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. First and foremost, technology should be easy to use. If you take a small-capacity unit or a he althy chest that will interfere in the corridor, the buyer will receive little pleasure from the purchase. 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 ones (the amount of electricity consumed, the noise level), in the technical specifications you can also find more rare ones that only the most demanding buyer pays attention to, for example, such as the climate 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.
Climatic class - these are the environmental conditions that must be in the room where the equipment will be operated. It is obvious that freezers do not always work near the assembly site. The range of climatic conditions can be enormous - from the Far North to South Africa. Therefore, equipment can work in different conditions in different ways.
Designation
There are 4 climate classes for freezers:
1. SN - subnormal.
2. N is normal.
3. ST - subtropical.
4. T - tropical.
Each of the climate classes corresponds to its own temperature conditions.
In Russian refrigerators, you can find a slightly different designation of the climate class. The essence remains the same, only the spelling is different. Models corresponding to SN, N, ST classes may have the designation UHL - moderately cold climate.
They can work in the temperature range of +16…+32 degrees at the place of installation. Devices corresponding to the subtropics are indicated by the letter O (general climate cooling).
Subnormal
The letters SN (subnormal freezer class) indicate that this model should be used 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 an equipped garage.
Normal
A normal climate class freezer can operate at higher temperatures: from +16 to +32. For a cool room, such a unit is unsuitable. But the temperature conditions of an average apartment are ideal for him.
Practically all models currently sold in Russia are of normal or subnormal class.
Subtropical
The subtropical 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 of freezer can be used in the tropics at temperatures from +18 to +43 degrees.
It is designed for rooms that are constantly hot and humid. A model of this class can be placed in a sauna or bath, but for an ordinary apartment it is hardly suitable. As an exception, a freezer for the tropics can be purchased if the owner plans to install it in a closed niche or expose it to direct sunlight.
How do models of different climate classes differ?
Of course, there are differences, and these differences relate to the design of the camera. Models intended for the subtropics must work in conditions of high humidity, and therefore, corrosion-resistant materials are used for their manufacture. If the freezer is designed for hotcountries, 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 a small layer of insulation, it will be difficult for the unit to keep the cold inside the chamber. Consequently, the compressor will have to turn on more often to catch up with the required temperature. In turn, this can lead to increased power consumption and premature exhaustion of the motor resource.
Models of different climate classes may also differ in compressor power. Obviously, a hot climate requires a more efficient motor that can quickly cool food in 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.
Extra fan is another difference between subtropical and tropical freezers. It is needed for the same as a powerful compressor - for fast cooling of products. As a rule, models designed for operation in the heat come with larger area condensers.
Which climate class is better?
Customers sometimes wonder, paying attention to the climate class of the freezer: "Which is better?" You can answer this way: "The one that fully meets the operating conditions." There is no good and badclimate class. It's just that different categories are for different terrain.
Where to watch?
The icon indicating the climate class of the freezer is usually written on an adhesive sticker inside the chamber, next to the technical specifications, nomenclature and date of manufacture. The operating conditions and temperature are not listed there, you should ask this information in advance.
Multi-class freezers
In recent years, the planet "pleases" the inhabitants with abnormal temperatures. Often in the middle latitudes, the air temperature does not drop below +30 for weeks, and snow falls in arid and southern countries. Therefore, in order to fully meet the needs of the consumer, manufacturers began to produce multi-class models. They are designed for operation in a wide range of latitudes. Such freezers are designated with a double icon, for example, SN-N (subnormal-normal). Accordingly, such a unit can work effectively in the temperature range of +10…+32 degrees.
The most versatile are SN-T class devices. 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 there will be a couple of hot days in the year, when the heat outside the window exceeds 35 degrees, it's okay. And in this case, there is no reason to take a unit for the subtropics. It is a completely different matter if the technique is used for several months under conditions close to the upper or lower temperature limit. In this case, you should pay attention to models for which such environmental conditions will be closer.
Some people think that multi-class freezing units are the best option. Why bother with the choice, if you can buy a universal model? However, this opinion is not entirely correct. Indeed, such a technique is suitable for any room, however, it will also cost more.
Power consumption
Some buyers, planning to make a choice of a freezer in favor of a particular model, are wondering how the energy consumption changes when moving from one climate class to another? As studies by experts show, the numbers are almost identical at temperatures up to 32 degrees. Yes, freezers designed for the tropics have powerful compressors that use more electricity. But if you install them 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 you put them in a hot room, then the power 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 technique intended for hotcountries, is universal compared to normal climate class models.
