Meet the vip-functions of the fridge

Every year the appliances that we use in everyday life are getting “smarter” and “more independent. Most of the technical innovations introduced by manufacturers concern the control system – more and more often many standard processes in household appliances are becoming automatic and do not require constant consumer control.

By the way, not every housewife can brag of absolute knowledge and ability to use all the functions of any household appliance.

Often we do not use many useful features due to lack of information. So what are the basic and what additional functions can your refrigerator possess??

The temperature regulator: and here’s the old twist

Nowadays it is rare to find a fridge where the working temperature is regulated by a rotary thermostat located inside the appliance.

For the convenience of consumers and to maintain a stable temperature mode, refrigerators of any price category are increasingly equipped with external multifunctional control panels with displays and buttons or key-sensors. This is due to the desire to reduce power consumption and provide better and more uniform cooling of the internal space of the refrigerator.

On the control panel of economy class models with mechanical control system, usually there is a power indicator power connection , temperature knob and, if there is a fast freezing function, a button key to switch to this mode, as well as an indicator of the refrigerator operation modes.

In refrigerators with two compressors and separate regulation of temperature in the freezing and refrigerating chamber there will be, respectively, two regulators. In practice, it is very rare to find models with two rotary knobs, usually with two compressors, the refrigerator is already equipped with an electronic control panel.

Who’s on the lookout for cold? Buttons and sensors.

An indispensable attribute of the refrigerator electronic control panel are the keys or sensors for adjusting the temperature in increments of 1 or 0.5?From. Next to it, there is usually a display with the operating temperature value – always for the refrigerator compartment and sometimes also for the freezer compartment.

In refrigerators that have the function of regulating humidity in the freshness or fruit and vegetable drawers, the display of the control panel can also show the level of humidity. And the humidity regulators are usually located inside the fridge.

The humidity in the fruit and vegetable drawers is usually controlled by a special flap, while the freshness compartments are controlled by a standard rotary knob.

It is necessary to note that the temperature and humidity control systems Fuzzy Control in modern refrigerators are constantly being updated and improved. Their operation becomes more precise and accurate – for example, variations within 0.5°C of user-set values are tolerated in the top models. This result is achieved via the system of sensors which transmit the information on changing the refrigerator operating parameters to the microprocessor which controls it.

Built-in diagnostic systems are not at all uncommon these days, when in case of failure the error code is displayed on the refrigerator display and the user can try to solve the problem himself/herself.

The alarm system also provides a light sometimes combined with an acoustic alarm if the temperature in the freezer compartment or, less frequently, in any of the compartments of the refrigerator rises unexpectedly. Sometimes the light alarm blinking indicator is supplemented with an audible one repeating at regular intervals .

For you with ice or more?

A separate component of modern refrigerator control system is dispenser control. The dispenser consists of an ice maker and a dispenser for filling containers with ice or chilled water.

The dispenser, as a rule, has its own multi-functional display, where either one sensor key corresponds to each mode, or the modes are switched by successive pressing of a single key. The dispenser normally has three operating modes: chilled water, crushed ice or ice cubes.

And it’s so cold! It’s easy – Super!

Increasingly, modern refrigerators are fitted with a button to switch to SuperCool mode on their control panels. This mode helps to quickly restore the operating temperature to an acceptable level if the refrigerator is loaded with a large amount of food at once.

Next to the button to switch to supercooling mode, there is usually a light indicator for this mode if there is a display, information about the rapid cooling is displayed on it.

Superfreezing and supercooling modes can be disabled by pressing the corresponding keys or you can rely on the built-in timer that automatically disables these functions. As a rule, super-freezing mode is automatically turned off after twenty-four to thirty hours, and supercooling mode earlier, after three to six hours.

It is often possible to obtain information about the refrigerator’s current operating state immediately when opening the door: a pleasant beep sounds – this is also an element of the refrigerator’s control system and reminds you of the current state of the refrigerator.

Silver kills germs

Recently refrigerators with integrated interior cleaning system are becoming more and more popular. For example, Siemens refrigerators are equipped with antibacterial cleaning system based on inorganic silver compound AgION , which reliably prevents the development and spread of harmful bacteria, microbes and pathogenic fungi.

Another example of the inventions used in the manufacture of refrigerators is the double honeycomb air freshener. Whirlpool is actively engaged in the developments in the sphere of antibacterial protection of the home appliances. The essence of the company’s new antibacterial air filtration system is the use of a high-tech removable filter with built-in Microban® antibacterial active components.

Sharp has developed the unique PlasmaCluster technology for cleaning the interior of the refrigerator. Plasmacluster ions circulate inside the refrigerator compartment, effectively preventing odors, pathogens and mold.

But that’s not all: not only does the air inside the refrigerator get purified, but also outside: Plasmacluster ions spread throughout the kitchen and actively purify the air in the room. The “plasma cluster ions” technology is based on creating a large number of positive and negative ions.

