Thursday, Feb 25, 2010 at 08:02
Andrew
Good answer. I like debunking myths by the use of facts and science. I guess the final answer would be to do an experiment to confirm your hypotheses.
I suppose the benefit of the ice in the fridge might be to keep it cold for longer when power is not available (and the fridge wasn't already full of food/tinnies). This might mean that you could have the fridge powered up all day while driving (when there is no shortage of power), then slowly warm up over night as the ice warms up (something that would happen a lot quicker if the spare space in the fridge was just air).
If you were camped for a week and reliant on limited
solar power, then the decision would be between storing extra energy as electricity in the battery (and letting that run down over night), or as thermal energy as ice in the fridge (and letting that melt overnight).
Bob
FollowupID:
675556