Dawlance 9173WB Icemax

Description

The 9173 sits at 13-14 cubic feet (328 litres) in Dawlance’s range, which puts it with a family of four to six.

Capacity and layout

13-14 cubic feet (328 litres), double door with the freezer mounted on top, built on the wide body cabinet. Suited to a family of four to six. If you are torn between this and the next size up, the larger one usually wins in practice: a fridge packed tight runs warmer and works its compressor harder than one with room for air to move.

Q-Frost freezing and solar compatibility

IceMax is the top of Dawlance’s direct-cool range and the only trim here that will run off alternate power. It is rated compatible with solar, UPS and generator supply, which in practice means the fridge keeps running through load shedding instead of sitting warm. Q-Frost technology takes the freezer down to -28C and makes solid ice roughly two hours faster than the standard models, and the icebox holds 21 pieces. Super Freeze mode drops the compartment quickly when you have loaded it. The Pro Inverter compressor is rated up to 55 percent more efficient than a conventional one, and a five-way evaporator cools around 30 percent faster.

Cooling and refrigerant

Direct cool, using R600a. R600a runs at lower pressure than the older refrigerants, which tends to make the compressor quieter, and it is readily available locally if the system ever needs recharging.

Placement

Leave a hand’s width behind and above the cabinet. A refrigerator sheds its heat through the back, and pushed flat against a wall in a hot kitchen it will run far longer than it needs to. Keep it out of direct sun and away from the cooker if the layout allows.