My AC starts and works for half an hour then the compressor stop while the fan keeps working. I replace the original oil with ATF, i read it in an article alternatves fr air cmpssr oil. I've pulled the PTC and measured the resistance over a range of temperatures. Thanks for this very helpful post about compressor!). A compressor on thermal overload could eventually be a shorted compressor. First uts all good but becouse of the Atf's detergent the oil becmes foamy.

July 2012 Otherwise known as a vapor pump, the compressor then sends the coolant out the discharge line and to the condenser. Education makes people to determine the possible earnings so that they can continue. Build a homemade air compressor out of a fridge compressor. Compressor tripping on thermal overload; Cookie Consent We use cookies to improve your website experience. A refrigerator is one of the hardest working appliances in the home. I'm measuring 15 amps of current draw through the compressor, which isn't dropping after 1-2 seconds. Jones Air Conditioning: (239) 596-5855 Naples, Bonita Springs, Marco Island 24 Hour Air Conditioning Service, Repair & Replacements. When a compressor is tripping and very hot the term used is: thermal overload. Especially when temperature setting is always in high cool or supercool for a long time and doors kept open and close. Oh it will run but will end up just like what happened, runs a little higher amps and over time it sits and gradually cooks that varnish away then hmmmm click! Any advice about this will surely help me to fix this problem. The overload protector sits near the condenser by the current start relay and ensures the condenser does not overheat while working. When it works the air is cold no strange noises and everything works perfect. Hi Guys, looking for some help with a fridge compressor. 1. Pull the wires that clip onto the piece away from the protector.

Don't run the new one on an extension cord either!

If so your windings have lost their varnish and your compressor has been cooked. This within about 5 seconds of starting up. You appear to have ruled that out though. This article is very usefull specially for a diter like me. Reason perhaps it's used almost 10 years and previous camp management has no preventive a/c maintenance until it's total breakdown. Hi there! December 2012 November 2012

No matter how durable it is. BEEBE Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. 9104 Cody St. Overland Park, KS 66214 (913) 541-1222

New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the refrigeration community, Questions, discussions, and stories related to the Commerical and Industrial Refrigeration industry, Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. In my frustration, I decided to bypass the overload for a few seconds to see what would happen (I know I know, but I have not much left to lose). It's not just a hum, its definitely moving, so it isn't mechanically locked. Is it because of the oil not comptible? It's not just a hum, its definitely moving, so it isn't mechanically locked.

Burton holds a B.S.

If your compressor feels like it is constantly trying to start and can not start it is time to call a technician to diagnose what is causing this. As it does its job, it generates a great deal of heat. Not within 5%, but not far outside either and could be at least partly based on the measurement. 1. The outside coil is dirty or folded over so that the system has trouble rejecting heat, this causes the compressor to have to work harder and hence get warmer. Jack Burton started writing professionally in 1980 with articles in "Word from Jerusalem," "ICEJ Daily News" and Tagalong Garden News.

The fridge was cold, and it seemed to be maintaining temperature from these short bursts of compression (maybe it wasn't but it hadn't been long enough for it to have cooled down). in broadcasting from John Brown University. At the second We would love to learn you want such a web web page, in circumstance which down the road may be noteworthy, which usually is sort of certainly alongside these collections banuak gain to a lot of people.

