Fridge

[cvzyl]

Hi guys, I need some advice on a new fridge. We bought a Bosch unit about 10 years ago and it was disappointing from the start. Since getting involved in the whole solar thing I've become more aware of energy consumption and also measuring more. I noticed that the fridge causes cycles in the power consumption, more frequently than I expected, and I decided to measure the consumption individually. (See graph below.) What I found is that it consumes almost 5 kWh per day. For me that is excessive, it equates to around 2MWh per year!!! I suspect the measurement can be suspect, assuming the compressor draws 200W for about 70% per day (it is on way too much), that equates to 3.5 kWh per day, still too much.

From what I've found on the internet A and A+ rated units should consume around 300 - 400 kWh per year.

So, I've decided to replace it. I started looking around but want to get some recommendations/warnings from you guys on the forum. I see a lot of guys recommend the Bosch KSV36VL30 but I'm kinda gatvol of Bosch at the moment so I'd prefer to consider something else. It is also a full length fridge so I would need a separate freezer which doubles the energy consumption.

Ideally it should be 70cm wide but it is not a deal breaker.

So let's hear the good and the bad. I'd appreciate your input.

Cobus

[Guest]

I did the same last year. We got a Samsung. It went from almost 1Kw down to 110w. I replaced 3 units with one.

This was the best unit I could find at the time as I could not find a A+++ in SA, Maybe they are available now.

 

[DeepBass9]

We have a bosch A++ rated fridge I'm not sure exactly how much it draws, but fridge and chest freezer together draw about 180W. It is the this one : http://www.sustainable.co.za/bosch-346-litre-ksv36vl30-single-door-upright-fridge.html

Check out price! R22K, I got the same one for R5k at Makro.

[Guest]

I bought a Bosh, due to Plonksters experiences. Model KSV33N130

Got home with it a few months back, plugged it into the inverter where it has been running off it 24/7.

And as per my signature, my system is very small compared, I hardly notice it. 

[Chris Hobson]

I also have a Bosch KSV33N130 (but you don't want to hear that)..

We have an AEG deepfreeze maybe AEG have something similar. Minus 40 who use to make fridges for farm gennies now make solar fridges not sure of the cost though.

 

[Chris Hobson]

1 hour ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Got home with it a few months back, plugged it into the inverter where it is running 27/7 from.

Now wonder you get such a lot done in the day. You okes in Bellville get 3 extra hours. Reminds me of the quote of an American Indian chief with regard to daylight saving  “Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket.”

[Guest]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA ... well spottetted Chris! 

I fixed mine. 

[cvzyl]

I'm considering a Samsung, this one: http://www.samsung.com/za/consumer/home-appliances/refrigerators/bottom-mount-freezer/RL4363KBASL/FA

But I have no idea what their home appliances are like, in fact I only own a Samsung TV. I hate their phones.

C

[___]

11 hours ago, cvzyl said:

lot of guys recommend the Bosch KSV36VL30

I have one of those and I've recommended it here more than once :-) It's a full length Fridge, A++ rated (approximately 1kwh per day). I am very happy with it.

We have a Bosch fridge on the farm too. It's 30 years old and still works as well as the day it was bought (which was specifically for the solar system installed in 87).

[Guest]

I hate their phones as well but the fridge and screens rock.I only use Samsung screens for my photography business. They calibrate most constant between screens. There are a lot of sites in the UK that does reviews on them. Go and have a look. Bosh is also great. We just could not find one big enough to cater for all our needs that did not break the bank. The Samsung was big and its price not so big. (Well compared to the others)

 

[Mike]

oops, i am running the Bosch fridge and freezer as well...we cant all be wrong, also using the Aeg chest freezer also A++

[cvzyl]

As I don't watch TV I'm not very particular about it. The Samsung was reasonably priced and looked good. Their screens (not sure about PC) tend to be a bit over saturated for my liking. My wife is also a photographer so in our house if it does not come with a screen (iMac) it gets a Dell Ultrasharp.

