ARB fridge questions (1 Viewer)

[ikeedikeed]

When I first plugged in the fridge both the fridge and ice packs were at room temperature. I immediately set the fridge to -18C. I don't remember what the fridge's internal temperature reading was at the time, but its actual temperature would have been very close to the temp of my basement (somewhere btwn 15 and 20C)

Over six hours later, still with target temperature of -18C, the fridge was claiming an internal temp of -9C, but had only the faintest of frost in the ice packs. If the fridge had truly reduced the temp from 15-20C to -9C in six hours with those ice packs inside I would have been pleased.

But, given the presence of both solid and liquid water in the ice packs, the ice packs themselves were at 0C and when I stuck my hand in there quickly the air in the fridge was certainly much warmer than -9C. My beef isn't so much with the speed of the fridge. It's with the non-credible (incredible?) internal temp gauge.

BTW, it currently claims to have internal temp of -12C and all the ice packs are frozen. If I had a thermometer I'd stick it in but I'm pretty sure I don't.

 

[darmaduke]

forget about the temperature gauge, its not possible for the type of fridge to give you a accurate readings.

The fridges we have in our kitchens moves air around, making the entire freezer area much more effective at cooling things.

the ARB Fridge only cools the sides, as such the air inside will take along time to get cold. It would not be possible for these small fridges to cool that quickly. also every time you open the door it causes the fridge to start almost all over again, especially if there is very little in
there, as the air gets moved out, and air is a terrible heat conductor.

The primary goal of these fridges it to use as little energy as possible. so its hard to have really quick and accurate cooling times with just the sides being cooled.

just my .02

 

[Tmax]

here is sort of an update. i think they have recalibrated the temp thing in the arb units. i just picked one up about a month ago and red almost the exact report from everyone and also seen chris's one do the exact thing.

now this is how mine does it. if i set it at 0, it climbs down down and stays at zeror unless you open the lid. at 0 degrees, all the bevrages are mint and pretty nice. if i set it at -1 or -2, the beer is even nicer but all the pop and water will freeze. what i'm trying to say is that its as bang on as it could be and actually quite impressive as you know exactly whats going on in it.

 

[Enigma]

Mine has been running at -2 for awhile (I keep it plugged in to an extension cord when sitting in the driveway). I was up at my moms this weekend, set my fridge to -18 and packed it full of frozen garden goodness out of my moms freezer. I didn't time it, but it got to -18 pretty quick, more than an hour but less than 2 I think.

 

[sailor]

Yep- since I have owned more new ARB units than most- I can say the temp readout is great...

 

[Enigma]

You have an extra DC power cord kicking around?

 

[sailor]

Yeah but I just buggered up one of them - sorry...

 

[Enigma]

Well that's what I want to do to one anyways, cut the cigarette end off and put on something that actually works.

 

[sailor]

Ha! I just did that.... I am looking for the other (ARB) end tomorrow- will pick one up for you if successful...