Refrigerator Inverter or Not - Difference

XTraveller

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Aug 21, 2010
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I got my stove at Jorge Muebles which is a few blocks away. I need to save up some more cash before I can buy anything. I was just trying to collect information and do my research about inverter and non inverter types.
I bought about 2 years ago Samsung inverter at Pricesmart ( San Isidro) on Black Friday, good discount ( I had shop around before)
Very satisfied and this fridge is bigger than my old Nedoca and consumes about 1/3 of electricity. I would recommend to use a surge protector with delay for protection of bad or on/off electricity. ( cheap around 500 pesos).

Actually I use 2 surge protector because I find the delay not long enough. Also by using 2 surge protector when the electricity comes back on the whole neighbourhood has everything plug in and this is when you have bad electricity. This way at worst the first surge protector may blow before the second even turns on. So far nothing happen but I did see neighbours surge protector all burn up.

Note at this pricesmart lady told me they do not deliver to Second floor, I told the lady no problem it will be on the first floor. When delivery shows up and saw "Gringo" no question ask brought to Second floor (difficult access but they were very good) of course Gringo TIP. I been here long enough to know how things work.

I would recommend "inverter" for all electrical, AC, Fridge and now I saw on internet inverter Fans. Anything that has motor/compressor use 1/3 of electricity. The prices have come down from a few years ago just like LED light bulbs.
 

cavok

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Jun 16, 2014
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No question that an inverter refrigerator(or any other appliance) will use less electric than the standard ones, but how does the reliability compare and how easy is it to find a technician to fix them and at what cost? It is a more complex unit.
 

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
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I would go for the inverter style with a surge protector. I have surge protectors on everything in my home that are left over from my days with bad electricity. (High and low voltage protection)
You can buy surge protectors with different lengths of delay. They come with a 3, 10, 30, 5 minute, or 10 min delay. They only cost a few dollars, and are worth the money.
All of the ones I have now are well over 20 years old and still doing their thing.
I'm pretty sure most large supermarkets have them. I've bought them in Sirena and Jumbo as well for friends.
This is one on Amazon $16 dollars
61nUntMcpdL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

This one is 10 dollars. No brainer:
61wq2sxb2SL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 

XTraveller

Well-known member
Aug 21, 2010
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I would go for the inverter style with a surge protector. I have surge protectors on everything in my home that are left over from my days with bad electricity. (High and low voltage protection)
You can buy surge protectors with different lengths of delay. They come with a 3, 10, 30, 5 minute, or 10 min delay. They only cost a few dollars, and are worth the money.
All of the ones I have now are well over 20 years old and still doing their thing.
I'm pretty sure most large supermarkets have them. I've bought them in Sirena and Jumbo as well for friends.
This is one on Amazon $16 dollars
61nUntMcpdL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

This one is 10 dollars. No brainer:
61wq2sxb2SL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
Yes these are no brainer. But most are built to send the overvoltage/current to the ground. Now in a lot of places here there is no ground to the outlets and no ground rode at the main panel. At best the electronic components in the unit take the over charge and burn the unit without causing trouble to the connect appliance, in worst case scenario both fry.

Using 2 units in series adds extra protection to the connect appliance in the worst case scenario. Work around for no ground protection.
 
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JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
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Yes these are no brainer. But most are built to send the overvoltage/current to the ground. Now in a lot of places here there is no ground to the outlets and no ground rode at the main panel. At best the electronic components in the unit take the over charge and burn the unit without causing trouble to the connect appliance, in worst case scenario both fry.

Using 2 units in series adds extra protection to the connect appliance in the worst case scenario. Work around for no ground protection.
That's possible, I'm not sure where it goes, All I know it cuts the power as soon as it raises or drops and after a few seconds, restores the power.

When I lived in Maimon, that was a major benefit.

These days I use them because I already have them so they don't lay around in a box somewhere.
 

Jan

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The fridge I have now I bought used from a DR1er about 15 years ago (Cetron). I had to replace the regulator 2xs. My guy did it in 20 minutes. In and out. Not expensive. I do have a surge protector for the fridge. Had to replace the protector once.

I'm just tired of the ice build up in the freezer, not freezing well. I have to remove all food from the freezer once a week, unplug, to defrost.

