Fridge temperature depends on ambient
Let's say I have our (Norcold) fridge temperature set on level 5 and the temperature is holding steady. But if the outside temperature goes up or down the fridge temperature does too. If it goes up, I...
Forum Discussion
Interesting comments.
On the ones I have owned there is no sensors. You set the dial to a number that just adjust the height of the flame (or the heat of the electric element, though I do not use electric much).
The fridge will cool down, but the outside temps will tend to heat the fridge box back up, so turning the dial to cooler counters this. In the desert where temps range 40-60 degrees difference day to night you have to be careful to not freeze the fridge compartment at night. On cold night I have to just turn the fridge off.
The freezer always stays frozen even 110 degrees outside, but the fridge box will vary quite a bit on the ones I have owned.
If you look at the fridge compartment as a sideways cooler, then suddenly it does not look very well insulated, and this is why it is hard to keep such a big cooler at a constant temp.
I think that the unit works by freezing the freezer then that provides cooling to the fridge below through the fins.
Factor in the above comments about air circulating around the fridge fins and you get a less-than-ideal cooling system.
So, I have noticed two problems with units that have manual only controls: outside air heats the box, and inside air is not allowed to circulate.
Also there is always the issue of outside air needing to flow past the hot cooling unit at the back of the fridge.
On the ones I have owned there is no sensors. You set the dial to a number that just adjust the height of the flame (or the heat of the electric element, though I do not use electric much).
The fridge will cool down, but the outside temps will tend to heat the fridge box back up, so turning the dial to cooler counters this. In the desert where temps range 40-60 degrees difference day to night you have to be careful to not freeze the fridge compartment at night. On cold night I have to just turn the fridge off.
The freezer always stays frozen even 110 degrees outside, but the fridge box will vary quite a bit on the ones I have owned.
If you look at the fridge compartment as a sideways cooler, then suddenly it does not look very well insulated, and this is why it is hard to keep such a big cooler at a constant temp.
I think that the unit works by freezing the freezer then that provides cooling to the fridge below through the fins.
Factor in the above comments about air circulating around the fridge fins and you get a less-than-ideal cooling system.
So, I have noticed two problems with units that have manual only controls: outside air heats the box, and inside air is not allowed to circulate.
Also there is always the issue of outside air needing to flow past the hot cooling unit at the back of the fridge.
