4 ms·

You can hear your refrigerator???

by esseph 1y ago

bob1029 1y ago
The latest wave of appliances is really fucking loud for some reason. I think they're using different kinds of motor windings, bearings, insulation, etc. it's not related to the refrigerant or other system parameters. I've had older r600a fridges that were dead silent compared to anything sitting in a Best Buy showroom right now.
- userbinator 1y ago
  Likely high speed compressors --- the oldest hermetic systems used an induction motor running at 1800 RPM, then later they went to 3600 RPM, and now they're running on a VFD that possibly goes much faster. By making it pump faster, they can use a smaller compressor and reduce costs, at the expense of longevity and noise.
  - esseph 1y ago
    Ew.
- madaxe_again 1y ago
  They use lighter lubricant oils than were historically used, which allows more vibration. It’s also why compressors burn out far more quickly than they used to.
  - userbinator 1y ago
    That too. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32462954 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32462954
frosted-flakes 1y ago
You can't? Refrigerators have always made a noticeable background noise as they cycle on and off. The advantage of the newer variable speed scroll compressors in some high end fridges is that they can run continuously at a slower speed.
- esseph 1y ago
  In an "open home" concept I guess it might make sense, but I've never lived in a place like that. I guess all of the places I've lived the kitchen was always its own room, maybe adjacent to the dining room if anything. No new appliances (>10y now I think about it, they came with the house.)
- bigstrat2003 1y ago
  I'm not the same person, but I do not (and never have) noticed any noise when my fridge is running. Whether that means we have different fridges or different tolerances for noise, I'm not sure.
  - akvadrako 1y ago
    It's tolerance. I've bought several of the quietest fridges and they all bother me. Old fridges sound nicer but newer ones are actually quieter.
    - esseph 1y ago
      Is it the fridge noise in particular or all noises that you find you are sensitive to?
      - akvadrako 1y ago
        In practice the fridge is the only common thing. Most stuff in a house is quiet or, like fans or furnaces, make simple sounds that are easy to ignore.
  - globular-toast 1y ago
    More likely you have a noisier house/neighbourhood. I used to think my PC was silent until I moved to a quiet place and then I could suddenly hear it very clearly.
JoshTriplett 1y ago
Yes, absolutely. In particular, I find this obnoxious when staying in hotel rooms that have a minifridge.

You can hear your refrigerator???

by esseph 1y ago

You can hear your refrigerator???

The latest wave of appliances is really fucking loud for some reason. I think they're using different kinds of motor windings, bearings, insulation, etc. it's not related to the refrigerant or other system parameters. I've had older r600a fridges that were dead silent compared to anything sitting in a Best Buy showroom right now.

userbinator 1y ago
Likely high speed compressors --- the oldest hermetic systems used an induction motor running at 1800 RPM, then later they went to 3600 RPM, and now they're running on a VFD that possibly goes much faster. By making it pump faster, they can use a smaller compressor and reduce costs, at the expense of longevity and noise.
- esseph 1y ago
  Ew.
madaxe_again 1y ago
They use lighter lubricant oils than were historically used, which allows more vibration. It’s also why compressors burn out far more quickly than they used to.
- userbinator 1y ago
  That too. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32462954 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32462954

frosted-flakes 1y ago

You can't? Refrigerators have always made a noticeable background noise as they cycle on and off. The advantage of the newer variable speed scroll compressors in some high end fridges is that they can run continuously at a slower speed.

esseph 1y ago
In an "open home" concept I guess it might make sense, but I've never lived in a place like that. I guess all of the places I've lived the kitchen was always its own room, maybe adjacent to the dining room if anything. No new appliances (>10y now I think about it, they came with the house.)
bigstrat2003 1y ago
I'm not the same person, but I do not (and never have) noticed any noise when my fridge is running. Whether that means we have different fridges or different tolerances for noise, I'm not sure.
- akvadrako 1y ago
  It's tolerance. I've bought several of the quietest fridges and they all bother me. Old fridges sound nicer but newer ones are actually quieter.
  - esseph 1y ago
    Is it the fridge noise in particular or all noises that you find you are sensitive to?
    - akvadrako 1y ago
      In practice the fridge is the only common thing. Most stuff in a house is quiet or, like fans or furnaces, make simple sounds that are easy to ignore.
- globular-toast 1y ago
  More likely you have a noisier house/neighbourhood. I used to think my PC was silent until I moved to a quiet place and then I could suddenly hear it very clearly.

JoshTriplett 1y ago

Yes, absolutely. In particular, I find this obnoxious when staying in hotel rooms that have a minifridge.