Panasonic Refrigerator Operating Instructions

NON-CFC

This unit uses totally NON-CFC MATERIALS both for refrigerant (R600a) and for insulation (Cyclo-Pentane). So, this refrigerator does not damage the Earth's ozone layer.

Safety Precautions

Please be sure to follow these instructions.

⚠ WARNING

This sign means: It may lead to a serious injury or death.

⤴ These signs mean prohibited action.

✔ This sign means required action.

⌂ This sign means the appliance must be earthed to prevent electric shock.

❗ CAUTION

This sign means: It may result in injury or property damage.

R600a iso-butane: Risk of fire / flammable materials

Otherwise it may cause a fire, injury, electrical shock.

For power plug and cord...

• Do not plug or unplug with wet hands.
• Do not let the cord or plug be damaged.
• Disconnect power plug when cleaning.
• Plug into a wall outlet of the rated voltage on its own with the rated current and insert plug fully.
• Reserve one socket for the refrigerator only. Avoid connecting many appliances to the same socket and unroll through the length of cord.
• Remove dust periodically from the power plug.
• If the supply cord is damaged, it must be replaced by the manufacturer, its service agent or similarly qualified persons in order to avoid a hazard.
• If you detect burning smell, disconnect the power plug and ventilate the kitchen.
• Stop using the refrigerator and unplug the unit immediately if there is an abnormality or failure. Abnormality and failure examples:
  • Power cord or plug is abnormally hot.
  • Power cord is deeply cut or deformed.
  • There is burning smell.
  • You can feel tingling electricity.

When recycling the product...

• Before taking the refrigerator to be recycled, please remove all the door opening seal to prevent locking a child in it.
• The warning labels mentioned above should be kept throughout the life of the refrigerator.
• The operating instructions should be handed over to any person who would use or handle the refrigerator whenever the refrigerator would be transferred to another location and delivered to a recycling plant.
• Regarding to local laws, Cyclo-Pentane is used for insulation of this refrigerator. When you throw away this unit, please discard it by proper method and do not dispose it by burning.

When using...

• Do not damage the cooling circuit (piping on the back).
• Do not touch the compressor and pipes, because of high temperature, that there is a risk of burn injury.
• Do not let any children hang onto the refrigerator's door, it may overturn to the kid.
• Do not place any water container on the top of the refrigerator in case the spilling water causes electrical shock or combustion.
• Do not store explosive substances such as aerosol cans with a flammable propellant in this appliance.
• This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.
• Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.

In case of emergency...

• Maintenance work only be carried out at workshop by well-trained maintenance worker.
• Do not store explosive substances such as aerosol cans with a flammable propellant and chemicals in the appliance.
• Do not use electrical appliances inside the food storage compartments of the appliance, unless they are of the type recommended by the manufacturer. (If refrigerant is leaked, it may catch fire from a spark of the electrical contacts and may cause an explosion)
• Do not disassemble, repair or modify the refrigerator by yourself. If you want to repair the refrigerator, please consult your dealer or authorized service center.
• Do not use mechanical device or other means to accelerate the defrosting process, other than those recommended by the manufacturer.

When installing...

• Fix the refrigerator to avoid danger due to unbalance.
• When positioning the appliance, ensure the supply cord is not trapped or damaged.
• Ensure that the refrigerator is plugged into an earthed mains socket.

Usage Precautions

When opening/closing the doors...

• Do not put your hand in the gap between the doors.
• Do not open and close the doors forcefully. (Otherwise the food may be fallen and you may be injured.)

When storing food...

• Do not freeze glass bottles, that there is a risk of injury. (If the liquid in a glass bottle is frozen, then the bottle may break and you may be injured.)
• Do not add a high impact on glass trays. (Otherwise those glass trays may break and you may be injured.)

When moving the refrigerator...

• Hold the refrigerator tightly when transporting.
• Apply protective covering, etc. to floors with a fragile surface.

When opening/closing the doors...

• Do not refrigerate items which are bigger than tray or shelf, as the door will not close completely causing leakage of cool air.
• Do not open refrigerator frequently or leave it open for long time in order to prevent water dripping inside and waste energy.
• Frequently check the door opening seal, it must be closed to the refrigerator's body completely.

When cleaning...

• Do not clean the refrigerator with chemical substance or liquid. It will cause damage and have corrosion on the surface.
• Clean the pan water evap located over the compressor at the back of the refrigerator every three months to prevent the odour generated from humidity.

When using...

