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Forum Index : Other Stuff : insulating my old fridge
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| evoelzke Newbie  Joined: 25/11/2011 Location: GermanyPosts: 5 |
Reducing energy consumption down to the half by insulating my old fridge with polystyrene foam (styrofoam). I did insulate my old Siemens fridge bought in 1993. It did cost me 25 Euros in material. After one year i will get that money back because of saving costs for power. After that I save 27 Euros per year. Baseline power consumption was 247kWh. I did reduce it down to 128kWh. My essential steps: Insulating all possible walls with foamed polysterene at least 2cm thick except the door with 1cm. I put the insulation either on the outside or inside wall depending on what seemed more reasonable. Decorating the outer polysterene with self-adhesive films Adjusting the thermostat, cause it did cool too much for that new efficient insulation even when it was turned down as much as possible. I had to open the thermostat and adjust it with a screw inside. Here more details and pics: coolfrige 
Allen |
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| VK4AYQ Guru  Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
It shows how much power could be saved world wide if a simple trick was used like this and new fridges built with a better rating on insulation. Bob Foolin Around |
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mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Hello everyone, Most new models have alot more insulation in them, However this does;nt help all the older models. I know of an old 1940's model International refrig thats still running today...has'nt been shut off since it was bought new, and has'nt required any service except the usual cleaning and defrost. Cost $49.00 new I think.(US dollars). Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| evoelzke Newbie Joined: 25/11/2011 Location: GermanyPosts: 5 |
Hi Bob, you are right of course. But even the new fridges dont reach very far what matters to efficiency. They still use 90kWh per year. But the best freezer which keeps a temperature of minus 18°C inside and not only plus 5 or so only uses 130kWh a year. I calculated that if you regulate such an efficient freezer with a fridges thermostat it would consume only 30-40kWh per year. That is a project i really would like to realize one day. But that calculation shows that companies do build what sells. People buy elegant fridges with much space inside and as little space as possible outside - means thin wallse. My freezer-to-fridge-project would produce thicker walls. Allen |
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| BjBlaster Regular Member  Joined: 04/04/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 55 |
I heard they are making fridges with "thermos" style vacuum insulation as the walls... now where did read that  Check out my projects here in: Bj's Shed |
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mid north Matt Regular Member Joined: 06/01/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 58 |
lets face it the fridge manufracturers want the fridges to cycle alot so they get to sell you another one sooner and they dont care how much power they use as their not paying the bills.those old roundy corner fridges from the 50's hardly ever cycled compere to the new fridges Pt Wakefield Matt |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Allen I read a post on one alternate energy site several years ago where a guy converted a freezer thermostat to use as a fridge and claimed 150 watts a day, so it is possible, I ran on a generator for years and had two modified freezers one as a fridge one as a freezer, I fitted 50mm styrene foam all around both and put sheets of 10 mm aluminium cut to size inside, held in place with double sided tape, I put an external thermostat salvaged from a US fridge in line on the fridge one and set it to run at 3 C, it was a bit crude but it worked for 12 years till I got the power on, silly thing was within 12 months both units where blown by power lightning strikes. I have no idea how much power they used, but not a lot, when the generator started they would run for half hour. The generator was on for only 4 hours a day as that gave enough power to charge the batteries and wife to do cooking and washing things we used two ltr a day and in those days distillate was 15 cents a ltr. Matt I think half the power used in modern fridges is to self defrost and to keep the door seal warm so it doesn't stick to the frame. I replaced my old new fridge a two door that used 5000 watts a day with a new higher efficiency one that uses 1600 watts a day. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| Jarbar Senior Member  Joined: 03/02/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 224 |
Hi Allen and Bob,I think the article your referring to is this one from Mt Best. http://mtbest.net/chest_fridge.html Anthony. "Creativity is detirmined by the way you hold your tounge".My Father "Your generation will have to correct the problems made by mine".My Grandfather. |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Anthony That is the one allright, I had it saved in my computer that got cooked last summer, so thanks for the info as I now have access to the site again. The trendy and fashionable fridges promoted by advertising are a promoted living standard or a fashion accessory not necessarily a efficient money saving device. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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