Chest Freezer - Adding a Timer for cheaper electricity

[Dee_in_London]

We have a chest freezer in our unheated extension in London, UK.
It's a fairly manual freezer - mainly used to store extra food or things on sale that we buy. Our Fridge / Freezer serves as the main freezer in our Kitchen.

However we have cheap rate electricity for 10 (Ten) hours every night where it's half the day time price.

I was wondering if it would do any harm to add a mechanical petal timer to the freezer so it's only powered at night for the 10 hours we have cheaper electricity? I believe the freezer can go about 40 hours without power before food starts to defrost.

 

[jj4091]

Probably not make any difference as you will use more electricity bringing the temp. down each night than you would if you left it on all day. It may make the compressor wear more if it is running for longer but that would be negligible. It may also make the cabinet ice up quicker.
Having said that it is not something I've ever seen done so I'm just talking theoretically & you may well find it does what you want.

 

[big-all]

could be dangerous
all day warming up to perhaps -12degrees so that is the temperature you have to consider' is food safe at that level for more than a few months i doubt it otherwise they would say -12 degrees rather than -19-21??

 

[bernardgreen]

A freezer in a cold room can use more electricity than the same freezer in a warmer room. This is because the system is less efficient when the ambient temperature is lower than a certain minimum.

Quoting from BEKO


Traditional freezers have a minimum ambient temperature requirement of 10° C and therefore aren't recommended for use in temperatures below that. However, Beko's unique Freezer Guard Technology means that all our freezers are suitable for use in ambient temperatures down to -15° C, making them suitable for outhouse or garage use, even in winter.

 

[big-all]

also worth looking at the ratings plate
if we assume say 180w and a 33% run and 66%off time average thats 60w average consumption
if we assume 18p daytime and 6p off peak thats 14 hrs at 18p so 14x60=840w or 15p so the same amount off cooling by night rate at 6p would be about 5p so saving 10p a day x365=£36.50p a year
now loads off assumption and guesses but gives you an idea

 

[Mottie]

A freezer in a cold room can use more electricity than the same freezer in a warmer room. This is because the system is less efficient when the ambient temperature is lower than a certain minimum.

Quoting from BEKO


Traditional freezers have a minimum ambient temperature requirement of 10° C and therefore aren't recommended for use in temperatures below that. However, Beko's unique Freezer Guard Technology means that all our freezers are suitable for use in ambient temperatures down to -15° C, making them suitable for outhouse or garage use, even in winter.

Yes. When I was looking for an extra freezer to put in our garden shed, I researched it and found that Beko was about the only one suitable for the job. Pity I didn’t do the same with our top of the range AEG condensing heat-pump tumble drier that I also put in the shed. They don’t work in low temperatures (e.g. when you need them to work) so I had to give it away to my son and buy a basic vented one.

 

[Diyisfun]

If I were to do it (and I think its a good idea), I would set the timer to come on for about an hour midday ish.

 

[Dee_in_London]

A freezer in a cold room can use more electricity than the same freezer in a warmer room. This is because the system is less efficient when the ambient temperature is lower than a certain minimum.

Quoting from BEKO


Traditional freezers have a minimum ambient temperature requirement of 10° C and therefore aren't recommended for use in temperatures below that. However, Beko's unique Freezer Guard Technology means that all our freezers are suitable for use in ambient temperatures down to -15° C, making them suitable for outhouse or garage use, even in winter.

Yes I remember Beko being about the only brand of Frost Free Fridge / Freezer that said it would work in a unheated room - I think perhaps because it's a Turkish Brand and they are allowed to use different gases to the EU brands?