• When the plug is disconnected, leave it for 5 mins ? 5 mins
• Adjust the temperature according to the actual operating condition for energy saving.
• The humidity inside the fresh case may condense so wipe it with a cloth periodically. Clean the fresh case once a month.
• If you will not be at home for several days and there are nothing refrigerated in the refrigerator, the plug should be disconnected for energy saving.
• The outside wall of refrigerator cabinet may sometimes get warm, especially just after installation. This is quite normal, and is due to the built-in Mullion Dryer Pipe which prevents sweating and radiates heat.
• When humidity is high, e.g. during rainy-season, condensation may appear on the surface of cabinet, especially around the door seal gasket. Wipe off the condensed water with a clean cloth.
• Do not keep the door open any longer than necessary, particularly in hot, humid weather.

When storing food...

• Do not place warm/hot foodstuff in the refrigerator.
• Do not overload the refrigerator. Gap must be provided between foodstuffs to maintain the cooling effect.
• Store fruits and vegetables in vegetable case, where trapped moisture helps preserve food quality for longer time periods.
• Drinking water, beverage bottles should be sealed to prevent odor contamination.
• Foodstuff such as vegetable, fruits and fresh food should be wrapped or pack in box before freezing and refrigerating.
• Put the food such as meat or fish in the freezer if you want to store for an extended period.
• Cover juicy food with tight lids, plastic film or foil.
• Cool hot dishes in room temperature before placing them in your refrigerator.

Special Features

1) ECONAVI

The microchip performing ECONAVI mode is integrated into the main control board. By detecting refrigerator's frequency of use (opening and closing of door), ECONAVI mode automatically operates to save energy.

2) INVERTER

In accordance with temperature change inside the compartment, the motor of compressor runs at different speed. When the temperature is stable, the motor runs at a lower speed (energy saving & lower noise). When powerful cooling is required, the motor runs at a higher speed.

Installation

The distance requested for installation

• The top of the refrigerator and the ceiling at least 30 cm.
• The back of the refrigerator and the wall at least 10 cm.
• The sides of the refrigerator and the walls at least 5 cm.

[Diagram: Shows a refrigerator with arrows indicating clearances: 30 cm from the top, 10 cm from the back, and 5 cm from the sides.]

Area around the installed unit

• Do not locate the refrigerator in a humid place as rust may form and may cause electric leakage.
• Do not locate the refrigerator exposing to direct sunlight as the heat and sunlight will increase the temperature.
• Do not locate the refrigerator near heat source such as cooking stove or oven.
• Do not block the openings around the refrigerator.
• The refrigerator must be located in the place where there is good air circulation.
• In case of placing the refrigerator on an uneven surface, adjust the adjustable bolt to make the refrigerator stands stably.

Moving or shifting

When moving or shifting the refrigerator, remove ice maker, freezer case, pan water evap, etc. and check to be sure that there is no water in the refrigerator.

Power cord setting

To bring power cord for use, pan water evap from left should be lifted up. Then bring the power cord out and then insert pan water evap into the block by pressing at both the sides.

LED lamp and grounding

• The refrigerator LED lamp, specially designed for this refrigerator, does not function on individual replacing. If you need replacement, please contact Panasonic Service Center.
• If there is no grounding wiring plug in refrigerator, it should be connected with grounding connection to prevent electrical hazard from electric leakage.

Parts Identification

A: FRIDGE ROOM

B: PRIME FRESH ROOM

C: FREEZER ROOM

• 1 LED Lamp
• 2 PC Glass tray
• 3 Control Panel
• 4 Glass tray crisper
• 5 Vegetable case
• 6 -3°C cold storage case
• 7 1-2 Glass tray
• 8 Ice maker
• 9 Ice cube tray
• 10 Ice box
• 11 FC Glass tray
• 12 Freezer case
• 13 Egg shelf
• 14 Utility box
• 15 Egg tray
• 16 Bottle shelf
• 17 Shelf FC
• 18 Adjustable bolt
• 19 Gasket PC
• 20 Gasket FC
• 21 Pan water evap
• 22 Compressor

Note: In model NR-BV280Q, there is only 1 PC Glass tray. In model NR-BV280Q, there is no egg shelf.

[Diagram: Shows a cross-section of the refrigerator with compartments labeled A, B, C and numbered parts pointing to specific locations within the compartments. A separate view shows the rear of the refrigerator with parts 21 and 22.]

[Diagram: Shows the Control Panel with buttons labeled "Fridge", "Prime Fresh", "Freezer", "Select", "Temp. Control", "Quick Freezing", "Prime Fresh+". It indicates "Fridge control button (P.8)" and "Freezer control button (P.8)", and "Quick Freezing and Prime Fresh+ LED light (P.9)".]

ECONAVI Operation

Detects opening and closing of door and brightness around refrigerator, and automatically controls operation to save energy.

