03-11-11, 11:44 PM | #11 |
Liberty Lover
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: western u.s.
Posts: 8
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
I had expected there to be more of a difference in energy use with using a timer.
The small difference is surprising. However my main concern with using a timer in such a manner with the fridge is the potentially wider range of temperatures. Did you happen to note at least the high and low temperatures in the fridge? I think to maintain temperatures in the fridge, the timer should be run at least once per hour. This way you could have more control of the temperature swings in the fridge. Of course the temperature swings in that case would be larger than normal but that might be okay. In fact, with my freezer to fridge conversion, there is an exponential drop in temperature with time. For example, from memory, 1 degree might take 3 minutes, then 3 more degrees the next 3 minutes, then the switch goes off and the fridge continues cooling another 5 degrees. For example, from 42 (high) to 38 (off), then continues to 33 after off. So the greater savings of energy is to have wider swings less often, but that might not be as good for the food. |
03-11-11, 11:49 PM | #12 |
Liberty Lover
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: western u.s.
Posts: 8
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
Here is my summary of how to convert a chest freezer to a fridge.
Here is a temperature control for a much lower price than the one on my blog. Last edited by johnlvs2run; 03-11-11 at 11:51 PM.. |
03-13-11, 02:59 PM | #13 |
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 961
Thanks: 188
Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts
|
No, I have no idea what the temperature variations are in the fridge, neither with or without timer. Maybe the small thermometer for projects like this should be moved up on the to-get list?
EDIT (2011-03-15): I got a small indoor/outdoor digital thermometer with min/max yesterday Last night the temperature inside the refrigerator was between 3.9°C and 4.9°C (39°F-41°F) without a timer. I'll keep an eye on it for the next few nights, then put the timer back on.
__________________
Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog. Last edited by Piwoslaw; 03-15-11 at 01:13 AM.. |
03-24-11, 04:26 AM | #14 | |
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 961
Thanks: 188
Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts
|
Quote:
I think that the reason that both are higher than two weeks earlier is that it's warmer outside, so the indoor temperature is also slightly higher (takes longer to cool down, plus I was forced to up the house's thermostat from 17.5°C to 17.75°C because everyone at home is sick). Also, the week with the timer is even higher since there was more shopping and cooking (more stuff stored in fridge), and a small party (even more stuff in fridge). As for temperature variations: The digital thermometer I got recorded for the last 2 days of week 3 and all of week 4. Here are the min-max temps: Without timer: Fridge 3.9°-5.9°C (39°-43°F), kitchen 16.7°-18.7°C (62°-66°F) With timer: Fridge 3.5°-7.1°C (38°-45°F), kitchen 16.5°-19.8°C (62°-68°F) The raised t-stat temperature plus extra cooking during week 4 raised the kitchen's max temperature by over 1°C, which also had an effect on the refrigerator's energy usage. I'll stop this test for now, but will try again next winter. Hopefully then I'll have the test going for much longer.
__________________
Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog. |
|
02-02-12, 01:48 PM | #15 |
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 961
Thanks: 188
Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts
|
A moment ago I put the fridge on a kill-a-watt and timer to repeat the test. Hopefully the results of the extra insulation I added to the fridge a few months ago will show up.
__________________
Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog. |
02-02-12, 01:58 PM | #16 |
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
|
Is your house's ambient temperature the same as before? I've notice that makes a huge difference in my refrigerator's energy usage.
__________________
Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
02-02-12, 02:57 PM | #17 |
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 961
Thanks: 188
Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts
|
I've reprogrammed the thermostat, so the kitchen's max temp may be slightly lower. I have no idea what the average temp is, as I don't have any means of calculating it.
Anyhow, it'll be interesting
__________________
Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog. |
03-01-12, 12:55 PM | #18 |
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 961
Thanks: 188
Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts
|
Results are in from the last 4 weeks. Last winter the test was also 4 weeks, but with the timer being taken off or on for 1 week at a time. This year I did it for 2 weeks at a time (because I forgot after the first week).
Comparing to last year's test:
I'll try to continue this test for another 2-4 weeks.
__________________
Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog. |
The Following User Says Thank You to Piwoslaw For This Useful Post: | Daox (03-01-12) |
03-31-12, 01:13 PM | #19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 961
Thanks: 188
Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts
|
I've finished this test and summed up the results from 2011 and 2012, a total of 12 weeks.
Comments:
Summing up all of the raw results:
If the 2011 "timer-off" results are increased by the amount of power that the timer would have used (see comment #3), then we get:
If all of the tests which used the timer are reduced by the amount of power that it would have used, then we get:
__________________
Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Following User Says Thank You to Piwoslaw For This Useful Post: | Daox (03-31-12) |
03-31-12, 01:28 PM | #20 |
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
|
Great info Piwoslaw. Too bad there wasn't a more definitive answer. I was really hoping your extra insulation work would have shown better results.
__________________
Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
|
|