fridge compressor help needed

[Crna Legija]

hey guys i got my fridge compressor i tryed to keep it to gether as possible there was only one electrical cable that i cut it lead into the fridge and i don't know what to do with it. if it helps it was made in yugoslavia and had r22 in it

there also is a wired copper thing i don't have a clue what it is

sorry for the bad pics its night and i only have a Iphone. ill put better pics tomorrow if you need them

we should make a thread all about fridge compressors every one can put there set ups in that thread and help others. theres been tones latey

thanks in advance

[MrCrowley]

[PUI]From what I know, the bottom cable is useless. Maybe connect a fan to it or something otherwise open up the plastic box and unwire it. Seems the grey cable is power, if you're unsure take off the plastic box and take a picture.

Have you tested it yet?[/PUI]

edit: argh just reads POLANDS reply!!

[POLAND_SPUD]

the cable in the red went into the fridge, it might have been from the light?. what should I do with it?

how many wires are there ??

'lower' wires in MrCrowley's thread were also the ones leading into the fridge... there were 4 cables there ( hot, neutral, ground and one used to switch the compressor on/off then the temperature increased)... if there are 4 cables there you can wire it in the same way I suggested in that thread

this is the weird copper thing

AFAIK it's a valve... I know what it does but I don't remember what it's called... anyway, it's not needed


lol MOAR fridge compressors...at this rate we will achieve world domination in 5 years time

[Crna Legija]

the cable in the red has 3 wires positive negative and earth and just remove them and use the wall switch ?

lol i go to trade school for electrotechnology, but we only do PLC logic programing there and of courses the boring math

[metalmeltr]

As a side note about refrigeration compressors surplus center www.surpluscenter.com has new Matsushita model SF51C97 refrigerator compressors for sale for $24.99. I know that used ones are typically free. but if you have no other chioce this might be a good choice. Does any one know how 600 BTU at -10F may translate into a pressure specification?
The item # is 1-3188.

[POLAND_SPUD]

has 3 wires positive negative and earth and just remove them and use the wall switch

hmm now that complicates things (but not much)... if there are 3 wires in it (hot, neutral and ground) it was used to power the light or it led to the thermostat... but if that's the case how was the light powered??

though that's assuming that the wires are really hot,neutral & ground

probably you can find that out by removing the plastic cover and analysing wiring there

[dewey-1]

I have a simple solution to all the wanabee electricians on AC and refrigerator compressors!
Before cutting all wires and removing the compressor, take a deep breath and relax. You are to excited to thick logically!

1. Get the brand, model number, serial number off the ID tag. Or a closeup picture that is clear enough to read.

2. Photograph the wiring diagram if possible.

Results; you know have the proper information needed to correctly obtain the right answers prior to posting.

You can download complete parts pictorials and schematics that will assist in your compressor questions.

Trial and error wiring combinations is dangerous from a safety aspect.

[joepage2008x2]

I have taken two fridge compressors and got them running of a socket in less than 5 mins. This is what I did.
Left the plug on
Took the plastic case off the compressor and had a look.
The two wires going to the thermostat I just connected together and they both worked perfectly.

I have a picture of the wiring it may be similar to yours, i will not hold any responsibility if you blow yourself up.

I have L and N marked on mine where the mains leads go to.

[POLAND_SPUD]

yeah wiring is not something difficult... normally you have a kind of socket on the compressor with 3 pins... one is neutral, one hot and one is for the starting winding... normally only two are used but the one for starting winding is used for start up

you've got to remeber that you need a starting relay (or a cap) and over current relay too... fridge compressors do not run al the time but only when the temp drops below a set value... so normally the only thing you've got to do is to find the cable that led to the thermostat and put a on/off switch there

[dewey-1]

yeah wiring is not something difficult... normally you have a kind of socket on the compressor with 3 pins... one is neutral, one hot and one is for the starting winding... normally only two are used but the one for starting winding is used for start up

you've got to remeber that you need a starting relay (or a cap) and over current relay too... fridge compressors do not run al the time but only when the temp drops below a set value... so normally the only thing you've got to do is to find the cable that led to the thermostat and put a on/off switch there

I am not saying it is difficult! Thee are a lot of new young members trying these conversions with very little experience.

