Fridge Thermometer
- Thread starter Drover
- Start date
Hi @Bellbirdweb my AcuRite thermometers also arrived yesterday, turned the fridge on and stuck them in, all working great, will get to try them foe real this weekend, looking forward to that.My AcuRite thermometers arrived from the USA today. Checked to make sure mine was working OK, and it is, so I can give the second one to my mate
Love being able to see both compartments at the same time
This one we put in before I saw the wireless ones, $5 off ebay and gives fridge, outside temps time and volts.
I just cut the sensor off the end of the wire so I could poke it up the drain hose into the fridge then re soldered it back on, runs all the time with back light.
Christian
Fridge not on below
I just cut the sensor off the end of the wire so I could poke it up the drain hose into the fridge then re soldered it back on, runs all the time with back light.
Christian
Fridge not on below
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OK the Iron Man thermometer got it's first field test at Eppalock last week. Worked a treat, but highlighted a few things that we'll be more concious of in the future:
- The fridge can take quite a long time to get down to temperature after being off for a while, particularly when using 240V. Will possibly fire it up two days in advance so we can load the fridge the night before leaving (loading up on leaving day was another thing that slowed us down)
- How quickly the fridge loses temparature when the door opens. Was noticing that it was jumping up 4-5deg with a couple of opens during the day. Fridge wasn't overly full but it still took it over the temp you'd want to store milk in! So as a result we got used to leaving the fridge on 6 during the day, turning it down to 3 overnight to prevent things freezing!
I found the same as you guys, and another tip is don't grocery shop on a warm day, because the warm food raises the fridge temp and it then struggles to get itself under control. A fan on the top ext vent mades a noticeable difference to. We use the Engel during the day if its going to be warm .... the Engel couldn't care less how often you open it.
I often wonder what the extra fan in the vent is worth the effort? As for an Engel, haven't found room in the budget for one.... yet.
The fan in the vent is most assuredly an asset, on hot days I only have to dial mine up to about 5 but it usually sits on 3,
I noted somewhere how long it takes mine to get to running temp on 240 from a hot start, freezer will pull down quickly but the fridge side takes longer of course, but the fans make a lot of difference on hot days but you do need to fridge to be fitted properly from the start.
Before I fitted the fans and mounted the fridge properly it needed to be on 6 or 7 and even then it was more a food warmer on very hot days.
I fire my fridge up about 2 days before we go and the fridge gets loaded the afternoon before we set off but with the fans fitted it only needs overnight usually to get down to operating temps but we like to get the whole cabinet chilled down fully.
.Like all front door fridges they warm up quick when the cold falls out the doorway.
My Engel will be ready to go in about 30mins, it's brilliant.
I noted somewhere how long it takes mine to get to running temp on 240 from a hot start, freezer will pull down quickly but the fridge side takes longer of course, but the fans make a lot of difference on hot days but you do need to fridge to be fitted properly from the start.
Before I fitted the fans and mounted the fridge properly it needed to be on 6 or 7 and even then it was more a food warmer on very hot days.
I fire my fridge up about 2 days before we go and the fridge gets loaded the afternoon before we set off but with the fans fitted it only needs overnight usually to get down to operating temps but we like to get the whole cabinet chilled down fully.
.Like all front door fridges they warm up quick when the cold falls out the doorway.
My Engel will be ready to go in about 30mins, it's brilliant.
The theory is the fridge needs the movement of the convecting air flow to draw off the heat. The higher the ambient temp the lower the convection, to the point it sort of gets an air lock. The fan just keeps that air flow.
As for the Engel, nothing too flash. Ive got the plastic 40ltr model .... under $700. Has the identical gizzards as the more expensive metal models
But as the fridges are usually installed incorectly they require some work so the air actually flows over the heat sink and leaves the building, the fans facilitate this movement, if the top of the fridge isn't closed off the hot air stays there and warms the fridge and surrounding cupboard space.
