Does a Magnet on a Fridge Affect Electricity?

[ramonegumpert]

Dear Experts

Could you tell me does putting magnets on fridge doors consume more electricity or no effect?

Thanks.

Regards
Ramone

 

[vk6kro]

No effect.

Did you think there might be?

 

[SteamKing]

Only if the magnets on your fridge are electromagnets.

 

[GingerLee]

Did you know the some refrigerators have magnetic door seals to close the door tightly? Putting a few low power magnets on door won't matter.

 

[ramonegumpert]

Dear Experts

Thanks for your responses.

@vk6kro
My fridge door seems to be using electromagnetic hidden in the door seals.
I recently put a harddisk magnet at the middle part of the edge of the door, just directly on the seal area.

I did not measure the temperature difference but after leaving the magnet there for about 10 minutes, its felt like there was an increase in temperature at the seal area.

So, I was concerned there could be an adverse effect on electrical consumption if I put a really strong magnet there.


@SteamKing
Yes, that is what i was worried about. The way seals seems to have electromagnets in there as the door seal is quite warm to touch normally.
After putting on the magnet i felt that there was a bit of temperature increase.
Nowadays, are'nt all fridge doors using electromagnets?

@GingerLee
Yes, that's what i have been doing. I have several low power standard fridge magnets on the door. Those I am not concerned. So, do you think that high power magnets on electromagnetic door seals would be a problem? If so, in what way ? Thats what I am trying to find out.

I think given the effect of magnetism on electromagnets, more current could be induced?
If so, it sounds like more electrical consumption?
Or is it the other way round, free energy?

haha.

 

[vk6kro]

You can check if they are electromagnets. Just attach a piece of soft iron to one of them and cut the power to the fridge.
If the iron falls off or is easier to remove, they are electromagnets.

However, there doesn't seem to be any advantage in using electromagnets when rare Earth magnets are cheap and plentiful and use no power.

My fridge uses soft rubber seals with occasional weak permanent magnets in them. This seems to be adequate.

 

[maimonides]

Quite a few deep freezers heat the sealing surfaces to prevent buildup of ice. But I´ve never heard of one using electromagnets. As vk6kro said, the magnet in the door seal is strong enough.
I disassembled seal once and found a strip of magnetic material all along the seal.

 

[ramonegumpert]

@vk6kro and mainmonides

Thanks so much for your advice.

Sure, will test it out.

Have a nice weekend!

Regards
Pascal