Author Topic: Refrigeration issues again (Read 3675 times)

BT Humble · « **on:** May 30, 2005, 10:17:31 PM »

I returned gome last night to discover that my refrigerator had turned up its toes and started defrosting. The inverter was in "overcurrent shutdown" mode, but still ran my washing machine so it's OK.

It wasn't really that much of a surprise to me, the fridge has been making some ugly noises while starting up for a few months now. Useless cheap crap - it couldn't have been more than 20 years old! ;-)

BTH

(OK, 25 tops!)

domwild · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2005, 07:51:21 PM »

Hi,

As you have a black belt in electrickery, I take it that you have checked the three pins

on the compressor if you do have a short there or a leak to ground. If not, then you can just change the starting relay which switches from start- to the run-windings.

I suppose you know all that, anyway.

whatsnext · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2005, 09:30:54 PM »

BTH, Have you thought about changing out the compressor? I did one recently and it actuall worked after I was done. I sawed the old compressor apart to see why the first one went south and the amount of damage to the top bearing was staggering. Refidgerator pumps seem to work just fine, for a while, even though they're really already dead.

John......

BT Humble · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2005, 11:00:41 PM »

As you have a black belt in electrickery, I take it that you have checked the three pins

on the compressor if you do have a short there or a leak to ground. If not, then you can just change the starting relay which switches from start- to the run-windings.

"Someone help that man - he's speaking in tongues!" ;-)

I'm buying a new (secondhand) one this afternoon for $150. It comes with a 3-month warranty, and I was told that they'd give me $70 for it in 3 months if I decide I don't need it any more (I'll be moving in with my new bride then).

BTH

BT Humble · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2005, 11:04:39 PM »

BTH, Have you thought about changing out the compressor?

*pauses, looks wistfully at sky*

OK, I've just thought about it and decided not to. ;-)

Seriously though, by the time I've fooled around with it, located a good compressor and found someone willing to re-gas it I'd probably have spent almost the cost of a new one ($250) and been without a refrigerator for a week or two. I've already found a replacement, I just wanted to have a bit of a whine about it. ;-)

BTH

Volvo farmer · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2005, 04:03:40 AM »

Wow, I've replaced my share of compressors and it's not what I would normally think of as a DIY job. The tools and supplies I need to do this job are:

EPA approved recovery machine

Recovery bottle

Torch, air/acetylene or oxy/acytelene

Refrigeration gauges

Tubing cutter

Vacuum pump

Roll of sandscreen

New compressor

New filter-drier

Silfloss solder

jar of flux

access valves (2)

bottle of refrigerant

Back before the days of EPA regulation, a guy could get R-12 refrigerant for a reasonable price, nowadays you need a license to buy it and last I heard, a 30# jug of R12 was over $500. Converting to R134A is an option but you've got to get all the mineral oil out of the system and replace it with synthetic.

If he bought another refrigerator for $150, I think he's way ahead of changing out a compressor. I've got the tools and license and I wouldn't do it on any box that would sell for less than $400. It's just too much time and effort.

drdongle · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2005, 05:13:48 AM »

Use propane as a refrigerant, it's some what less efficent but way less hassel.

Gary D · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2005, 07:44:10 AM »

BTH, mine just gave up last week also. Went Fridge shopping for "energy star" units and would take 3 weeks to get either of only 2 " wife acceptable units". After using ice coolers for 3 days, I settled for a new unit that uses almost 50 kwh per year more than an energy star model :-(... What we do to keep mama happy LOL. Was very surprised that the manufacturers can't keep up with the demand in the U.S. at their current build speed. (not sure if that's an encuraging sign or not. Think so).

Good luck on your upcoming rituals... My wife's put up with my quirks for over 29 years so far, I can bow to one of her quirks occasionally...

Hope when you all get hitched, yours will do the same... Gary D.

kurt · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2005, 07:46:25 AM »

Volvo farmer give r409a a try in r12 systems no changing the oil necessary and lots cheaper than r12

whatsnext · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2005, 07:50:42 AM »

Actually I have all that stuff except for the recovery machine. My fridge sold for about $1200 so it was definately worth fixing. I agree that it's not really a DIY job but it's not that much tougher than AC work on a car and once you've done two or three jobs your equipment is paid for. Having a good friend in the HVAC buisness also helps during the learning phase. But you are correct that there would be no point in fixing a $150 machine. Just go to another garage sale.

John.......

nothing to lose · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2005, 11:05:51 AM »

"settled for a new unit that uses almost 50 kwh per year more than an energy star model"

OK, sorry, but I just absolutely have to ask this, just can't stop myself no matter how hard I try!

How much less does a fridge cost that uses 50Kw a year more electric than a green machine energy star model fridge that uses that much less??

Although I somewhat jokingly ask this, I would like to know for real!

Is the energy saving model $100 more. $200, $500 more??

And what/why does it save that .96kwh per week?

BT Humble · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2005, 04:42:52 PM »

Good luck on your upcoming rituals... My wife's put up with my quirks for over 29 years so far, I can bow to one of her quirks occasionally...

Hope when you all get hitched, yours will do the same...

I just hope she finds her recycled husband acceptable. ;-)

In a wonderfully ironic turn of events, this morning is the first day of winter down here in the Southern hemisphere, and it was about 7 degrees warmer in the new fridge than it was in my caravan! (-3C). You've gotta laugh! ;-)

BTH

zap · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2005, 10:39:47 PM »

I think my next fridge will be something like this . It would seem doable if you have the space.

BT Humble · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2005, 12:06:31 AM »

Damn, that's a good idea.

