When planning to purchase a freezer, most buyers pay attention to the technical characteristics of the product: height, energy efficiency class, number of shelves and drawers, etc. These parameters are basic. After all, first of all, the equipment should be convenient to use. If you take an aggregate of small capacity or a healthy chest, which will interfere in the corridor, the buyer will receive little pleasure from the acquisition. Conversely, a careful, thoughtful choice will guarantee that the camera will delight its owner for many years.
However, not all parameters lie on the surface. In addition to the well-known (the amount of electricity consumed, noise level), in the technical specifications you can also find more rare ones, which only the most demanding buyer pays attention to, for example, such as the climatic class of the freezer.
What is climate class?
Having met this phrase for the first time, the buyer will undoubtedly think about what the climate class of the freezer means. Let's try to give a definition.
The climate class is the environmental conditions that must be in the room where the equipment will be operated. Obviously, freezers do not always work near the assembly site. The spread of climatic conditions can be enormous - from the Far North to South Africa. Therefore, the equipment can work in different conditions in different ways.
Designation
There are 4 climatic classes of freezers:
1. SN - subnormal.
2. N is normal.
3. ST - subtropical.
4. T - tropical.
Each of the climate classes corresponds to its temperature conditions.
In Russian refrigerators you can find a slightly different designation of the climate class. The essence remains the same, only the letter spelling differs. Models corresponding to the SN, N, ST classes can be designated UHL - a moderately cold climate.
They can operate in the temperature range + 16 ... + 32 degrees at the installation site. Devices corresponding to the subtropics are indicated by the letter O (general climatic cooling).
Subnormal
The letters SN (subnormal class of the freezer) indicate that this model should be operated in a temperate climate at an ambient temperature of +10 to +32 degrees. Such a unit is suitable for both an ordinary apartment and a cool room - a basement or equipped garage.
Normal
A normal climate class freezer can operate at higher temperatures: from +16 to +32. Such a unit is unsuitable for a cool room. But the temperature conditions of the average apartment are ideal for him.
Almost all models that are currently sold in Russia come in the normal or subnormal class.
Subtropical
The subtropical class freezer is designed to operate at temperatures from +18 to +38 degrees. In principle, such a unit is also suitable for an ordinary Russian apartment, especially for southern cities in the absence of air conditioning.
Tropical
As the name implies, this class freezer can be operated in the tropics at temperatures from +18 to +43 degrees.
It is intended for rooms where it is constantly hot and humid. A model of this class can easily be placed in a sauna or bath, but it is hardly suitable for an ordinary apartment. As an exception, a tropic freezer can be purchased if the owner plans to install it in a closed niche or substitute it in direct sunlight.
What is the difference between models of different climate classes?
Of course, there are differences, and these differences relate to the design of the camera. Models designed for subtropics should work in conditions of high humidity, and therefore, corrosion-resistant materials are used for their manufacture. If the freezer is intended for hot countries, the thickness of the insulation layer will be higher - because it needs to keep the cold in conditions of elevated temperatures. Accordingly, the price of equipment will increase.
The reverse situation also takes place. If the freezer is designed for a normal climate, and it will be used in tropical conditions, then due to the small layer of insulation it will be difficult for the unit to keep the cold inside the chamber. Therefore, the compressor will have to turn on more often to catch the required temperature. In turn, this can lead to increased energy consumption and early development of the motor resource.
Models of different climatic classes can also differ in compressor power. Obviously, for a hot climate, a more efficient motor is required, capable of cooling products in a short time during forty-degree heat. It makes no sense to operate such a compressor in central Russia, since it will cost more, and will not bring much benefit.
An additional fan is another difference in the subtropical and tropical climate class freezers. It is needed for the same as a powerful compressor - for quick cooling of products. Typically, models designed to work in the heat come with larger capacitors.
Which climate class is better?
Customers sometimes wonder when they pay attention to the climate class of the freezer: “Which is better?” You can answer this way: "One that fully meets the operating conditions." There is no good and bad climate class. Just different categories are designed for different terrain.
Where to see?
The icon indicating the climatic class of the freezer is usually written on an adhesive sticker inside the camera, next to the technical specifications, nomenclature and date of manufacture. The operating conditions and temperature are not described there; you should ask for this information in advance.
Multiclass Freezers
In recent years, the planet "pleases" the inhabitants with abnormal temperatures. Often in mid-latitudes, air temperature does not drop below +30 for weeks, and snow falls in arid and southern countries. Therefore, in order to fully satisfy the needs of the consumer, manufacturers began to produce multiclass models. They are designed to operate in a wide range of latitudes. Such freezers are indicated by a double icon, for example, SN - N (subnormal-normal). Accordingly, such a unit can work effectively in the temperature range + 10 ... + 32 degrees.
The most universal are devices of the
SN -
T class. They can be used indoors at temperatures from 10 to 43 degrees above zero.
How to choose a freezer class
Choosing a camera class is quite simple. It is enough to estimate at what temperature it will be operated most often. Of course, if the model is designed for a normal climate, and in the year there will be a couple of hot days when the heat outside the window exceeds 35 degrees - that's okay. And in this case, there is no reason to take the unit for subtropics. It is quite another matter if the equipment will be used for several months under conditions close to the upper or lower temperature limit. In this case, it is worth paying attention to models for which such environmental conditions will be closer.
Some people think that the best option is multiclass freezing units. Why bother with a choice if you can purchase a universal model? However, this opinion is not entirely true. Indeed, such a technique is suitable for any room, however, it will cost more.
Power consumption
Some buyers, planning to make a choice of a freezer in favor of a particular model, are wondering - how does the energy consumption change when moving from one climate class to another? According to research by specialists, the numbers are almost identical at temperatures up to 32 degrees. Yes, freezers designed for the tropics have powerful compressors that consume more electricity. But if they are installed in a non-hot room, due to the thick layer of insulation, they will keep the cold better, and therefore, the motor will turn on less often. The situation changes somewhat when it comes to models designed for temperate climates. If they are placed in a hot room, then the energy consumption will increase significantly, since the motor will try to compensate for the loss of cold due to constant operation. Thus, we can conclude that the equipment intended for hot countries is universal in comparison with models of a normal climate class.