In a video by @Techconnectify@mas.to, Alec goes into a deep dive into the simplicity of his particular model, its shortcomings and variety of data logging tests in an attempt to fix them.
TL,DW: Very simple, cheap and ingenious design, with one compressor loop between the fridge and freezer in series. However, its temperature sensor is wonky and so the fridge is more affected by how long the compressor operates than the actual temperature itself. There is a signficant temperature differential between the top and bottom, fans on the exterior or interior could help but with the faulty sensor only made matters worse. With the controller replaced with a proper temp control unit the fridge functioned much better.
Oh, they ARE absoutely bonkers there. Every time I stay in the US for any amount of time I am absolutely amazed at the fact that fridges seem to universally be the size of closets. You could walk inside one comfortably if you took out the shelves.
I can list other appliance culture clashes, too: not having washing machines in the kitchen but having driers, for some reason. Microwave ovens sized like normal ovens. Oh, and of course the absolutely ludicrous plugs, which of course he has covered but despite his protestations I have personally seen slide out from being fully plugged. Oh, and the power strips look like popsicle sticks. They’re so tiny.
Interesting point on the microwave ovens. I live in the Netherlands and every apartment I’ve lived in comes with a standard combination oven and microwave, i.e oven sized microwave. Is that something standard in the US and not standard where you are?
As a fellow Dutchy… my current place is the first place I ever lived in that came with a combination oven and microwave.
Previously I’ve always had to supply my own microwave / oven ;-)
True that, I think it’s more a case of that I’ve been renting in brand new apartments most recently, and a combimagnetron is the standard for all new construction in cities these days.
Although it’s true that my Oma has them separate. But even then, the microwave is built into the cupboards, it’s not a “loose” appliance on the counter top. That seems to be more of a thing in US/UK from what I see
I’ve seen it more there, for sure. Here I’ve seen it once or twice, in expensive homes that got a very early microwave when it was a luxuty and built it right into the furniture. Most other places have a secondary spot for a smaller microwave. I actually went and got a combination one, still smaller than many of the ones you see in the US, and found that it wouldn’t fit in the microwave spot in my kitchen, so I ended up having it over a counter and using the microwave shelf as a spice rack.
Wait are these microwaves one unit, or a separate oven and microwave? Here in the states they’re always separate, though sometimes a microwave might be above the stove and function as a smoke hood.
Something like this render from Best Buy is common enough. That’s what I’d call a normal size microwave in either case though, just different mounting options.
I could certainly fit a microwave inside my oven, so they’re not really too similar size here unless you get a moderately large one. In fact, that render only has a kind of weird scale, the gas range and oven seem about right.
Yeah so they’re one unit, you turn it on and then choose to oven, microwave, grill or a combination of all 3. I’ve found combo low wattage microwave with oven to be great at quickly heating frozen food for example.
I think the major difference is that it’s rarer to have a combination stove and oven. The stove is usually separate and built into the counter top, similar to how a sink is installed. I have normal drawers beneath my induction stove, but it’s also common to have the oven as a separate appliance below the stove. My combi oven is above the inbuilt fridge instead. Just whatever the designers of my rental place thought works well, the main point is that they don’t have to be together.
Woah, neat! Thanks!
We don’t see many induction stoves here, though they do exist they’re really expensive compared to a glass top. The few houses in wealthy areas that I’ve been in have pretty much all had an induction top and two stacked ovens.