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Fridge compressor help

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:34 am
by burito
Ok, basically i have a fridge compressor (out of water cooler acutally, but exactly the same otherwise) which i've extracted, and wired up; but anyway, it was working some period (about 2hrs =/) and then just pooped itself. I have little experience in fridges and compressors, but i heard some stuff about the oil, but am not exactly sure what to do.

It was working, air flowing etc, but i turned it off, then when i turned it on again it was still humming away but with no air flow at all, and now it doesn't even hum for me :?

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:45 am
by psycix
When it hums, you should turn it off ASAP and wait a minute. Mine refuses to go on again after turning off. It needs a minute to cool down or something and then can start up again.
If you leave it hum you will burn the coils.

Did you take ALL oil out? You shouldnt do that, it will kill it if you leave it running like that for long. Two whole hours non-stop? That couldve killed it.

You know that it cant start when there's pressure on the output right?

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:22 am
by burito
Thanks for all that, wasn't on for two hours straight, it was on and off, and did start up again, same thing happens, refuses to turn on for a bit.
Thanks for advice

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:41 am
by POLAND_SPUD
oil lubricates everything and conducts heat from working parts to the body of the compressor - so it shouldn't be removed

the compressors will turn on and off several times before it starts..

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:35 am
by ralphd
Those compressors are designed to work in a sealed environment. Whatever oil that gets pumped out will make it back in. The flow is also controlled. I'm not sure how much oil is pumped out when air is introduced but I do know the velocity is increased and you no longer have a sealed environment so you know you lost some oil. I'm not sure if it is seized or a wire popped off. If you have access to a multimeter set it to ohms and check continuity from "C" to "R" then "C" to "S". I'm not sure how many ohms you should have but it should show something. Also check the little round thing hooked up between your power and "C". That is your overload. If should show "0", as if you put the leads of the multimeter together. By the way, do all of that without any wires hooked up to the compressor, If everything is OK then add a little oil, 8oz or so, then try to start it again. If it doesn't start and you hear a hum give the side of it a hard rap with the side your of your fist.