[cvzyl]

Maybe I just got a dud with my Bosch. I'll try not to let it influence my purchase too badly.

[Arandoza]

Also went the Bosch route. Going into the second year and no issues each fridge freezer uses around 90w each so very light, and freezers rated to be able to withstand no

Power for 16hours before temperature starts to warm and food could begin to perish, I guess provided they remain closed.

Had to go the side by side route, and ended up buying two sets, one for kitchen and one for garage to replace an old Fridgemaster 640l combo.

The only thing was one of the two Bosch freezers did not come with a auto defrost option, model gsw33vw30.

The other boach freezer has the auto defrost, one loses a small amount of space for it but I think it is a better option, model gsn33vw30.

The Bosch site was lacking the subtle details about auto defrost etc so we missed this the first time unfortunately.

So far very happy with all four units, they don't seem to run for very long when running, although the first day one powers them up I think they run for a long time to get down to temp, especially the freezers.

Originally had been keen on buying the XXX36xx type Bosch models which are about 10cm taller, but could not justify the much higher cost - around 25-40% more for 10cm taller?

Last issue with the Bosch units the fridge door bottle holders are made from a hard plastic, which unclips, was concerned they were too brittle a plastic, and would crack or shatter easily if they were dropped, the kids proved my thinking right within the first month on this. Had to replace one, Bosch had stock and R250 later it was sorted. Would still like to see them change the design to a different more robust plastic, for the door bottle trays though.

Enjoy

[Guest]

I like eye candy and colour Cobus.

You will see my style of photography is vibrant in colour. So I don't have a issue with saturation ;-)

http://blog.jdphotography.co.za/

http://www.jdphotography.co.za/

[DeepBass9]

We also have our fridge and freezer on timers so they don,t come on in the middle of the night. Saves a bit of battery power. 

[SilverNodashi]

We have a Bosh KGN46A and we couldn't be happier with it. It draws about 100W/hr, often less. 

[ILuvmyXJ]

On 5/6/2016 at 4:47 PM, cvzyl said:

I'm considering a Samsung, this one: http://www.samsung.com/za/consumer/home-appliances/refrigerators/bottom-mount-freezer/RL4363KBASL/FA

But I have no idea what their home appliances are like, in fact I only own a Samsung TV. I hate their phones.

C

Did you ever go for this one? I am on the brink of buying one and just want to check if you were happy?

[Guest]

Welcome I Love my XJ! 

[Travis]

I would avoid Samsung and go with Bosch or something else.

 

Samsung fridges seem to be fine for the first 4-5 years. I bought mine is 2012 and thought it was fine till I looked more closely!

 

I have the RSA1DTPE1 A Rated

http://icecat.us/en/p/samsung/rsa1dtpe1/side-by-side-fridge-freezers-RSA1DTPE-5914383.html

 

It uses 2-3 KW per day now. Was 3-5 before heater was fixed.

 

We had issues with food going off quick and I got thermometers that sit in the Fridge. Fridge was set to 2 degrees, Freezer to -20. Fridge was actually 7 degrees and freezer -8

 

Turns out there is a common problem with these Samsung "No frost" Combo units where the heater stops working, the evaporator fins get iced up and the unit becomes very inefficient, running 50 min per hour. Got that fixed. The Ice maker also stops working after 1-2 years.

 

With the inverter running off batteries at night I was keen to see how long the Fridge can last without power. Fridge set to 3, freezer to -18. After 6 hours fridge was 7, Freezer +1. OY! That doesn't seem right, Samsung come check it and say its normal because there is a flap that sits between the fridge and freezer side that is open when the doors are closed to regulate fridge temp. They said heat is lost though this flap contraption and also though the ice/water dispenser on the front..

 

Also ask yourself why Samsung does not put stickers on the front quoting the yearly consumption.

 

All that being said I am now looking for the Holy grail which is A+++ which does not seem to exist in SA?

