Comparison Grifon DFN-180W white vs Grifon DFV-165W white

The total capacity of the refrigerator is the total capacity of all the main working chambers: refrigerating, freezing, zero, and wine chambers. The set of these chambers, of course, will be different in different models (see more about them above). Here we note that large volumes, on the one hand, simplify the storage of numerous products and, on the other hand, affect the dimensions and price of the unit. It is also worth considering that refrigerators of the same total capacity may differ in the capacity of individual chambers.

The number of shelves supplied with the refrigerator. In this case, only shelves placed inside the main (refrigeration) chamber are taken into account. And closed drawers, which are usually at the bottom, are not considered shelves.

In general, this amount depends on the volume: the more spacious the refrigeration compartment, the more shelves are usually provided in the kit. At the same time, there is no strict dependence here, and refrigerators of similar capacity can be equipped with a different number of shelves. As for specific options, the most modest models come with 1 – 2 shelves, 3 shelves and 4 shelves can be called an average, and more are found in some units.

In most modern refrigerators the shelves are removable. In addition, they can be installed at different levels. In this case, it is not necessary to use the entire set: for example, if it is planned to place tall objects inside, one of the shelves can be removed, creating a vast space. And vice versa: if necessary, you can, usually, buy additional shelves. So the number of shelves in the kit only allows you to evaluate the overall possibilities for organizing space in the refrigerator. How to use these features depends on the user.

A feature that saves the owner from having to turn off and defrost the refrigerator manually. From time to time, the compressor turns off, and the frost on the walls thaws and flows into a special compartment, from where the moisture then evaporates under the influence of heat from the compressor. We emphasize that you should not confuse auto-defrost with the No Frost system (see above); they are different functions: No Frost prevents the formation of frost, and auto-defrost allows you to get rid of the accumulated frost.

Indoor lighting based on built-in light-emitting diodes (LED) has several advantages over more traditional bulbs. Firstly, due to its high efficiency, it gives excellent brightness with low power consumption and also generates almost no heat. Secondly, small LED lamps can be evenly distributed along the walls of the chamber, providing bright illumination of the entire volume of the refrigerator. The disadvantages of such lighting can only be attributed to a certain difficulty in repair and replacement. However, modern LEDs are quite durable.

The freezer, if present, may be positioned differently relative to the main compartment of the refrigerator. In classic units and French Door models (see "Product type"), the bottom location of the freezer is found predominantly (in some cases, such a freezer has a retractable design). The top location is noticeably less popular, although it is also used quite often. Side-by- side freezer models are almost all in the Side-by-Side category (see "Type"). And some modern refrigerators may not have a freezer at all. Here is a more detailed description of each option:

— Bottom. By installing the freezer at the bottom, you can raise the main (refrigerator) compartment to the optimum height: it will be in front of the user’s eyes, and you will not have to bend down to access the contents of this compartment. That is why this option is the most popular nowadays: most users often need access to the main volume of the refrigerator, and a freezer is required relatively rarely. Note that we are talking about classic freezers with doors; drawer freezers are placed in a separate category, described below.

— Bottom (retractable). Freezer with a bottom location, made in the form of a drawer. The general advantages of the bottom location are described above. And the retractable design provides...added convenience for the user, relieving him of the need to make unnecessary movements: to access the contents, it is enough to pull out the drawer without having to open the door first. On the other hand, such freezers are more demanding on the quality of thermal insulation, which affects the cost of the entire refrigerator. In addition, the pull-out chamber is one common container, without division into levels, while such chambers are rarely provided for more than two — this limits the possibility of separating different types of products into different compartments of the freezer.

— Top. The top position of the freezer makes it easy to access the contents without having to bend over. On the other hand, you will most likely have to bend over to access the main compartment. So this layout option is not as common as the bottom freezer installation and is mainly in two categories of refrigerators. The first is individual models of classic layout or French Door layout (see "product type"); many of them have a large overall height, which partly compensates for the features of the top location of the freezer. The second variety is compact units of small volume in which the freezer is installed inside the main compartment and does not have its outer door. In such cases, the top setting is considered optimal for several technical reasons.

— Side. The traditional option for Side-by-side units (see "Product type"), which is practically not found in other types of refrigerators. Note that the side freezer in such cases does not necessarily occupy the entire height of the refrigerator — it can be combined, for example, with a fresh zone or a wine chamber. In some models, freezers with this arrangement can even be equipped with separate doors. Although usually all compartments on one side of the unit are still covered by one common door.

— No freezer. By definition, single-chamber models do not have a freezer compartment (see "Number of chambers"); at the same time, in this category, there are both compact and rather large and roomy refrigerators. You can also find two-chamber units without a freezer on the market — in them the main compartment is usually complemented by a clearly defined fresh zone, but there is only one door, common to both compartments. Another type of unit with this feature is display refrigerators (see "Product type").

The capacity of the freezer installed in the refrigerator. Such a chamber is designed to store products at temperatures well below zero (on average -18 °C). Its capacity is related to the total capacity of the refrigerator (and the capacity of the main, refrigerating chamber). However, there is no strict dependence here — models with a similar volume of the refrigerating chamber can be equipped with freezers of different sizes.

When choosing by capacity, it is worth considering how much frozen food you plan to store at a time. Note that it is undesirable to fill the freezer completely — this negatively affects the efficiency of work. However, if this chamber is planned to be used only occasionally, and you do not plan to keep numerous products in it, you can not chase after the capacity: for such cases, 25 – 50 liters, or even smaller capacities, are enough. In the smallest modern refrigerators, the freezer capacity does not exceed 10 liters. And vice versa, very roomy freezers come across — for 176 – 200 liters and even more. Such volumes are typical mainly for side-by-side and French door units (see "Product type"). However, they are also found in models of the classic two-chamber layout.

The number of drawers into which the refrigerator freezer is divided. For top-mounted freezers (see “Freezer”), this paragraph may indicate the number of levels, taking into account the shelves the fridge is equipped (drawers are not used in such chambers).

On the one hand, the abundance of drawers makes it easy to distribute different types of foods in different compartments. On the other hand, more drawers (for the same total freezer capacity) mean less height and capacity for each drawer. So when choosing, you should consider what is more important for you — extensive possibilities for sorting content or the capacity of individual drawers. As for the specific quantity, most modern refrigerators have 3-drawer freezers — this number is generally considered the best compromise between the nuances described above. A larger number of drawers is found mainly in high-capacity units, but 1 – 2 freezer drawers can be found in all types of refrigerators — from small classic to large French Door and Side-by-Side (see "Product type").

The autonomy time provided by the refrigerator when the power is turned off.

Often, this parameter describes the capabilities of the freezer. In such cases, the autonomy time is indicated as the time during which, at an outside temperature of +25 °C, the temperature in the filled freezer does not rise above -9 °C (this level is considered critical for the storage of frozen foods). Accordingly, the actual autonomy time may differ from the claimed one — depending on the ambient temperature, the frequency of opening the refrigerator, etc. However, this parameter describes the quality of thermal insulation quite accurately, and it is possible to evaluate different models and compare them with each other.

Also, autonomy time can be given for models without freezers: in such cases, we are talking about the time during which the temperature in the refrigerator compartment remains at an acceptable level under approximately the same conditions.

Approximate amount of fresh food that a refrigerator can completely freeze from room temperature to freezer operating temperature in 24 hours. Power up to 10 – 15 kg/day will be quite enough for everyday use, but if you plan to freeze food in large volumes and often — you should pay attention to more performant freezers.