Owners of Belarusian-made refrigeration equipment are often faced with the need to fine-tune the temperature regime, especially when operating conditions change or the set changes products. Adjusting the freezer in the refrigerator Atlant - the process is not complicated, but it requires an understanding of the principles of operation of the thermostat and compressor. Incorrect settings can lead to excessive consumption of electricity, the formation of ice or damage to frozen stocks.
Modern models are equipped with electronic controls, where all parameters are set from the panel, but a significant part of the equipment fleet still uses mechanical thermostats. In both cases, it is important to know what are the values are optimal for long-term storage of products. In this article we will analyze the algorithms of actions for different types of control.
Before you start turning knobs or switching numbers, you need to make sure that the refrigerator is working properly. If the compressor hums continuously, but there is no cold, or, on the contrary, the unit is silent for hours, simple adjustment may not help. Thermoregulator This is only an actuator that gives the command to turn on or off, based on the temperature in the chamber.
The principle of operation of the Atlant cooling system
Understanding the physics of the process will help you avoid common mistakes. In refrigerators Atlant with one compressor, the cold is produced in the evaporator, most often located in the freezer compartment, and then distributed into the refrigerator compartment. Therefore, the setting of the freezer directly affects the temperature in the main compartment.
A mechanical thermostat is a sensitive element that responds to changes in the temperature of the air or the surface of the evaporator. When you turn the knob, you change the moment the electrical circuit opens. Numbers on the regulator Do not mean degrees Celsius, they indicate the conditional cooling power: the higher the number, the colder.
⚠️ Attention: A sharp change in the position of the thermostat knob (for example, from "1" immediately to "7") may stress the compressor. Manufacturers recommend changing the settings smoothly, at intervals of several hours.
In models with the system No Frost or “Full No Frost” the process is slightly different. Here the temperature is controlled by sensors located inside the chambers and a control unit. An error in the sensor readings can lead to the fact that manual adjustment through the panel will not give the expected effect, since the system will rely on incorrect sensor data.
Setting the mechanical thermostat
Most classic models Atlant (series 40, 42, 450 and many two-chamber ones) are equipped with a mechanical regulator. It is usually located inside the refrigerator compartment at the top or on the top panel of the cabinet. Adjustment of the freezer compartment in such models often occurs indirectly, through a common thermostat, or through a separate damper.
If your model has a separate handle for the freezer (often located inside the freezer compartment or on the front of the door), it regulates the flow of cold air or the operation of the defrost heating element. Turning clockwise usually enhances cooling.
- ❄️ Summer: Set the regulator to medium values (3 or 4) so that the compressor does not work for wear in a hot room.
- ❄️ Winter: If the refrigerator is in an unheated room, you may need to increase the power (5 or 6), but only if the model supports operation at low temperatures ambient temperatures.
- ❄️ Loading: When fully loaded with fresh food, temporarily increase the power, then return to standard.
Use a thermometer for precise adjustment. Place it between grocery bags in the center of the freezer. 5-6 hours after changing the settings, take readings. The optimal temperature for long-term storage is -18°C. If the thermometer shows -12°C, add 1 division on the regulator.
☑️ Checking the mechanical settings
Adjustment in models with electronic control
More modern series Atlant (for example, XM-4625, XM-6025 and others) are equipped with an electronic control module. Here the adjustment takes place through a panel on the outside of the door. This allows you to set the exact temperature in degrees, which eliminates the guesswork on the thermostat numbers.
To change the settings, you usually need to press and hold the freezer temperature setting button (often indicated by a snowflake or letter F) for 3-5 seconds until the numbers start flashing. Then short presses select the desired value. After stopping actions after a few seconds, the settings are saved automatically.
⚠️ Attention: In some models, after a power outage, the settings may be reset to factory settings. Always check the set values after power surges or scheduled power outages.
Electronics also allows you to activate the mode "Super Freeze". In this mode, the compressor works without interruption, freezing food as quickly as possible. You cannot use it constantly - this will lead to freezing of the evaporator and damage. Turn it on only when loading a large volume of fresh food for no more than 24 hours.