Deactivation of fungi and harmful bacteria occurs due to the fact that positive and negative ions possess the property to form clusters around the microparticles and to react chemically with them leading to the destruction of their envelopes.

By the way, the “Plasmacluster” function can be activated by pressing the corresponding key on the external panel of the refrigerator.

I will sing until you close the door!

On the control panel of refrigerators, you can often find the keys that have to do with the energy-saving functions. So, the button to switch to “Holiday” mode allows you to set the refrigerator to a constant operating temperature of about +15?C, thus minimizing energy consumption.

This mode, as its name suggests, is recommended for long absences, for example, when going on vacation or vacations, when there is almost no food left in the fridge. There are two options of switching over to the “Vacation” mode – if the normal operation mode of the freezer is preserved and if the freezer is switched off completely.

Another useful function – “Eco” – is also designed to optimize energy consumption, but with the operating temperature in the freezing chamber from +5°C to +10°C, i.e.e. The perfect storage solution for chilled and frozen foods. It is worth switching this mode only when the food in the fridge is comparatively little. If your fridge is fully loaded, you won’t feel the effects of the economy function.

Another function, the control key of which can be found on the panels of refrigerators such as Hotpoint-Ariston, is the “Ice Party” function. This mode regulates the operation of the freezer to quickly cool the champagne before the party. In this case you do not need to worry about freezing the bottle – it is in a special bucket, and when you reach the temperature ideal for serving drinks on the table from +3 ° to +6 ° C , the control panel light up indicator accompanied by a sound signal.

A very common function is an “audible open door alarm.

In practice, this means that if the door of the refrigerator is open or not properly closed, after 10-15 seconds you will hear a pleasant acoustic signal, which will be repeated until the door is closed.

Smart fridges for the smart home

The concept of Smart Home implies a single, centralized appliance control system. You can arrange this, for example, by purchasing Miele appliances in the Miele@home SuperVision system.

The system can include a refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, cooktop and oven. The central display – the control panel – is normally combined with the control panel of the oven and a special communication module is additionally connected to each appliance. Data is transmitted via the normal power grid, no extra cable needed.

Liebherr has innovations like these. Thus the HomeDialogSystem allows you to connect the fridge and the freezer through the standard power supply even if they are located in different rooms or even on different floors. No special power supply cable is required.

All the topical information about the freezer operation is displayed on the refrigerator display. It also gives an audible signal if the freezer door in another room is not properly closed.

Refrigerators with Internet access

Recently, it has become quite common to find refrigerators with multifunctional chambers and compartments. This means it’s possible to combine interior compartments depending on what foods are more inside.

Sometimes the vegetable storage drawer can be switched to a low-temperature compartment, sometimes one of the refrigerator compartments can be turned into an additional freezer.

In some top models, it is possible to turn one of the chambers into a wine storage compartment at a temperature of +8°C to +10°C.

The new Sharp fridges have the same compartment that can operate between -18°C and +8°C, and can also be used to heat food between +55°C and +60°C. All of these changes can be made using a special switch on the control panel.

Thanks to the development of digital technology, modern refrigerators are capable of replacing such appliances as TV, VCR, DVD player, radio, voice recorder and answering machine.

Models with a 13 or even 15 inch liquid crystal display built into the door of the fridge were not uncommon for example, Toshiba, LG, Gorenje, Samsung, Siemens . Such dimensions correspond to the size of a small TV set, which is usually installed in the kitchen.

Moreover, switching of programs can be performed both from the control panel on the refrigerator itself and from the remote control, and the functions of the device include even a freeze frame. To ensure quality sound, the display is equipped with two amplifiers, and in some models e.g. Samsung KG 39 MT 90 the screen can even rotate by 45°C, so that no matter in which corner of the kitchen you are, you will be able to watch your favourite programme comfortably.

There are also fridges on the market with access to the Internet. With such a device, you will be able to look inside and check its contents while staying in your workplace. All the food brought home from the store will have to be “registered” in the fridge with the help of a small video camera.

Models with built-in voice recognition have also become a reality. So, apparently, the time is not far off when you, without getting up from your favorite chair, will ask your refrigerator to make ice, and a few minutes later you just turn the dispenser knob and enjoy a great cold drink. With the LCD display in this case, you can record and listen to voice messages left by other housemates.

In the electronic memory of the device is a database of terms and conditions for storing different types of food, as well as their caloric content. Moreover, modern refrigerators can be connected to the paging system LG’s developments , and then these interactive models will be able, for instance, to display real-time weather reports.

These are the innovations of control systems and refrigeration appliances functions offered to us by modern refrigerator manufacturers. Now, with all the extra features and modes, the main thing is not to forget to put the food inside. After all, this is first and foremost a refrigerator designed for cooling and storing our food!