How fast should a 3way fridge get cold?

Damn good question!!!

I have an old (15 old) Chescold 3way fridge, and my problem is similar to yours. It takes forever to get cold too. I go to gas and the same.

My thinking is to keep it running, but it is just bloody inconvient to do that.

I was thinking of just chucking it out or giving it away. but i'll wait to see your responces.
Thanks.

Hi David,

I've got one of the Repco fridges and you can follow the saga by searching for "Repco 3-way".

Anyway, after having mine replaced, the testing I did showed the unit dropped from room temarature to a couple of degrees on gas in about 5 hours. This was empty.

Started it at around 6:00pm or so and in the morning it was -1.6C.

Make sure it is SPIRIT LEVEL, level. I even made an adjustable stand for mine.

Circulation shouldn't really be a problem, as the cooling element is at the top and cold air sinks, meaning that the warmer air will automatically go to the top (closer to the element).

Hope this helps. You should actually be able to find the results of my test if you search.

Cheers.

I like to have all of my camping gear ready to go at a moments notice. My Chescold 3 way fridge is no exeption. I have it on 240 all of the time and have prefrozen milk bottles (filled with water) in it. Then all I have to do is put it in the car.

G'day DavidT,

Im the owner of a Chescold RC1180 3 way. I generally just plug it into 240v a few days before I go away. By way of example I plugged it in on Sunday 240v around 3pm. Come Monday morning 9am it was -4deg - excellent!

With my Flinders trip only 8 sleeps away I will be plugging it in on Friday. Pack it with stuff from the house fridge on Tuesday night and depart Wednesday morning with it running on 12v. Get to Broken Hill Wednesday night and run it on gas.

Anyway, like you said - pre chill your food/drink and pre-chill your fridge a few days before you go. It's not that hard....

Regards,

Marko

I have had some great informed posts for my questions on here so here are the results of a test Im currently doing with my finch fridge . Hope it can give you some idea and some ideas maybe to help it run even better. I actually was doing this test this morning. I have installed two fans in my fridge. One faces sideways across the coils and the other upwards throught the condenser coils. The one underneath the condenser coils is positioned on the right hand side of the coils looking at the fridge from the back. To measure temperature I have one of those dick smith inside outside thermometers. This first test was conducted with the fans running on 240v. I intend to do the same with similar ambient temp with no fans to see what the difference is. Anyway the results are below.

time temp
0645 22.0
0720 16.3
0745 10.3
0800 7.5
0815 5.1
0830 3.5
0845 2.2

so you can see in just 2 hrs from 22.0 to 2.2 .I think thats pretty good. I know its not stinking hot and the fridge was also empty. Also the inside temp thermometer is located half way up the fridge wall on the smaller side . I think the fans make a huge difference will post my test with no fans when i get it done . Placement of fans important . Have been experimenting in this regard and think well the latest result is pretty good to me.

cheers

Gents
These sort of fridges are good for caravanning/camping, where you stay awhile....and run on gas.
They operate silently, which is good if you are trying to sleep near them....dont ask...i had the coldest engel beer in Broome, but red eyes from lack of sleep...the things we will do for a cold beer!
It is imperative they are level, or they wont perform as well as could be expected....
Andrew

David,

This may be absolutly no help. But in our office we have one of those little bar fridges. Some years ago when we first bought it , it would simply not get cold enough. I finally complained to the place I bought it. They sent out one of their techs and he removed the meat tray from under the top freezer. Overnight it went from operating around the 9 - 10 degrees to freezing we had to actually turn it down. Just a thought and my experience.

I have an Electrolux in my caravan that wasn't working too well. Well I took it for a rumble ride, reinstalled it and an extracion fan adjacent to the condenser and on gas it froze solid a bowl of water placed in the freazer. This test was carried out again two days later on 240 and the same results were achieved

O.k had nothing to do this afternoon so did some more tests again with the fans running.This time ambient was 27.4 went up to around 29 during the time and was reading ambient ouside the fridge 26.9 at 1735. the fridge is a finch fridge not the explorer model.

time temp time temp
1725 4.3
1420 27.4 1735 3.9
1500 22.6
1520 17.0
1545 12.3
1605 9.7
1615 8.3
1620 8.0
1625 7.7
1635 6.9
1640 6.7
1645 6.2
1650 5.9
1700 5.5
1705 5.2
1715 4.8

This is with fans I know still yet to compare without them but the repco fridge should do something similar im sure

While it is important that absorption fridges are level it is equally important that they are vented properly to the outside air.
Every caravan I have ever seen has incorrect venting. Fans may help and I stress the may. It is vitally important they are mounted so the blow (Or draw) aur DIRECTLY over the condenser on the rear of the fridge. If they are simply exhaust fans for the fridge cavity they will only exacerbate the venting problems.

See this link for info on how to correctly vent your fridge and this link for a good description on absorption fridges.
Compressor fridges are exactly the same as the one in your kitchen. they use and electrically driven compresser to compress the refrigerent (Thus causing it to heat up). Then the heat is dispersed through the condenser on the back of the fridge and the liquid refrigerent is converted back to a gas inside the fridge which causes it to get very cold. it should be noted that many of the better fridges have small fans inside the fridge to circulate air so as to keep moving the air over the cold elements.

Peter

iMusty yes I do carry a small pocket size level and 4 triangular shaped pieces of wood live in amongst other bits and pieces in the back of the station wagon. You don't need to level when in the car and travelling but stopped yes or you can boil the fridge dry.

I find it is a few second job and one that doesnt bother me at all . As you say part of the fun of putting up your tent and getting everything organised. When im camping have to have something to fiddle with after all.

happy camping to all

cheers