energy saving adaptor

[Linda51]

We have a fridge/freezer in the garage that is over
20 years old. I read somewhere that electrical items over 10 years old take a lot of electricity and that you can buy some kind of adaptor to plug them in to make them more energy efficient. I can't for the life of me remember where I read this. Does anyone know what they are. Thanks.

[Clanad]

Here in the U.S. the devices are generically called Green Plugs, although most of them are white in color.
They do work, but with several cautions. Here, our standard household electrical current is 120 volts. However, older appliances, such as yours are designed to run on 10% overage or underage on the voltage (or the equivalent in the U.K., probably 220v). This means that the voltage delivered to your house can be as much as 20%variance from the optimum. The "Green Plug" equalizes the voltage at a standard 10% less than the optimum, i.e., 110v here. If there's a line drop in voltage, the device is able to "reset" itself to deliver the lowest voltage required.
As to caveats... they have to be purchased for the specific type of device to which it is attached. In other words, you can't buy one for portable electric heater, for example and expect it to work on your fridge. To do so, even though the "plug" is cheaper than the one for the fridge, would harm the fridge. Secondly, they are fairly expensive. One for a fridge here is about $250 U.S. It would take about 2 years to recoup the cost through the electrical savings.
Newer, motor driven appliances, such as fridges, have circuitry designed into them to internally equalize the voltage automatically. You've probably reached the limit on your fridge and the newer ones are much more efficient. (Keep in mind that side-by-sides cost nearly 25% more to operate than top or bottom freezers). At any rate, best of luck!

[pug100]

Is this what you mean Savaplug �25 or so. Limits the surge of power when the motor starts up. There's a list of what type of fridges it can and can't be used on,

http://www.windtrap.co.uk/Electricity_Monitors /SavaPlug.htm

[buildersmate]

This sounds like a non-starter. Firstly fridge-freezers don't take all that much electricity - perhaps 150W on average for an old one (they only use electricity when the compressor pump is running). Secondly any gadget when smoothes the electricity flow on start-up surge is going save a chicken-feed amount of electricity - how often does a fridge start up? - maybe twice an hour.
Thirdly the way to save electricity on a fride is to buy a new one where the INSULATION is vastly improved in the case. It is this that saves energy because the compressor motor does not have to run so frequently as less heat flows from the room to the inside of the fridge, warming it up.

[Clanad]

The surge protector isn't the same thing. The described "Green plug" allows the fridge (or other appliance) to run at the lowest end of the allowable voltage range. For example, most older fridges will run (here in the U.S.) very well at 110v, although the power supplied is nominally 120v. If a surge does occur, the device still maintains the 110v input to the fridge. If the line voltage drops below 110v, the device shuts down, even for micro-seconds, until at least 110v is achieved. This is the reaosn they are expensive.
I would add to buildersmate's response, however, that if the fridge is a self-defrosting model, it uses quite a bit of additional electricity since it actually warms the interior enbling any frost to melt and run down the drain tube (you do empty and clean the drain tray, don't you?) Studie shave shown,that although newer fridge's are much more energy efficient, they still are pretty high on the list of users of electricity...

[webdude]

I agree with buildersmate - surge limiters serve no useful purpose in this particular application, and looking at the website for the Green Plug, they only claim savings of around 1 to 5 dollars a year! that is about �2.50 max in UK money.

Frankly I would follow buildersmastes' advice, and if you are woried about running costs, buy a modern fridge with a good energy efficieny rating, they are all clearly marked in the shops.

[Disco Fever]

If your fridge/freezer is over 20 years old then I would of thought that it would of been more economic to buy a new one thats got better insulation to keep it colder than to run an older version...