Another thing to consider is that the refrigerator is designed to function
in a 70 degree house. When the ambient temps get low, the oil thickens and
the compressor can't start. Units designed for outdoor use (compressors in
outdoor Coke machines, better air conditioning condensing units, etc.) have
thermostatically compressor crankcase heaters that come on when the ambient
temp drops. Other units that might be used outside but lack the heaters
normally have warning tags not to operate them in cold weather. But a small
refrigerator is probably just intended to be used indoors and the designer
never thought about your application.
Same problem in the one in my hangar.
Karl
> At 11:01 PM 12/3/2005 -0800, Steve Shipley wrote:
> >
> >I have a refrigerator in the shop. I went out to get an ice cream cone
the
> >other night and it was barely frozen. Since we recently got our first
> freezing
> >weather, I was wondering if a refrigerator is affected by the outside
> >temperature. The shop is unheated so I'm pretty sure the temperature was
> >around 32 degrees for a day or so. Does a refrigerator depend on the
> >temperature
> >to function?
|