My Vitrifrigo c51is 12/24vDC compressor fridge works awesome, and has so since October 2013, but I have been less than impressed with the flexible door seals. Not only are they thin and fragile, they close atop the metal skin of the fridge body, and this metal is exposed to interior cold temperatures.
As such this metal effectively transfers ambient exterior heat to the interior of the fridge, which the cooling unit must then remove. This makes the metal of the fridge body and the mounting flanges cold nearest the door seals, and they will sweat in humid conditions.
While the fridge is quite efficient, averaging some 16.2AH each day over a 3 day span the last time I tested it a few years back, iirc, it has always bothered me that this glaring design error is reducing efficiency to some unknown degree.
Looking closely at the door itself and fridge body, it is apparent a second door seal can be set up inside the ones provided and separate the metal fridge skin from the interior.
My fridge is also recessed a bit in the cabinet due to the extra insulation so i could actually have the door itself close inside some soft foam, further increasing the insulation around the door.
I have just ordered these products to help insulate the door of my fridge even better:
https://www.amazon.com/Trim-Lok-D-Shaped...THMHK&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/Duck-Conditioner-...way&sr=8-1
I'll be taking some consumption measurements before and after with one of these style of inline wattmeters:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=watts+up+watt...nb_sb_noss
I'll be removing the fridge and its door to install the interior door D shaped seal and at that point will clean the condenser fins and the condenser fan of any accumulated dust. I do have an air filter on the intake below the fridge which keeps the larger dust down, but the fine dust still builds up. It has been a few years since I last removed the fridge and looked. Their cleaning will have some effect on total electrical consumption, and it is really difficult to control ambinet temps and how much I open and close the fridge so those will be imperfect variables in the before and after tests. of electrical consumption, but overall I think the effect of better door seals should be quite obviously measurable.
So, I will, at some point, have actual before and after Data.
Which is so much better than supposition and smugly shouted opinion.
As such this metal effectively transfers ambient exterior heat to the interior of the fridge, which the cooling unit must then remove. This makes the metal of the fridge body and the mounting flanges cold nearest the door seals, and they will sweat in humid conditions.
While the fridge is quite efficient, averaging some 16.2AH each day over a 3 day span the last time I tested it a few years back, iirc, it has always bothered me that this glaring design error is reducing efficiency to some unknown degree.
Looking closely at the door itself and fridge body, it is apparent a second door seal can be set up inside the ones provided and separate the metal fridge skin from the interior.
My fridge is also recessed a bit in the cabinet due to the extra insulation so i could actually have the door itself close inside some soft foam, further increasing the insulation around the door.
I have just ordered these products to help insulate the door of my fridge even better:
https://www.amazon.com/Trim-Lok-D-Shaped...THMHK&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/Duck-Conditioner-...way&sr=8-1
I'll be taking some consumption measurements before and after with one of these style of inline wattmeters:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=watts+up+watt...nb_sb_noss
I'll be removing the fridge and its door to install the interior door D shaped seal and at that point will clean the condenser fins and the condenser fan of any accumulated dust. I do have an air filter on the intake below the fridge which keeps the larger dust down, but the fine dust still builds up. It has been a few years since I last removed the fridge and looked. Their cleaning will have some effect on total electrical consumption, and it is really difficult to control ambinet temps and how much I open and close the fridge so those will be imperfect variables in the before and after tests. of electrical consumption, but overall I think the effect of better door seals should be quite obviously measurable.
So, I will, at some point, have actual before and after Data.
Which is so much better than supposition and smugly shouted opinion.