Hi. About two months ago, we replaced our "under-counter", free-standing fridge and freezer (two separate appliances). Whereas the old appliances each had a kind of grid (of very find pipes) at the rear, which grids were about the same area as the rear of each appliance, the new ones have what looks like a plate at the back. In both cases, these fittings at the rear of the main case of the appliances will be for cooling the system. They stand off from the main case, by about half an inch. In the booklets that came with these appliances, there is a warning not to let any electric cable come in contact with the plate at the back. I can only assume that this warning is given because, over time, any electric cable in contact with the plate could become damaged by heat given off by the plate.
Now, with regard to "no contact", it would seem that, for us, there is no choice in the matter. This is because the power supply sockets are at the side of this pair of appliances (and just above the top of them (i.e. above the worktop), so the power cables from each appliance, to the two sockets, necessarily travel from the bottom of each appliance, at an angle of approximately 45°, up to the power sockets. When the fridge and freezer are being pushed under the worktop and up against the wall, I have no control over whether they touch the two plates, or not. The worst-case scenario could be that one of these power-cables becomes brittle or otherwise damaged, and starts a fire (possibly while we are sleeping!). I have thought about various tubes that might be applied to these cables, as heat insulators, but don't seem to be able to think of anything that would be really effective and that would not take up too much space in the limited space between the plates and the kitchen wall.
After all this, I should like to ask two questions. The first is: am I being concerned about this unnecessarily (I mean, do the plates not get very hot, anyway)? The second is this: can anyone suggest how to protect these power-cables from being damaged by heat?
Thanks in advance, for any helpful replies!
AA.W.
Now, with regard to "no contact", it would seem that, for us, there is no choice in the matter. This is because the power supply sockets are at the side of this pair of appliances (and just above the top of them (i.e. above the worktop), so the power cables from each appliance, to the two sockets, necessarily travel from the bottom of each appliance, at an angle of approximately 45°, up to the power sockets. When the fridge and freezer are being pushed under the worktop and up against the wall, I have no control over whether they touch the two plates, or not. The worst-case scenario could be that one of these power-cables becomes brittle or otherwise damaged, and starts a fire (possibly while we are sleeping!). I have thought about various tubes that might be applied to these cables, as heat insulators, but don't seem to be able to think of anything that would be really effective and that would not take up too much space in the limited space between the plates and the kitchen wall.
After all this, I should like to ask two questions. The first is: am I being concerned about this unnecessarily (I mean, do the plates not get very hot, anyway)? The second is this: can anyone suggest how to protect these power-cables from being damaged by heat?
Thanks in advance, for any helpful replies!
AA.W.
