Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house,sci.energy,sci.environment From: jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) Subject: Re: $30M refrigerator design prize won by Whirlpool Message-ID: <0#vx5wg@dixie.com> Date: Tue, 13 Jul 93 00:07:22 GMT jmc@SAIL.Stanford.EDU (John McCarthy) writes: >Some years ago, my daughter complained to General Electric about >how noisy a refrigerator was, and received in reply a nice >brochure explaining that the refrigerator was indeed noisy, but >it was economical of energy. I certainly can't see the connection between noise and efficiency. Noise is primarily related to compressor speed, mufflers or lack thereof, vibration isolation of the compressor and condensing space insulation. Knowing GE, I imagine they eliminated the mufflers to save a half cent. And speaking of GE, when I was the co-owner of a refrigeration service shop (most of the 70s) we replaced more GE compressors than all other makes combined. On a more personal note, both my mom's and my refrigerator puked their compressors within 6 months of being out of their 5 year warranties. If you ever cut a tiny little GE compressor open, you can see why they're so fragile. Tiny little bearings, very high speed, normal operational temperatures right at the edge. Some even have separate oil coolers. I wouldn't take a GE frige now if it was given to me. John -- John De Armond, WD4OQC | (Pardon the inconvenience while we Performance Engineering Magazine(TM) | remodel this .signature) Marietta, Ga | jgd@dixie.com | Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house From: jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) Subject: Re: $30M refrigerator design prize won by Whirlpool Message-ID: <67rx+xg@dixie.com> Date: Sat, 10 Jul 93 20:45:23 GMT constant@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Tino) writes: >In article <104275@hydra.gatech.EDU> gt0603f@prism.gatech.EDU (Douglas >Alan Harrell) writes: > >>When I finish school >>and can think about buying new appliances again, quietness will be a major >>factor for me. I worry about the reliability, though, because experience has >>shown me that a reonditioned 20 year old frig ( made with lots o' steel, just >>like the cars) has lasted me longer than the newer models. Someone in another >>article mentioned a one-year compressor motor failure time? Ug. >That is, until that old fridge needs a recharge and it can't be done. Of all the refrigerators I own, my old 1928 GE MonitorTop is my favorite. It weighs about 300 lbs and uses a very quiet low speed hermetic compressor on top. It's watts/cu ft is lower than any of my modern refrigerators. Oh, and it uses sulfur dioxide as the refrigerant. Never seems to need charging. I agree with Doug. I'd go back further than 20 years though. That would only put you in the 70s and 70s refrigerators were shit, particularly GE's. The 60s are a different matter. I have a Frigidair in my cabin in the mountains that my parents bought in 1959 or 60. It is not frost-free but only needs defrosting once a year. It is also uses a low speed compressor, is more efficient than my new ones and has never needed any service other than door gaskets. John -- John De Armond, WD4OQC | (Pardon the inconvenience while we Performance Engineering Magazine(TM) | remodel this .signature) Marietta, Ga | jgd@dixie.com | |