On Sat, 20 Oct 2012 00:28:42 +0000 (UTC), gregz wrote:

Erik wrote:
In article ,
"Stormin Mormon" wrote:

If a refrigerator is used outdoors, in the summer.
The condensor on the back, is black tubing. As
we know, black absorbs heat from the sun shine,
which makes the compressor work harder.

Of course, that condensor can be painted. Which
color paint is coolest in summer, and works best
to release the heat from the refrigerator? White, or
silver?

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

Refrigerators & freezers should always be housed indoors, and even then
positively shielded from heat sources and direct solar radiation.
(Meaning zero direct sunlight.)

Bet you a buck if you read your refrigeration equipment manual, you'll
find these environmental requirements stated within.

Yes, as others have noted, black is by far the most efficient color far
as heat radiation goes... ever notice how condensers always come from
the factory painted black? Keeping the condenser free of dust/spooge,
and insuring free air circulation around it is a great long term energy
saving measure

Erik

Air circulation outweighs radiation. Do you see air conditioner coils
painted black?

No, because the color, as seen by humans, is irrelevant. You're right,
though, conduction and (forced) convection a far larger factors than
emissivity.

If one had to put the coils in the sun, I would use a high heat silver
paint, which are usually thin coats. It's not just the coils heating from
the sun, it's the whole back, warming up the air which is supposed to be
cooling things down. Just painting the back surface would help out, not
touching the coils. Or best. Shade.

Again, the "color" in the visible spectrum isn't important unless the surface
is emitting in the visible range (incandescing).

I think some backs are white, with black coils.