Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Refrigerator compressor starting
Hi Everyone,
We have fridge, about 15 years old, GE make. Increasingly it hesitates when starting the compressor. The relay clicks, and then nothing. It tries it a couple of times, then finally the compressor starts. Unfortunately it starts doing this more frequently. I have checked Sam's notes, and it looks that it is either the starting relay or the compressor itself. Any anecdotal comment on which one is more likely to fail? Are starting relays repairable? Thanks, Peter |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
If the relay is bad, it will have to be replaced. These from my experience
these are not reliably repairable. If you put a volt meter across the compressor input, and see voltage there, and the compressor is not starting, it is very likely the compressor has to be replaced. Your best solution is to call a service person who can properly deal with your refrigerator problem, unless you don't mind loosing all of its contents very soon. It does sound like the compressor will eventually not start at all. When replacing the compressor, the gas will have to be let out, and the system will have to be re-gassed. If your refrigerator is using the older gas, it will be very expensive to re-gas it. For some of the older models, there is a modification kit. You will have to re-evaluate everything at that point, and see if it is cheaper to scrap the old fridge, and get a newer one. The new ones are much more energy efficient, and will last a long time. -- Jerry G. ====== "Peter Orban" wrote in message ... Hi Everyone, We have fridge, about 15 years old, GE make. Increasingly it hesitates when starting the compressor. The relay clicks, and then nothing. It tries it a couple of times, then finally the compressor starts. Unfortunately it starts doing this more frequently. I have checked Sam's notes, and it looks that it is either the starting relay or the compressor itself. Any anecdotal comment on which one is more likely to fail? Are starting relays repairable? Thanks, Peter |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Jerry G." writes:
If the relay is bad, it will have to be replaced. These from my experience these are not reliably repairable. If you put a volt meter across the compressor input, and see voltage there, and the compressor is not starting, it is very likely the compressor has to be replaced. If there is voltage at both the start and run windings. --- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/ Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/ +Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm | Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive traffic on Repairfaq.org. Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is ignored unless my full name is included in the subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"Peter Orban" wrote in message ... Hi Everyone, We have fridge, about 15 years old, GE make. Increasingly it hesitates when starting the compressor. The relay clicks, and then nothing. It tries it a couple of times, then finally the compressor starts. Unfortunately it starts doing this more frequently. I have checked Sam's notes, and it looks that it is either the starting relay or the compressor itself. Any anecdotal comment on which one is more likely to fail? The relay. Possibly the capacitor. Are starting relays repairable? I've done it but no. My test would be to start it with manual switches. If that's OK then it's the switch. If not, check the cap. If still no, look for a good deal or get a free fridge from www.freecycle.org Forget about compressor repair/replacement. N |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Mine did that last year. Eventually the compresser wouldn't start at all.
I had to replace the whole fridge. Replacing a compressor is like changing a picture tube; not worth it at all. repair cost as much or more than replacement. 15-20 years is the intended life of a fridge anyway. "Peter Orban" wrote in message ... Hi Everyone, We have fridge, about 15 years old, GE make. Increasingly it hesitates when starting the compressor. The relay clicks, and then nothing. It tries it a couple of times, then finally the compressor starts. Unfortunately it starts doing this more frequently. I have checked Sam's notes, and it looks that it is either the starting relay or the compressor itself. Any anecdotal comment on which one is more likely to fail? Are starting relays repairable? Thanks, Peter |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"Peter Orban" wrote in message ... Hi Everyone, We have fridge, about 15 years old, GE make. Increasingly it hesitates when starting the compressor. The relay clicks, and then nothing. It tries it a couple of times, then finally the compressor starts. Unfortunately it starts doing this more frequently. I have checked Sam's notes, and it looks that it is either the starting relay or the compressor itself. Any anecdotal comment on which one is more likely to fail? Are starting relays repairable? Thanks, Peter Does it have a starting capacitor? In my experience with electric motors, that fails more often than anything else. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Hi Everyone,
Many thanks for all the comments and ideas! The fridge is working now, so no further investigation has been done. I was not planning to replace the compressor if that is the cause. Also checked the price of a starting relay, it is C$25.00 - C$50.00. I do not know if the unit has a starting capacitor, I will certainly check that one too. Thanks again, Peter |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|