Wish I'd thought of it.

BTH

georgeodjungle · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2005, 12:06:43 AM »

i'd say:

some inverters eat timer motors, celing fans,light dimmers & compact floresents are the worst.

like bad electricity.

if you have that problem?

defroster timer bad & inverter needs tune up.

turn lil knob untill on.

that will at least get you going.

ya could cut off power to timer & defrost the old fashoin way N save some power.

domwild · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2005, 12:43:37 AM »

Seriously, for a very brief moment, BTH! A so-called starting relay may be all that is needed if the compressor is still mechanically sound and the start- and run-windings are still OK.

But it is good to hear you solved your problem with an injection of cash. The things I do to help a fellow South-East Asian from Oz!

commanda · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2005, 02:51:36 AM »

Oatley have some nice temperature controllers. Might have to go & grab one now.

http://oatleyelectronics.com/bcorner5.html

about halfway down the page.

Amanda

BeenzMeenzWind · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2005, 03:45:40 AM »

Hmmm.....

Now WHY have I just bought a brand new fridge freezer?

Oh yeah, cos it's stainless steel and matches the kitchen.

As it happens we have a chest freezer that is gradually becoming redundant as we use up the contents, so once that's done with I'm going to modify it and stick it in storage until we build the new house in a couple of years. I just can't believe I didn't think of that myself... Doh!!

whatsnext · « **Reply #18 on:** June 01, 2005, 02:20:36 PM »

Have you seen this guy's web site? A very committed fellow and nothing is really that complicated or ugly. There's much to be learned there even without many details.

http://mtbest.net/

John........

BT Humble · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2005, 03:46:09 PM »

Seriously, for a very brief moment, BTH! A so-called starting relay may be all that is needed if the compressor is still mechanically sound and the start- and run-windings are still OK.

But it is good to hear you solved your problem with an injection of cash. The things I do to help a fellow South-East Asian from Oz!

I appreciate your input, and I thank you for it, but I just wasn't feeling enthusiastic about fooling around with it when a replacement was relatively cheap.

I gave the old one to the bloke who I bought the replacement from (he has a shop specialising in second-hand reconditioned refrigerators), so the poor old thing may yet live to chill another day! ;-)

BTH

nothing to lose · « **Reply #20 on:** June 02, 2005, 03:47:08 AM »

I think it has actually been mentioned on this board before about using a chest freezer for a frig. So not really all that new an idea. Though that one in the link is pretty cool (pardon the pun, not intended)

I think before the idea was more in just turning a freezer thermostat down to not get as cold inside and such. Make a great beer frig etc..

I don't have the extra space in the house for anything other than a crappy small standup type.

As with everything else, I have a couple sitting around here. Maybe a nice one about twice the size as that photo, worked when last used. Perhaps some day I will mod it with that digital thermostat.

Now has anyone ever though about how large some of those frezers are

If I was not quite so tall I could sleep in the large one I have here. NOW there is an energy saving idea! Cold thermal bed using .1kwh per day or far far less since it would not need to be as cold and only 8 hrs not 24hrs. So you sleep in that and shut off the central air in the house. Sleep cool and comfey in the hotest of summer heat, and if you happen to die in your sleep they can just close the lid and your ready to go, that could be a BIG savings in money for some-one in the family.

zap · « **Reply #21 on:** June 02, 2005, 08:54:06 AM »

ROFL ntl, it's scary how often I find my thoughts alined with yours!!!

BT Humble · « **Reply #22 on:** June 02, 2005, 03:56:02 PM »

Now has anyone ever though about how large some of those frezers are

If I was not quite so tall I could sleep in the large one I have here. NOW there is an energy saving idea! Cold thermal bed using .1kwh per day or far far less since it would not need to be as cold and only 8 hrs not 24hrs. So you sleep in that and shut off the central air in the house. Sleep cool and comfey in the hotest of summer heat, and if you happen to die in your sleep they can just close the lid and your ready to go, that could be a BIG savings in money for some-one in the family.

I'm imagining a Rip Van Winkle scenario, where the lid accidentally shuts on you overnight and due to your over-reliable RE system it takes 20 years before you start to defrost... ;-)

BTH

BT Humble · « **Reply #23 on:** June 02, 2005, 04:03:04 PM »

turn lil knob untill on.

that will at least get you going.

ya could cut off power to timer & defrost the old fashoin way N save some power.

The defroster wasn't the problem (for a start, it wsn't fitted with one!) Basically the motor wouldn't start turning, and overloaded the inverter. As I said, it's been making horrible noises when starting up for a while. The door seal ont he new one is in much better condition, so it only spends a fraction of the time actually running that the old one did. I'd been meaning to replace it for a while, but since I had plenty of power coming into the system (540W of solar panels) there didn't seem to be any rush.

And just so as you know, I'm talking about a little bar fridge (2' tall) in a caravan/trailer/mobile home.

BTH

BrewFasher · « **Reply #24 on:** June 02, 2005, 06:17:29 PM »

These things have been used for a while by the guys at www.homebrew.com to cool their homemade beer kegs

That gets me thinking... a wind powered brew kettle. So many possibilities.

nothing to lose · « **Reply #25 on:** July 26, 2005, 01:16:32 AM »

A bit late, but I been gone awhile.

"I'm imagining a Rip Van Winkle scenario, where the lid accidentally shuts on you overnight and due to your over-reliable RE system it takes 20 years before you start to defrost.."

Hmmm, maybe they could thaw me and Walt Disney at the same time and we could have a warming up party

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Author Topic: Refrigeration issues again (Read 3675 times)