This refrigerator will learn the lifestyle patterns of your family from opening and the time periods of infrequent use to perform ECONAVI operation. The refrigerator learns your lifestyle pattern from the previous 3 weeks, and uses what it has learned from the 4th week onwards.

Setting for enabling ECONAVI operation

• ECONAVI operation is enabled automatically only when the temperature control of the Freezer room is set to "Med".
• However, ECONAVI does not operate while “Quick Freezing” or “Prime Fresh+” mode is operating.
• It is not possible to forcefully start ECONAVI operation.

Remark: Effectiveness differs depending on the ambient temperature, ambient brightness, number of times and when doors are opened and closed, and state in which food is stored.

Temperature Control

The temperature can be adjusted for Min - Max levels. Press "Select" to select the area to control the temperature: Fridge, -3°C cold storage room, Freezer. After that, press "Temp Control" to set the temperature level.

Remark: While operating the refrigerator for the first time, after connecting the plug, adjust the temperature to "Med" position of each control and leave it for 24 hours for effective cooling. After that, adjust the temperature as you prefer. If you want to save energy, do not adjust the temperature lower than the actual operating condition.

Temperature Control (Fine Adjustment Mode)

The refrigerator is specially designed for appropriate use, which can adjust the temperature level to detailed 9 levels with the following details.

How to operate the fine adjustment mode

For the Freezer room

1. Press the button "Select" until LED "Freezer" turns on.
2. Set LED display to “Min” with the “Temp. Control” button.
3. Press and hold the “Temp. Control” button (for a few seconds) until the LED display returns to show at “Med” position.
4. Set "9 levels" mode following below table by pressing the "Temp. Control” button.

For the Fridge room

Operate steps 1 ~ 4 with selecting “Fridge” area instead of "Freezer” area.

To reset the setting fine adjustment mode

Repeat steps 1 ~ 3, then the refrigerator returns to normal operation mode.

Remarks:

• -3°C cold storage room does not have fine adjustment mode.
• Temperature control varies depending on the changing environment and food storage quantity.

Quick Freezing

How to operate the "Quick Freezing” mode

• Press the button "Select" until the LED "Freezer” turns on, then press "Temp Control” until the LED "Quick Freezing” turns on. “Quick Freezing” mode starts after 10 seconds.

Remark:

• If you want to stop the operation immediately, repeat the procedure until the LED “Quick Freezing" turns off.
• The system will stop the operation automatically when it runs for 60 mins (if ambient temperature is below 18°C) or 150 mins (if ambient temperature is above 18°C) and return to normal mode (the LED "Quick Freezing” turns off.)
• The LED "Quick Freezing" flashing means that the defrosting system is now working. "Quick Freezing" mode will start right after the defrosting operation is finished.

Prime Fresh+

How to operate the "Prime Fresh+" mode

• Press the button “Select” until the LED “Prime Fresh” turns on, then press "Temp Control” until the LED "Prime Fresh+" turns on.

Remark:

• If you want to stop the operation immediately, repeat the procedure until the LED "Prime Fresh+" turns off.
• The system will stop the operation automatically when it runs for 105 mins (if ambient temperature is below 18°C) or 150 mins (if ambient temperature is above 18°C) and return to normal mode (the LED "Prime Fresh+" turns off.)
• The LED "Prime Fresh+" flashing means that the defrosting system is now working. “Prime Fresh+" mode will start right after the defrosting operation is finished.

Remark: When "Prime Fresh+" mode is active, if you set the “Quick Freezing” mode, the “Prime Fresh+" mode will stop and the refrigerator activates “Quick Freezing” mode, and vice versa.

-3°C Cold Storage Room

This room is suitable for storing fresh food such as meat or fish. Compared to storing in the Fridge room, the storage life of meat or fish becomes longer.

• When food is frozen too much... Sliced raw fish or meat may be frozen too much. Set the temperature control to “Min” to prevent food from over freezing. [Image description: A slice of partially frozen fish, labeled "Easy to cut. The partially-frozen food is easy to cut! It comes in handy."]
• When food is not partially-frozen... Depending on the type of food such as a block of meat or a large fish, the storage conditions and the ambient temperature, food may not be partially-frozen as intended. Set the temperature control to “Max”.

Food Storage in the Freezer Room

Freezer case

Maximum storage: If the stored food exceeds the edge of the container, the freezer door cannot close completely and the room may become frosted.

How to Make Ice Cubes with Ice Maker

STEP

1. Fill water in the ice cube tray till the water level line.
2. Put ice cube tray inside Freezer room, wait until ice is made.
3. To remove ice cubes, suppress the frame with the left hand and twist the dial ice cube tray clockwise with the right hand. The ice cubes will drop into the box ice tray.

Remark: Don't pour water into the ice box for ice-making, otherwise the box may crack.

