The refrigerator is the most important appliances in the kitchen. Modern models have a high cost. Therefore, their long life requires careful handling. One of the most common causes of failure of refrigeration equipment is power surges, which are associated with poor-quality power supply or emergency power outages. Common causes of breakdowns include overheating of the device. It may occur due to the proximity of the stove or battery. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how to protect refrigerators from power surges.
Features of the refrigerator
The refrigeration unit is a closed system that is filled with freon. The refrigerant is transported using a compressor, a motor driven winding. When moving through different areas, the refrigerant changes its pressure and temperature.
Inside the refrigeration unit is an evaporator, to which freon is supplied in a liquid state. In the evaporator, refrigerant gives off cold to the walls of the chamber and products. After that, gaseous freon is absorbed by the compressor. This raises its temperature. Vapors transfer their heat through the walls of the condenser. The temperature drops again. Freon is transferred to the evaporator.
Compressor protection
The most expensive part of a refrigerator is a compressor. It is he who primarily suffers from power surges. Undervoltage is dangerous for an electric motor, and power surges are terrible for compressors.
When the voltage is reduced or the refrigerator is completely disconnected from the network, a high pressure is maintained in the discharge cycle, which is also stored in the compressor chamber network. At the same time, pressure continues to press on the pistons of the compressor. High pressure creates resistance that prevents the engine from starting. This may happen:
- engine start, but with an increase in starting current and high resistance;
- protection operation and constant attempts to start the compressor;
- motor breakdown.
With constant voltage drops, the durability of the main components decreases. This can cause a quick breakdown of the refrigerator. Thus, to protect the compressor, a restart delay is required in order for the freon pressure to equalize.
Solution
To protect the refrigerator from power surges, certain rules must be observed:
- use of special units;
- compliance with the basic rules of operation of electrical appliances;
- repair of all sockets, plugs and other elements of the power supply network;
- To turn on the refrigerator, you should use an individual outlet, into which other electrical appliances cannot be turned on.
The optimal solution to the problem will be the installation of special units that will protect the equipment from power surges. These include:
- Voltage control relay. One device is used to protect all equipment in the house. It independently produces a power outage when the reading changes below or above the normal range. The relay turns on electricity after voltage normalization. An additional pause is maintained. Its duration can be set independently or be automatically incorporated.
Voltage monitoring relay
- Group voltage monitoring relays. Consists of several voltage monitoring relays. A separate relay is used for the refrigerator.One turns on with a certain delay, and the rest of the equipment in the house can turn on faster. The advantage of this method is a high reliability indicator. The disadvantage is the high price and the need for space in the electrical panel.
- Surge Protectors. It belongs to rather expensive equipment, therefore it is recommended to choose if voltage drops often occur or expensive equipment is installed in the house.
Voltage regulator
- Network filters. Protect from minor power surges. Used for only one device. The use of such a filter requires high-quality grounding. If you do not connect it correctly, the surge protector will only perform extension functions.
Network filters
These are the main methods of protecting the refrigerator from power surges. Simple can be implemented independently. Installation of complex devices may require the help of a wizard.
Protection of the refrigerator from the stove and power surges
The combination of a refrigerator and a stove is, at first glance, unacceptable. However, in small kitchens this situation is common.
Protecting the refrigerator from the stove with foil
Both devices can be installed so that they are in contact with the side walls. But you need to use insulation to protect the refrigerator. It can be any heat-insulating non-combustible material. There are no special devices for protection, so you’ll have to figure out how to protect the refrigerator from gas or electric stove.
For this, materials of organic origin can be used, for example, reeds, polystyrene or chipboard. The best option is to use a cork plate. The disadvantage of this material is its high cost. Cork plate has several advantages. The main one is resistance to absorption of moisture and odors. Moreover, such materials are non-hygroscopic. Their disadvantages include deformation when exposed to high temperatures.
Materials of inorganic origin can also solve this problem. The advantage is incombustibility and low price. However, there are disadvantages, which include the loss of thermal insulation properties under the influence of moisture. Inorganic materials include fiberglass, gypsum plasterboard, and abscess board.
If you do not think about protecting the refrigerator from the stove or other hot kitchen appliances and heating, such problems may arise:
- Increased power consumption. Even with thermal insulation of the refrigerator, its walls heat up if the stove is too close. As a result, the sensor detects an increase in temperature, and the device operates with a greater load.
- Uneven cooling. This leads to moisture condensation on one side. This affects the quality of the device and the safety of the products.
- The difficulty of leaving. When cooking, splashes of fat and drops of water constantly fall on the side wall of the refrigerator, so it will often need care.
- The inconvenience of cooking. Due to the fact that the desktop can only be located on the side of one of the devices, moving products is not very convenient.
It is recommended to install the refrigerator at some distance from the stove
Therefore, to protect the refrigerator, it is recommended that the distance between it and the stove be at least 15 cm. It is best to set it to a distance of 25 cm. This will ensure normal refrigerator operation. If this rule is not observed, the service life of the device is reduced.