Strangely, resistance does NOT add up, with common to start and common to run both about 8-9 ohms, and between start and run at 6 ohms. May 2013 September 2013 First of all off the refrigerator and plug out the refrigerator supply plug from the outlet, or switch off the double pole circuit breaker from which the refrigerator supply plug controlled. I just want to say that when a compressor fails, the system also starts to collapse. He is a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Navy/Navy Reserves and the Navy Seabees. Capacitor across the PTC marked 5uF ±5% measures 4.62uF. The coils are not open or shorted to each other or shorted to ground. If I leave it off for some time it works again for half hour. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. I don't know what all you have, but my guess is that the refrigerator compressor is too small to handle the load and is being overworked. The coils are not open or shorted to each other or shorted to ground. October 2012 Have i question and hopeflly someone can help :) Give us a call if you have any questions: 239-596-5855. So i change it with a non detergent air compressor oil. I'd really appreciate any suggestions about what might be the issue or what I could measure to figure this out. When a  compressor is tripping and very hot the term used is: thermal overload. The resistance drops from 12 to 10 ohms as it first heats up and then the resistance rises quickly (this appears to be correct based on PTC temp/resistance charts). You are now sweaty, beat, but probably feel pretty darn good for how hard you just worked. May 2012. The compressor is moving. The compressor is moving. I monitored running current but it's fine. I'm measuring 15 amps of current draw through the compressor, which isn't dropping after 1-2 seconds. The outside coil is dirty or folded over so that the system has trouble rejecting heat, this causes the compressor to have to work harder and hence get warmer. Do not pull on the wire itself, but on the attachment clip with a needle nose pliers. Buy a Supco "3n1 Starter" and install that on the compressor. Also surprised to hear it has a run cap, but no mention of a start cap? The electrical wires that provide power to the parts of the refrigerator all run from the junction box at the rear.

There are two usual suspects. Your start and run windings should not be equal, and the total of start -> common + run -> common should be equal to start -> run as the windings would be getting measured in series. June 2013 August 2012

As it does its job, it generates a great deal of heat. It just seems so strange that the fridge would run for over a year in that condition without having any issue, especially the overload issue, but I can't think of a better explanation for why the resistance doesn't add up. With those resistance values, I would have said the compressor is faulty.

Since then, I've unplugged it, and it's at room temp. I've measured voltage from common to both run and start windings during "startup".

Of course I'm hoping it isn't the compressor, but at some point everything else will be ruled out. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. This critically important part starts the cycle of refrigeration by doing just what its name states -- it compresses the coolant into a smaller volume. To learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our Cookie Policy. Therefore always ensure the motor thermal protector has not opened. or the old atf oil residue etc is mix wth the new oil inside the hernetic comp? It comes on runs, shuts off and then tries to restart in under 5 minutes. April 2013 The sensing device, of a bimetal strip made of two metals bonded together, expands in overload conditions to eventually trip a mechanical device. The overload protector is a small piece that provides a valuable service for any appliance that uses a compressor, such as a refrigerator or air conditioner. January 2013

Could it be a bad thermal resistance or is my compressor leaving me? If the overload protector senses that the compressor is approaching failure from overheating, it will temporarily shut the compressor down to allow it to cool. March 2013 The start coil gets 230V (Europe) briefly, then drops out, and the run coil gets 230V constantly once the first start attempt is made. Lockers and cabinets obstructed the airflow which lessen it's efficiency. The refrigerator overload protector testing is very easy using a multi meter, to test your refrigerator thermal overload protector follows the below steps. Without those resistances, my other first guess would have been a faulty start cap or start relay and it's getting stuck on run. There are two usual suspects. February 2013 The compressor is 'short cycling'. I really appreciate this but how do I now figure it out if it still insist tripping for overload. May 2014 Thanks and jerp safe everyone. There are many parts inside the box that must work together smoothly in order to keep the inside air at the desired temperature. A couple nights ago, I noticed that my fridge was clicking loudly whenever the compressor would kick on (and then back off). June 2012 So, now it’s time to replenish that body and treat it nicely. Replacing the overload protector takes only a few minutes and can be done by the homeowner. An adjustable overload relay could be improperly set up, causing it to trip with a normal surge or temporary overload. I know that it's the compressors thermal that is tripping but why ? Then this problem occur the thermal overload keep on trippin?? Back on the overload, behavior resumes as before tripping the overload. This makes starting the compressor much more difficult and often causes the thermal overload to trip. By continuing to use the website, you consent to our use of cookies. The compressor is normally near the rear floor of the refrigerator. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Same as here in workers camp. Replace the wires into their clips and the new unit is ready to go. Overload Relay Failure. Bleed a tiny bit of gas out and have a sniff, does it have a kindof burn smell to it? The weird thing is, the compressor seems to run for the 1-2 seconds before the overload trips, so not sure why the run winding would be drawing 15A.