After you get one done, it seems very simple doesn't it!
I am sure your first one was a little daunting! Tell me the truth!

If you do a "How To", include the suggestion I mentioned above.

Any one with some electrical background can look up the wiring diagram and make possible recommendations in much safer format than trial and error.

Instead of try this, and that, and maybe this again, you could probably get it correct the very first time.

A wiring diagram (schematic) goes a long way, just like your pneumatic schematics.

[joepage2008x2]

I was 16 at the time when I converted mine but I have a lot of electrical knowledge, mains current is very dangerous when you dont know what your doing - if your not sure then dont take the risk.

If you do take the risk then use a safety breaker (those things you plug in the socket) and what ever you do, do not remove the starter relay. There are two coils in the compressor motor - the one for running and one for starting. If the starting coil is left on too long then the coil will over-heat and short knackering your compressor.

Stupidly I removed the start relay on my first compressor, there are 3 pins on the compressor case. one is common, one is the starter and the other is the running coil.

This is how I worked out where the wires go. It doesnt matter which way around the mains cables are because they are AC. I connected one wire to a pin and connected the other wire to a switch and pin. If you get a noisy hum then this is the common and running, a quiet hum or nothing is running and starter, if it runs you have starter and common) Only run each for a few seconds. Keep doing this until you know which is the common. Now connect neutral to the common and the live to the running, have a switch from the live to the starter. Plug in and hold the switch until the compressor starts and then release.

Be very careful when trying this method. A schematic is almost impossible to find for a fridge compressor. I can give you a diagram of how to do this method but is very dangerous unless you know what your doing.

[POLAND_SPUD]

After you get one done, it seems very simple doesn't it!
I am sure your first one was a little daunting! Tell me the truth!

yeah it was... I am not dissing all those who find it difficult... but just pointing out that it isn't as complicated as it seems at first

Instead of try this, and that, and maybe this again, you could probably get it correct the very first time

yeah I know it's a good idea... at least in theory... the truth is that it's usually simpler to wire it than to draw a good diagram.. I could wire me first one but I don't think I could draw a diagram of it

it seems worth trying though, maybe I am not right

@joepage2008x2
yeah that's more less how I wired my first one.. though I didn't remove the starting relay... the best thing about compressors is that they are already fully wired appliances and normally the only thing that you've got to do is to add an ON/OFF switch...

once you think everything is ok plug it in and turn it on (just make sure you take some safety precautions that might save you're life and property even if something goes wrong.. just as you said)

It doesn't matter which way around the mains cables are because they are AC

yeah I thought that was true but someone mentioned a while ago that in fact it isn't really 100% true - for some reason it's safer to wire them the way they should be wired...

[dewey-1]

To give an example I googled my refrigerator for a schematic.
Got several model variations but it shows each schematic.

Note that it shows wire colors also. There is no guessing when looking at a schematic. 90% of the schematic can be ignored.
Most members are only interested in compressor and fan wiring.
This could simplify the general questions that are always being repeated.

This schematic approach can make it easier.

http://www.servicematters.com/maytag_li ... 3014R1.pdf

[POLAND_SPUD]

well some compressors already have a schematic somewhere on them
I see you're point (don't forget that I asked MrCrowley for a schematic)

I don't know if you are aware of the fact that the schematic you just linked to (on pp. 5) will confuse ppl... I'd say it's more important to upload as much pics as possible than to draw a diagram... but then if you think of it when you draw a diagram you take the effort to understand the wiring and you might as well find out how to do it yourself

lol this post makes no sense at all... lol first 'I agree with you but...' then 'yeah your right'

[theBOOM]

I think my compressor is about 18 years old... I found some references of some similar yet more modern compressors... so I can't really get much help from diagriams or schematics. Adding on to that am I complete electronic nub