I have two refrigerators operating using DIMMER switches. The Dimmers are rated for 600 watts which is way more than the 325 to 400 watts required for the heating element.
One fridge has been running for 3 weeks without any problems. Both heating elements were measured at 37 ohms, and we have been operating the power thru the Dimmer at 110 volts. With an incoming voltage of 122 volts, I can adjust the heating element voltage as low as 85 volts or as high as 122 volts. I have had no problem with measuring voltage using a digital voltmeter. Also, the fridges having been working just fine on the same setting as before without the dimmer.
The dimmer cost me less than $5.00 at home depot.
The Dimmer is mounted in a metal outlet box with an outlet installed for plugging the element into( adated the two element wires to a plug) and the other socket for measuring
voltage.
Frank
