In a video by @Techconnectify@mas.to, Alec goes into a deep dive into the simplicity of his particular model, its shortcomings and variety of data logging tests in an attempt to fix them.
TL,DW: Very simple, cheap and ingenious design, with one compressor loop between the fridge and freezer in series. However, its temperature sensor is wonky and so the fridge is more affected by how long the compressor operates than the actual temperature itself. There is a signficant temperature differential between the top and bottom, fans on the exterior or interior could help but with the faulty sensor only made matters worse. With the controller replaced with a proper temp control unit the fridge functioned much better.
Interesting point on the microwave ovens. I live in the Netherlands and every apartment I’ve lived in comes with a standard combination oven and microwave, i.e oven sized microwave. Is that something standard in the US and not standard where you are?
As a fellow Dutchy… my current place is the first place I ever lived in that came with a combination oven and microwave.
Previously I’ve always had to supply my own microwave / oven ;-)
I’ve seen it more there, for sure. Here I’ve seen it once or twice, in expensive homes that got a very early microwave when it was a luxuty and built it right into the furniture. Most other places have a secondary spot for a smaller microwave. I actually went and got a combination one, still smaller than many of the ones you see in the US, and found that it wouldn’t fit in the microwave spot in my kitchen, so I ended up having it over a counter and using the microwave shelf as a spice rack.
Wait are these microwaves one unit, or a separate oven and microwave? Here in the states they’re always separate, though sometimes a microwave might be above the stove and function as a smoke hood.
Something like this render from Best Buy is common enough. That’s what I’d call a normal size microwave in either case though, just different mounting options.
I could certainly fit a microwave inside my oven, so they’re not really too similar size here unless you get a moderately large one. In fact, that render only has a kind of weird scale, the gas range and oven seem about right.
Yeah so they’re one unit, you turn it on and then choose to oven, microwave, grill or a combination of all 3. I’ve found combo low wattage microwave with oven to be great at quickly heating frozen food for example.
I think the major difference is that it’s rarer to have a combination stove and oven. The stove is usually separate and built into the counter top, similar to how a sink is installed. I have normal drawers beneath my induction stove. Then the combi oven is above the inbuilt fridge. Just whatever the designers of my rental place thought works well.