If I could find it they use 75KW per year, thats a week of solar production! + Can run 16 hours without power. I would put them on a timer to be off from 11pm to 6am

http://www.bosch-home.co.uk/products/fridges-freezers/fridges/fridges-without-freezer-section/KSV36AW41G.html#tab2

 

[ILuvmyXJ]

Tx. Ironically it was the energy rating that was tipping me towards the Samsung. I have not seen a A+++,  the Samsung quoted is A++ which got me interested,  most of the rest A or A+. Frustrating... 

[Travis]

1 minute ago, ILuvmyXJ said:

Tx. Ironically it was the energy rating that was tipping me towards the Samsung. I have not seen a A+++,  the Samsung quoted is A++ which got me interested,  most of the rest A or A+. Frustrating... 

The Bosch units mentioned above also have A++ Ratings

 

http://www.ehome.co.za/fridges-and-freezers/single-door?f[0]=field_brand%3A331

 

You can get them cheaper at Makro.

[viper_za]

I had a non inverter Samsung fridge bought in 2010 and this was sold and I have access to it and it still functions 100% till this day even uses the same amount of power.

Replaced that one with this one http://www.samsung.com/za/consumer/home-appliances/refrigerators/bottom-mount-freezer/RB29FWRNDSA/FA (Paid R5000 on a special at Makro)
Very impressed with this one as milk and so on can easily pass it's expiry date with a week or more and the power usage impressed me more .Along with that I got the new range defy chest freezers (210l) also a little more economical than the older models.

Here you can see both of them running. (Also running 20w worth of outside lights starting at just before 17:00)

33 minutes ago, Travis said:

Also ask yourself why Samsung does not put stickers on the front quoting the yearly consumption.

Mine had one clearly stating the A+ rating 272 kWh/year on the door. (The other one mentioned is A++ so should be better)
Went through Makro the other day and I have to say all the fridges and freezers had the stickers on them? (All brands)

[Travis]

3 minutes ago, viper_za said:

I had a non inverter Samsung fridge bought in 2010 and this was sold and I have access to it and it still functions 100% till this day even uses the same amount of power.

Replaced that one with this one http://www.samsung.com/za/consumer/home-appliances/refrigerators/bottom-mount-freezer/RB29FWRNDSA/FA (Paid R5000 on a special at Makro)
Very impressed with this one as milk and so on can easily pass it's expiry date with a week or more and the power usage impressed me more .Along with that I got the new range defy chest freezers (210l) also a little more economical than the older models.

Here you can see both of them running. (Also running 20w worth of outside lights starting at just before 17:00)

Mine had one clearly stating the A+ rating 272 kWh/year on the door. (The other one mentioned is A++ so should be better)
Went through Makro the other day and I have to say all the fridges and freezers had the stickers on them? (All brands)

Ok, maybe the side by side combo units are an issue. When I googled the issue with mine there were thousands of threads. eBay even did a dedicated post on them and there 3rd parties now making kits to resolve the issue because Samsung will not.

 

My comment about the stickers is based on Samsung branded store at Cresta, Hirsches and Hi Fi corp. Maybe Makro has a policy to add the sticker? Some of them had the star rating, but none the yearly consumption.

 

Maybe I am just  Samsung hater at the moment because of the issues I have had with my Samsung dishwasher this year. They not even replying on twitter anymore for my complaints. https://twitter.com/Tsponge/with_replies

[cvzyl]

22 hours ago, ILuvmyXJ said:

Did you ever go for this one? I am on the brink of buying one and just want to check if you were happy?

Hi ILuvmyXJ

No, not yet. I feel bad throwing out a working (though irritating from an energy point of view) piece of equipment. I am leaning more towards the Bosch units mentioned on here since they have excellent power consumption (advertised) despite my disappointing experience with Bosch. Will have to remodel the kitchen a bit to fit them in though as I would want the fridge and freezer next to each other and won't be able to fit them in the existing space. Another reason why I'm delaying.

C