Optimal temperature conditions
The correct setting is a balance between storage quality and energy efficiency. Too low a temperature in the freezer Atlant leads to unnecessary electricity consumption and overdrying of food (the “freezer burn” effect). Too high - to the growth of bacteria and spoilage of stocks.
There are storage standards for various categories of products. For meat and poultry, the optimal temperature -18°C and below. Fish also requires deep freezing. Vegetables and fruits, if you store them in the freezer (which is acceptable for some types after blanching), can be stored at slightly higher temperatures, around -12°C.. -14°C.
| Product type | Recommended t°C | Shelf life (months) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat (beef, pork) | -18°C and below | 8-12 | Sealed packaging |
| Poultry (whole/parts) | -18°C | 9-12 | No re-freezing |
| Faty fish | -24°C.. -30°C | 2-3 | Prone to oxidation |
| Vegetables/Fruits | -18°C | 8-10 | Only after processing |
| Semi-finished products | -18°C | 3-6 | See packaging |
It is important to consider that the temperature in different zones of the freezer may vary. It is always warmer near the walls and door than in the center near the back wall. Therefore critical supplies place in the depths of the chamber, closer to the center.
The influence of external factors on the operation of the freezer
Often users try to “tighten” the thermostat knob without noticing that there is a problem lies not in the settings, but in the operating conditions. A refrigerator Atlant, like any other, is sensitive to ambient temperature. If the kitchen is hot (+30°C and above), the standard mode may not be enough.
Poor ventilation of the condenser (grids at the back or on the sides) is a common cause of ineffective operation. If the refrigerator is moved close to the wall or in a niche, the heat is not dissipated. The compressor operates at the limit, but temperature in the chamber does not drop to the required values. In such a situation, adding power will only accelerate engine wear.
- 🌡️ Temperature in the room: The normal operating range for a refrigerator is from +10°C to +32°C (climate class N or SN).
- 🌡️ Loading: It is easier to “overcool” an empty freezer, but it heats up faster when the door is opened. Fill the free space with bottles of water.
- 🌡️ Seals: A worn rubber band on the door allows warm, moist air to pass through, causing ice to freeze and temperature failure.
⚠️ Attention: Do not install the refrigerator near radiators heating, ovens or direct sunlight. Local overheating of one side of the case disrupts the circulation of the refrigerant.
Diagnostics of faults in case of adjustment failures
If you set the maximum cooling, more than 10 hours have passed, and the temperature in the freezer Atlant does not fall below -5°C, or the products turn into an ice monolith with minimal settings, we are talking about a malfunction. Adjustment is powerless here - repairs are required.
One of the common problems is freon leakage. In this case, the compressor can work around the clock, trying to gain temperature, but there will be no cold. Or it will turn on rarely, since the sensor (thermostat) does not sense sufficient cooling, although the chamber is warm. It may also fail itself thermostat, "sticking" in one position.
In models with a system No Frost a common cause is a malfunction of the defrost system. If the defrost heating element, timer or defrost sensor does not work, the evaporator becomes covered with ice. The air stops circulating, and the chamber becomes warm, although the compressor is humming. Visually, this can be seen by the abundant snow on the back wall or in the evaporator niche.
To check, you can perform a simple test: defrost the refrigerator completely (24 hours without turning it on). Then turn it on empty at minimum power. If after an hour of operation a uniform “coat” of frost or cold does not appear on the evaporator (in the freezer), but the tubes are warm, diagnostics by a specialist is needed.
Why does a lot of ice freeze in the Atlant freezer even with the correct settings?
A lot of ice (“coat”) freezing most often indicates a violation chamber tightness (the door does not fit well, the seal is torn) or a malfunction of the defrost system (in No Frost models). Also, the reason may be the placement of foods with a high moisture content without packaging or hot dishes in the chamber.
Is it possible to regulate the freezer separately from the refrigerator compartment in one compressor models?
In classic models with one compressor and one thermostat, only the refrigerator compartment is directly regulated. The temperature in the freezer depends on the same thermostat. Separate adjustment is possible only if there is a mechanical damper for redistributing air flows or a separate circuit (in two-compressor models).
How often do you need to defrost the Atlant freezer?
Models with manual defrosting require cleaning from ice when the thickness of the fur coat reaches 3-5 mm (usually once every