a note for anyone with a timber shed and a bait fridge/freez

i remember reading here during the "big freeze" from last winter that when the outside temp of a fridge freezer went below the set temp of the fridge then it cut out, but also switched off the freezer in many of them.
i went out to my timber shed to check my freezer and when i opened the door i was met with a smell that only an angler will recognise. it must have been off for a week at least. i lost a good few macks, a lash of frozen crab, razor and a few black lug wraps. the whole lot ended up in the bin and i had to clean out the freezer while trying not to be sick.
to combat this i had to put an electric rad out into the shed(much to the wifes amusement) and had it on the medium heat setting and it came on for 15mins every hour and it worked. it wasnt enough heat to keep the shed warm but it stopped it from getting cold enough to switch the fridge freezer off.

the place was white with frost this morning so i went out to check it and again, it seemed to be off but thankfully everything was still frozen.


so anyone with a timber shed and a fridge freezer inside check it regularly over the winter, it might save you needing to restock it.

Yes this happens to a lot of fridge freezers when the temperature drops below a certain point it recognizes the temperature cuts the fridge off and when this happens it cuts off the freezer as well, they are not designed for out door use.
You are better off getting a dedicated fridge and freezer it will save you in the long run.

Interesting if not unfortunate.
I take it this happened to a fridge/freezer combination and not a standalone freezer?

Happened me last winter,lost a load of mack, sandeel, razor, crab and lug wraps

Interesting if not unfortunate.
I take it this happened to a fridge/freezer combination and not a standalone freezer?

yeah, dont think the cold affects the standalone freezer. i think it only happens when the temp goes below what the fridge is set at.
it probably wont have much of an effect from the cold snap we have now as the daytime temps will rise up and the fridge/freezer will kick in before anything defrosts in the freezer but last winter was pretty extreme. i remember a good few days last year when the highest temps for the whole day were about +1c or 2c and most fridges will only be about +3c-5c.

Happened to me in my last place....A seperate fridge and freezer would be the way to go then?

Or put a heater in your shed

Yep happened to my fridge freezer last year.. im still on the look out for a coca cola fridge if anyone is selling one

i have a tall pub size fridge if ya fancy it?

too far away to pick it up pal.. thanks for the offer though