fridge question

[space-time]

I have a kill-a-watt and I noticed that my fridge uses about 120-140W when the compressor is running, (and an additional 60W when I open the door, yes, the lamp is 60W). Anyway, sometimes there is a different sound, not as noisy as when the compressor is running, then the the fridge uses 700W! I saw sometimes also 400W, but 700 seems to happen more often. after a few minutes of 700, the compressor starts and the power drops to 130W.

What's going on? this is supposed to be an defrost-free fridge, and indeed, there is not much ice on the inside. Is this some sort of heater to melt the ice?

[Black Landlord]

What is "fridge" short for?

[tronnei]

All frostless units have a defrost heater, which cycles on and off.

[AlphaDog]

Both my refrigerator and my freezer are frost free, and both make a slightly different sound when they're doing whatever it is that they do during their "frost free" cycle. I don't have a clue what kind of technology they use, but it's safe to assume that's why the electrical usage goes up occasionally. Have you noticed any relationship between the times of higher energy use and the time when the refrigerator door has been opened and closed more often? I'm thinking while someone is preparing a meal as an example.

To BL: I think "fridge" goes back to "Frigidaire". Kind of like getting out the "Scotch tape," regardless of the brand. Or maybe you're too young to remember that.

[lafinfil]

[quote Black Landlord]What is "fridge" short for?

[Black Landlord]

So how does a "d" get in the short form?

[AlphaDog]

[quote Black Landlord]So how does a "d" get in the short form?
Because somebody thought if they shortened it to "Frig" people would mispronounce it and say "frig" which rhymes with "brig"? I don't know! I'm only old, not the fountain of knowledge for all things unable to be explained logically! "Scotch tape" is much easier to explain; wouldn't you like to know about it instead?

[space-time]

[quote Black Landlord]What is "fridge" short for?
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=fridge&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

a picture is worth 1000 words. hope this helps.

EDIT:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fridge

EDIT 2:

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/fridge?view=uk

enough?

[JoeH]

Probably also did not want to be confused with one of the other meanings of "frig", most often when that syllable is substituted for the f in f'ing.

[olnacl]

Kleenex, Zerox