My fridge modification
 

https://www.instructables.com/id/ELG9RUYF5LD3PF6/

https://www.instructables.com/files/d...Q30.MEDIUM.jpg

I stupidly forgot to get a baseline power consumption reading with the thing in it's normal, upright position :/ Damn.

Yeah, I gotta figure out what I'm doing with that :p

What brand of refrigerator is that? I assume the condenser coils are in the walls rather than on the back?

Q

There's no need to play coy... I saw all yer beverages on instructables. :D

No I mean the door shelves :p I can't place a beer on the door shelf as it's on it's side at the moment :p

Avanti - some no name brand. But that really doesn't matter. I have another mini fidge (with freezer) "by" avanti. As does my girlfriend, but hers is Frigidaire or something like that. Both of them have the same part numbers, and mine was much cheaper :p Yes, the condenser is in the side walls (and a tiny bit in the top).

Very cool! Now the question everybody whats to know: How much electricity does it save compare to when it was upright?

52W

After about 24 hours, it has consumed .74kWh which includes the initial chill. I'm going to ask a friend if I can plug in my meter for a few days to get some sort of a baseline.

I had an epiphany earlier today. If you keep this thing closed all the time, it likely won't be any better than an upright configuration. That is, the only benefit of this is that cold air stays in when open. So, that is to say that a beer refrigerator is suboptimal conditions for maximizing efficiency (except during a party perhaps). I think I'm going to transfer the beer elsewhere, and put everyday groceries, water, juice etc. in there so I can cut back on "papa refrigerator" usage --> I'm in an apartment with a bigger fridge.

Of course, the most efficient way would be to not use this at all, and only use the bigger house refrigerator :p

When you say "move the whole writup" - do you mean rewrite in the how to section?

I was thinking the same thing today. Anyways, here is another environmentally friendly diy from instrucables.

Hack a Toilet for free water.

https://www.instructables.com/id/E5ZC...TEEB/?ALLSTEPS

I plan on doing that too :) I'm keeping an eye out for a derelict toilet/free toilet tank cover :p

They just wrapped up their "Go Green" contest, so there's some great ideas posted somewhat recently :p

-----
As an aside... Instructables is where I interned this past summer over on the west coast, so I guess I'm a bit biased on my opinion of them :p

The thing is so shallow to begin with.... So I'd say no. I mean, it's no worse than having to reach really far back into refrigerator to grab a lone pickle jar :thumbup:

If it were any deeper - I'd add sliding shelves :) Since my last post, I've moved my fruits/veggies, lunch stuffs, boiled eggs, bread and some juices into the mini fridge. I kept the spirits in the freezer area - I think it will act as a suitable heat sink.

I'm also considering a very small circulation fan as I've noticed a temperature gradient between the top and bottom - nothing too big, but I think there's room for improvement. I think a small fan (low power/compact) + door switch will resolve this issue.

And while I'm at it, a fan to blow off some of the compressor heat -- the temperature in the compressor box area was around 80 degrees. Heat I don't want rising into the chill zone :p

air has very little mass, if you have a jug of water in your fridge filling in the empty space it will most likely do more for keeping the fridge cold, then having it on it's back with the compresser running at an angle where the oil isn't pooling around the bearings, a fan near the compresser will also most likely help, along with some reflective insulation between the fridge and the hot parts.

fuel economy forum
vegan recipes
green home improvement
honda gas mileage

Check out the link ;) I've rotated the compressor to take car of the oil issue ;) On the subject of mass... I keep the refrigerator full for that very reason ;)

Alas, no.... The Kill A Watt is serving a better task in my/our opinion. We're working on modification for a large upright (without tipping it over). Plus, I haven't been able to track down a similar sized fridge yet :thumbdown:

fuel economy forum
vegan recipes
green home improvement
honda gas mileage