I'm trying to save up to get one now. I'd love to have icecubes that are all the way frozen, things that don't take a few days to freeze, and covered with ice crystals. And maybe have some icecream kept inside and frozen hard instead of being soupy.
 
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XTraveller

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Aug 21, 2010
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The fridge I have now I bought used from a DR1er about 15 years ago (Cetron). I had to replace the regulator 2xs. My guy did it in 20 minutes. In and out. Not expensive. I do have a surge protector for the fridge. Had to replace the protector once.

I'm just tired of the ice build up in the freezer, not freezing well. I have to remove all food from the freezer once a week, unplug, to defrost.

I'm trying to save up to get one now. I'd love to have icecubes that are all the way frozen, things that don't take a few days to freeze, and covered with ice crystals. And maybe have some icecream kept inside and frozen hard instead of being soupy.
Well endure your weekly task until Black Friday, you will find a good deal then on a better fridge. Consider yourself lucky that you do not have to panic buy.

Start Shopping around in October to make sure you get a good deal on Black Friday.
 

cavok

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The fridge I have now I bought used from a DR1er about 15 years ago (Cetron). I had to replace the regulator 2xs. My guy did it in 20 minutes. In and out. Not expensive. I do have a surge protector for the fridge. Had to replace the protector once.

I'm just tired of the ice build up in the freezer, not freezing well. I have to remove all food from the freezer once a week, unplug, to defrost.

I'm trying to save up to get one now. I'd love to have icecubes that are all the way frozen, things that don't take a few days to freeze, and covered with ice crystals. And maybe have some icecream kept inside and frozen hard instead of being soupy.
I don't know how anyone tolerates that type of fridge(?).
 

JLSawmam

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The fridge I have now I bought used from a DR1er about 15 years ago (Cetron). I had to replace the regulator 2xs. My guy did it in 20 minutes. In and out. Not expensive. I do have a surge protector for the fridge. Had to replace the protector once.

I'm just tired of the ice build up in the freezer, not freezing well. I have to remove all food from the freezer once a week, unplug, to defrost.

I'm trying to save up to get one now. I'd love to have icecubes that are all the way frozen, things that don't take a few days to freeze, and covered with ice crystals. And maybe have some icecream kept inside and frozen hard instead of being soupy.
When I had a fridge here that I had to manually defrost, I would remove the plastic panel at the back of the freezer compartment to expose the thermostat sensor (it was a brass-looking gizmo shaped like a little cylinder). If that is encased in ice, your freezer and the fridge compartment too will never be very cold, because the thermostat will think everything is cold and the compressor won't run much. This probably won't solve your issues, but maybe you won't have to defrost weekly
 
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RDKNIGHT

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I was told in the Whirlpool refrigerators they have a thing called energy saver it's the same as the inverters I don't know how true this is I'm sure with the people here they can enlighten me more
 
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Farmer

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I agree with JD Sawmam. Had a fridge in the states that I was defrosting manually like you Jan. The tech who came to replace the defrost thermostat had the part in his van because they are one of the most common parts to fail. After removing the back panel which you are already familiar with, the thermostat should be easily accessible. I would google your Model and serial number and buy the part and find a good local electrician to install it for you. The part for my fridge was about $7. Cheap. Then expect to do it all over in about 5-7 years. Still cheaper than a new fridge on your income.
 

Jan

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I agree with JD Sawmam. Had a fridge in the states that I was defrosting manually like you Jan. The tech who came to replace the defrost thermostat had the part in his van because they are one of the most common parts to fail. After removing the back panel which you are already familiar with, the thermostat should be easily accessible. I would google your Model and serial number and buy the part and find a good local electrician to install it for you. The part for my fridge was about $7. Cheap. Then expect to do it all over in about 5-7 years. Still cheaper than a new fridge on your income.
My fridge has the red button your supposed to push every few days to defrost it. The frost inside just keep building up. That button stopped working many years ago. The fridge was never cold enough to freeze icecream unless it is directly on the bottom. And before it freezes it flows to one side. The freezer is tilted a little. I also have to keep tightening the little screw that holds the plastic freezer door on. I made a silicone cushion between the door and screw and it holds the door in place. I have had the temp set on the coldest for at least 15 years. Poor thing is just old and worn out. It is time to put it to rest .
 

JD Jones

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Jan 7, 2016
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Jan, don't you have a go-to refrigeration guy you can call to come and take a look?