Should be the same thermostat, therefore the same temperature, regardless of the power source.
Well, yes. But if the refrigeration produced (butu out) is less than the heat load (btu in) then refrig will get warmer until they are in balance. That is what happens when an RV absorption type unit is temporarily run on DC.

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Old 25-08-2011, 17:12   #13
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

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Originally Posted by djmarchand View Post
Well, yes. But if the refrigeration produced (butu out) is less than the heat load (btu in) then refrig will get warmer until they are in balance. That is what happens when an RV absorption type unit is temporarily run on DC.

David
Then it would be a matter of effectiveness with AC or DC, but 44'cruisingcat is right, the thermostat will drive the temperature to its setting on either source. If it is less effective with (e.g.) DC, then it will run longer and if one opens it frequently or runs a lot of warm food through it or if you use it in the Persian (or Arabian) Gulf in the summer, then it may never catch up, ...

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Old 28-08-2011, 17:58   #14
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

Thanks for the replies. It's a Norcold dc fridge. The t-stat explaination did not cross my mind.
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Old 28-08-2011, 18:27   #15
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Re: Is a Fridge Colder on AC or DC ?

Tstat doesn't explain the problem you described unless every time you go DC you turn the stat down.
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