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RCMAN46
NorthWest
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Joined: 02/24/2008
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" But, the T stat in a fridge is located in the fridge compartment.. "
It very possible there is also a thermoset in the compressor area.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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When it gets down to 40, or roughly the temp set point of the fridge area, the fridge wont run enough to keep stuff in the freezer section frozen.
I don't think the fridge "shuts down" but it has no reason to run at those temperatures.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Gdetrailer wrote:Grit dog wrote:TenOC wrote: However, I read someplace or someone told me that the compressor on a residential refrigerator will shut off at temperatures below 40°. Does anyone know if this is true?
You read or heard wrong. Used the same fridge in the shop in multiple homes/locations from Phoenix AZ to 8500' in the Rockies. Year round 120deg down to stints well below freezing (not below zero, but consistently below freezing for extended periods).
It kicked the bucket 2 years ago. Purchased new in 1995.
I believe it is one of those things that depends on the design of the fridge. But, the T stat in a fridge is located in the fridge compartment.. Fridge compartment gets too cold (below normal fridge temps of 34-38F) and the T stat will not call for cooling and stuff in the freezer now can partially to fully thaw out leaving you a mess to deal with at the least.. At the worst, thawed food in the freezer going bad and then refreezing without your knowledge..
Now for a beer fridge in your garage, no big deal, no harm, no foul, food items that are perishable, not so much of a good idea.
Good point. Not a refrigeration specialist, but makes sense.
Although the “beer fridge” frequently has food in it and the freezer always does.
Just never been a problem. Maybe “newer” fridges are less tolerant of low temperatures?
The one I had was about a 1996 model plain white 2 door whatever. And the one that replaced it a couple years ago is basically the same , except for a big huge dent in it and a bent hinge and probably no more than maybe 15 years old!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29
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Dutch_12078
Winters south, summers north
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RCMAN46 wrote:" But, the T stat in a fridge is located in the fridge compartment.. "
It very possible there is also a thermoset in the compressor area.
Our fridge very clearly does not have a thermostat in the compressor area, nor would one be needed since the compressor is controlled by the temperature inside the fridge, not outside of it.
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
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Dutch_12078
Winters south, summers north
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ScottG wrote:When it gets down to 40, or roughly the temp set point of the fridge area, the fridge wont run enough to keep stuff in the freezer section frozen.
I don't think the fridge "shuts down" but it has no reason to run at those temperatures.
The inside of the fridge temp is the controlling factor regardless of the outside temp. A residential refrigerator installed in an RV has three sides exposed to the inside temps, with only the back having some exposure to outside temps. Our fridge has worked fine with outside temps down to -4 deg.F and just the lower vents blocked off. LP/electric absorption fridges are much more effected by outside temps, both unusually high or low.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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Dutch_12078 wrote:ScottG wrote:When it gets down to 40, or roughly the temp set point of the fridge area, the fridge wont run enough to keep stuff in the freezer section frozen.
I don't think the fridge "shuts down" but it has no reason to run at those temperatures.
The inside of the fridge temp is the controlling factor regardless of the outside temp. A residential refrigerator installed in an RV has three sides exposed to the inside temps, with only the back having some exposure to outside temps. Our fridge has worked fine with outside temps down to -4 deg.F and just the lower vents blocked off. LP/electric absorption fridges are much more effected by outside temps, both unusually high or low.
The OP is talking about his fridge being in 40 degree temps - around all sides. At least that's the way it's written.
My point is, if it's colder on the outside of the fridge than it is on the inside, it's not going to run because it doesn't have to!
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RCMAN46
NorthWest
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ScottG wrote:Dutch_12078 wrote:ScottG wrote:When it gets down to 40, or roughly the temp set point of the fridge area, the fridge wont run enough to keep stuff in the freezer section frozen.
I don't think the fridge "shuts down" but it has no reason to run at those temperatures.
The inside of the fridge temp is the controlling factor regardless of the outside temp. A residential refrigerator installed in an RV has three sides exposed to the inside temps, with only the back having some exposure to outside temps. Our fridge has worked fine with outside temps down to -4 deg.F and just the lower vents blocked off. LP/electric absorption fridges are much more effected by outside temps, both unusually high or low.
The OP is talking about his fridge being in 40 degree temps - around all sides. At least that's the way it's written.
My point is, if it's colder on the outside of the fridge than it is on the inside, it's not going to run because it doesn't have to!
I believe the OP was asking about a standard residential compressor refrigerator. Not sure why RV absorption refrigerators have been introduced in the discussion.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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RCMAN46 wrote:ScottG wrote:Dutch_12078 wrote:ScottG wrote:When it gets down to 40, or roughly the temp set point of the fridge area, the fridge wont run enough to keep stuff in the freezer section frozen.
I don't think the fridge "shuts down" but it has no reason to run at those temperatures.
The inside of the fridge temp is the controlling factor regardless of the outside temp. A residential refrigerator installed in an RV has three sides exposed to the inside temps, with only the back having some exposure to outside temps. Our fridge has worked fine with outside temps down to -4 deg.F and just the lower vents blocked off. LP/electric absorption fridges are much more effected by outside temps, both unusually high or low.
The OP is talking about his fridge being in 40 degree temps - around all sides. At least that's the way it's written.
My point is, if it's colder on the outside of the fridge than it is on the inside, it's not going to run because it doesn't have to!
I believe the OP was asking about a standard residential compressor refrigerator. Not sure why RV absorption refrigerators have been introduced in the discussion.
Either way, it's the same principle.
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