[Diagram: Shows three steps for making ice cubes. Step 1: Ice cube tray with water level line. Step 2: Ice cube tray inside the freezer. Step 3: Twisting the tray to release ice cubes into the ice box.]

Usage Tips

• Fridge room: "Processed food and drinks..." For regular storage of food and drinks or temporary storage of those to be served soon.
• Utility box: "Egg and cosmetics..." To prevent odors from spreading inside the Fridge room.
• Vegetable case: "Fruits and vegetables" A rather high humidity keeps fruits and vegetables fresh and juicy.
• -3°C cold storage room: "Fresh food..." For storage of fresh food such as meat or fish for 1 week with soft freezing.
• Freezer room: "Dried or frozen foods..." For storage of food for an extended period.

Storage using hermetically sealed containers is recommended!

• To prevent the interior from being discolored!
• To prevent odors from spreading!

• Cut citrus fruits (The plastic will be discolored white.)
• Garlicky or other strong smelling vegetables (Odors will spread to other nearby food.)

How to Clean the Refrigerator

1. Interior cleaning

   Wipe off the stain with warm water. When stains cannot be removed easily, wipe them with warm water and soap by using a soft cloth. Then wipe the soap off using damp soft cloth.

   ? Use lukewarm water!

2. Exterior cleaning

   Cleaning by using soft cloth with warm water and soap. Then wipe off the soap with warm soft cloth.

3. Gasket door FC/PC

   • Clean by wiping gently. This area, petroleum gel was applied to reduce the friction to the refrigerator body. Be careful not to wipe off them.
   • The door opening seal is replaceable when reaching end of life. While cleaning, push it back to the groove if it comes off.

Note: Do not use the following items. (Otherwise, the surface will be scratched.)

[Icons/Text: Alkaline or weak Alkaline, Kitchen detergents (They crack plastic!), Cleanser or soap powder, Benzine, thinner, alcohol, acid, petroleum, Scrubber, Hot water.]

Removing vegetable case, -3°C cold storage case and Freezer case for cleaning

Removing

1. Pull the case until it reaches the end of the stopper.
2. Raise up the front of the case a bit and then completely take out.

Attaching

1. Push the case on both supporters.
2. Raise it up, then push until it reaches the end.

Removing egg shelf, bottle shelf, shelf FC and utility box for cleaning

Removing

1. Lift it upward, alternating between the right and left side.

Attaching

1. Placing it on both supporters, and then press until it reaches the end of supporters.

Removing PC glass tray for cleaning

Removing

1. Unhook the protrusion at the back by lifting it upward and pulling the tray outward until removing.

Attaching

1. Push the tray until it reaches the end.

Remark:

• When removing tray above vegetable case, please pull out the vegetable case first and then follow to remove the tray as above details.
• In case of attaching the tray and it does not lock, make sure that you did not attach the wrong tray.
• Make sure that you don't attach the upper side of the tray downward.
• Two PC Glass trays can be used alternatively, but Glass tray crisper should only be attached right above vegetable case.

Removing FC glass tray for cleaning

Removing

1. Unhook the protrusion at the back by lifting it upward and pulling the tray outward until removing.

Attaching

1. Push the tray until it reaches the end.

Remark:

• In case of attaching the tray and it does not lock, make sure that you did not attach the wrong tray.
• (In case of 1-2 Glass tray) In order to expand storage space inside Freezer room, the front tray can be removed and stacked with the other tray.

Removing pan water evap for cleaning

Removing

1. Tilt up the pan water evap a bit and then lift it upward until the pan water evap hole unlocks from the pan water evap hook.
2. Pull the pan water evap until it touches with the evap pipe then carefully take it out under the evap pipe.

Attaching

1. Insert the pan water evap under the evap pipe.
2. Insert the pan water evap hole into the hook pan water evap as well as press-fitting both sides.

Remark: Check the status to make sure evap pipe does not touch the pan water evap.

[Diagram: Shows the pan water evap being removed and attached, highlighting the hook and evap pipe.]

Troubleshooting

Before you call for service, please check the following items:

The normal sounds of refrigerator.

• When the refrigerator starts operation, the sound like water flowing and boiling water is created. This is the sound of the cooling liquid.
• The noise is generated when the automatic defrost system operated.
• The dilatation of the details inside the refrigerator in the cooling process can cause sound “crack-crack”.
• You may feel that the operation sound is larger because the compressor operates in high-speed under the following conditions: the refrigerator does not cool fully on the occasion such as using it for the first time, opening/closing the door too frequently, the surrounding temperature is high. The sound becomes more quiet after cooling fully.

Lamp does not turn on.

Please contact Panasonic service center.

Specifications