So if I was to fit a fan, where would be the best place ?
I was thinking behind the vent on the outside.
Has anyone done one with a 180 litre dometic ?
Mine has the top vent on the roof.
I was thinking behind the vent on the outside.
Has anyone done one with a 180 litre dometic ?
Mine has the top vent on the roof.
So now that I can see the temps I'm a little surprised.
I have been running the fridge on 4 but found that the fridge is at -1 and the freezer down to -14, probably a little colder than I wanted particularly in the fridge section.
I have it on 2 now, but still has -1 in the fridge and and -16 in the freezer.
I've just moved it to 1, with the next move on the thermostat being off.
What does everyone run their fridges set too )I'm on 240v at present preparing for the trip)
I have been running the fridge on 4 but found that the fridge is at -1 and the freezer down to -14, probably a little colder than I wanted particularly in the fridge section.
I have it on 2 now, but still has -1 in the fridge and and -16 in the freezer.
I've just moved it to 1, with the next move on the thermostat being off.
What does everyone run their fridges set too )I'm on 240v at present preparing for the trip)
I have the same temperature gauge and find when I have it set to max for a few days before we go away it can get down to minus 8 in the fridge section . I find it is very dependant on the ambient temperature outside as to what setting to have the thermostat set at. Where we are on holiday at the moment the days are about 28C and have it set to 3 which gives me 2C in the fridge section. At night when the tempreture drops to 10C the fridge would be sitting at -2C in the morning when I wake up. This could also have more to do with the fridge staying closed all night as opposed to during the day when it's being open and shut a lot or left open by the kids. When we go to Coral Bay in the summer when temps average 35C the thermostat would be set at 5 or 6 to keep the same temperatures. 
I have the same temperature gauge and find when I have it set to max for a few days before we go away it can get down to minus 8 in the fridge section . I find it is very dependant on the ambient temperature outside as to what setting to have the thermostat set at. Where we are on holiday at the moment the days are about 28C and have it set to 3 which gives me 2C in the fridge section. At night when the tempreture drops to 10C the fridge would be sitting at -2C in the morning when I wake up. This could also have more to do with the fridge staying closed all night as opposed to during the day when it's being open and shut a lot or left open by the kids. When we go to Coral Bay in the summer when temps average 35C the thermostat would be set at 5 or 6 to keep the same temperatures.
Definitely what we have found as well. During the day it needs to be set higher due to the temps and opening of the door. We have to remember however to make sure we turn it down at night to ensure we don't freeze the salads and dips!
First trip away and had the fridge running on gas number 4 and found that all the soft drinks exploded (what a mess)
Great tips, thanks everyone.
It's empty at home cooling down at the moment, and reasonably cool ambient temperatures.
So even on 1 this morning it's still at -1 and -13
I'll monitor it as we start the trip.
Good thing about the Acurite is that is can even monitor the temps from the car whilst we are on the road.
Will be interesting how it goes
On 12v.
It's empty at home cooling down at the moment, and reasonably cool ambient temperatures.
So even on 1 this morning it's still at -1 and -13
I'll monitor it as we start the trip.
Good thing about the Acurite is that is can even monitor the temps from the car whilst we are on the road.
Will be interesting how it goes
On 12v.
On 12v you will find it will maintain temps but not get any colder. We find on long trips such as Coral bay which is a 13 hour drive from Perth, when we leave I get the temp to -1C . Then set the thermostat to max whilst driving. When we get to Coral Bay after 13 hrs the fridge is usually sitting on 3C. On shorter trips as we have done at the moment 2.5 hrs, it's not as important to get the fridge right down icy cold as the fridge will maintain it's temp easily over shorter distances.
Just been away for a few days down the NSW south coast, fridge and Accu-Rite worked a treat, thermostat setting between day setting of 3 & a night setting of 2 had fridge at 1-3°C & freezer at -16 - -18C.
Dave
Dave