?

"dpb" wrote in message
...
Mark M wrote:
"HeyBub" wrote in message
m...
Mark M wrote:
...
It was as if there was a timer or interlock on the door that
prevented it from being reopened for a few seconds after being
closed. The house has no manual for the freezer or refrigerator, so
I'm hoping someone here with a similar unit can enlighten me on
what's happening?

All well-sealed freezers will exhibit this behavior.

When you opened the door, warm air was exchanged for the existing cold
air. When you closed the door, the warm air inside immediately cooled
and contracted, creating a vacuum.
...

That said, the door WILL open if you pull hard enough.

Thanks for both the laughs and the most likely answer. Once explained,
it makes a bunch of sense. The freezer has nothing in it at the moment,
but is turned on to verify that it works.
...

Well, let's think about this a little...

Yes, _some_ warm air is exchanged when the door is opened, but...the laws
of thermodynamics don't allow the warm air introduced to be "immediately"
cooled and thereby contract; that takes a little while for the heat
transfer to actually occur.

What is more likely that occurs is the denser, cooler air inside tends to
migrate out as well as the opening door likely pulls some air out by the
slight pressure drop behind the moving door as it opens.

The small pressure drop, despite being minute, is multiplied by the fairly
sizable door area and so, exerts a decent amount of force. The box isn't
absolutely sealed so over a little while the pressure does equalize.

I agree the effect is one of lowered pressure; I don't think it's primary
cause is cooling of introduced air, however, but primarily owing to the
mechanical displacement of air.

Despite the cause, a friend who hears better than I do listened for a click
or some indication of a latching mechanism. Instead, she heard what she
called a "sucking sound," which she associated with lowered pressure inside
the case. The "timeout" this morning was 14 seconds on 3 trials separated
by around 5 minutes each.

It's an interesting and entertaining thing for me, and I appreciate the
discussion about the possible or probable cause.

Mark