Transporting of fridges

MHD · Post by **MHD** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 7:52 am

I had a discussion last night with a learnered college of mine with regards to the transporting of fridges.

When laying a fridge down the refrigerant which is normaly in a gas state can liquify meaning if you turn it on it will kill the compressor...

However if you leave it for a few days it will re-settle and become gas and all is good..

So: Has anyone ever transported a fridge laying down and have they (or not) had any problems??

I ask this as I am picking up a fridge tonight (Thanks Jack!) and the trailer I am borrowing from a mate only had short sidewall so I am worried about it tipping over if one of the tiedowns fail... and I am also a little worried about top-heavyness...

I will not be brewing for the next 5 days at least so I have time to let it settle...

Wassa · Post by **Wassa** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 7:56 am

Doesn't matter if you lay the fridge down or if you stand it up, you are still better off letting the fridge stand for a couple of days after you move it. This allows everything to settle after being shaken around in the mmove.

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 7:57 am

MHD,

I have transported fridges and have always given them 24 hrs to settle, even if they weren't on their side.

I see no sense in chancing things, know what I mean?

Dogger

MHD · Post by **MHD** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 7:58 am

But: have you transported them on the side with no problems?

My like will be made a lot easier tonight If I can do that...

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 8:03 am

Oh yeh, no probs. It was my current keg fridge, One of those little Danby jobies

Just don't let the bugger slide out the back

DOgger

scblack · Post by **scblack** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 8:28 am

OK, this is a good thing to know, as I am about to transport my brew fridge.

Just gotta work out how I'm gonna lift the old bastard.

MHD · Post by **MHD** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 8:30 am

Yeah... not looking forward to that!

Boozer · Post by **Boozer** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 1:02 pm

refrigerant which is normaly in a gas state can liquify

Hmmm, I always though that the refrigerant was in a liquid state - the expansion & drop in pressure across the Tx valve results in it changing to a gaseous state and a drop in temperature:

Ideal Gas Law: PV=nRT

Pressure x Volume is proportional to Temperature

The gas is then re-compressed to change back to a liquid and then the whole cycle repeats.

r.magnay · Post by **r.magnay** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 4:30 pm

You are right Boozer, it is the oil in the compressor that can find it's way into the system, there are no problems with laying the fridge down but keep the time it lays down to a minimum and allow it to stand for.............. 24hrs would be good but a bit less than that is still OK. If it is an old fridge just be sure the compressor is bolted to the base, some of the older fridges the compressor sat on rubber blocks,and tipping them over could dislodge it and possibly cause damage to the pipework!
Good luck!!

shane_vor · Post by **shane_vor** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 6:21 pm

My keg fridge was transported numerous times on it's side. ended up more like a portable party fridge! Stood upright and started up straight away. Never a problem for something like 9 years and it was well second hand before that! It's gone to heaven no though, but probably due to a gas leak and update time...

General · Post by **General** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 7:22 pm

I transported a fridge on it's side once, went to the tip within six months.

My previous posts refer to it as a fridge that only works at freezer temperatures, used a shitload of power after the move.

yardglass · Post by **yardglass** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 9:11 pm

we had a mobile piss up years ago, I took my mates fridge when his party was over, layed it on it's back in the rear of my HJ Wagon, filled it with ice and Tooheys Cans and roared off into the sunset.

the short story is, at various locations the fridge got stood up, plugged in, emptied, layed down, iced up, filled up, driven around and generally abused for about 11 days.

at one stage, at 2am, me and my mate even witnessed a Lesbian Interlude in the rear of the HJ between two of our female associates, right beside the fridge.
this did not seem to affect the running of the unit one iota.

imo, fridges are pretty tough.

501 · Post by **501** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 9:13 pm

NicE mate, !!

where can I find such 'associates'

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 9:15 pm

a Lesbian Interlude in the rear of the HJ

I'm sceptical, and would like video proof.

Cheers,
Greg

yardglass · Post by **yardglass** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 9:16 pm

i can do a rough sketch.

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 9:19 pm

I've got the rough scetch in my head....

Photo's would be ok...

Cheers,
Greg

MHD · Post by **MHD** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 9:34 pm

well we ended up taking upright Just because that, the way it went on the trailer

Awesome Stuff
thanks to Jack and his Parents I now have me a brew fridge

yardglass · Post by **yardglass** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 9:46 pm

501 wrote:NicE mate, !!

where can I find such 'associates'

Western NSW.

you make your own fun....

ever been to B&S Ball ?
do yrself a favour mate. do it once, the Goondiwindi B&S is something.

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 10:02 pm

Yard,

Do I even want to know?

Dogger

yardglass · Post by **yardglass** » Wednesday Jan 25, 2006 10:09 pm

awww cmon dog,

in the navy for 9 million years, you don't come out a softy.

we all know you're a tough bugger.....