11 replies to this topic

[Randini]

Konichiwa, Y'all,

Just bought a house with a like-new GE GSH25IGRBWW. The catch is that the house has had no power since last fall due to a wind storm that blew loose the neutral main from the pole. So for many months the fridge has had 120V at the hot lead but only as much current as it could suck against the ground and widely varying voltage as other devices try to draw power. Picture a dozen people trying breathe through the same cocktail straw.

The LED at the water dispenser is lit. The lights work when I open the door. I hear fans running. But I don't hear the compressor running and there's not a hint of coolness about the thing (although it is quite attractive).

I've taken a look at the noobie FAQ here as well as the "fire drill," and will poke at a few things the next time I'm on site (got no internet there yet). But can anyone guess where I might be well-advised to start poking? Are there any solid-state parts that are likely candidates for croaking under dodgy power conditions?

[RegUS_PatOff]

... wind storm that blew loose the neutral main from the pole.
... Are there any solid-state parts that are likely candidates for croaking under dodgy power conditions?

without the Neutral, each of the 120v devices gets up to 240v
The weaker (lower power) devices get the majority of the 220v

. 120 OHM . 120v device . . . 10 OHM . . 120v device. . .
. . . (normally 1 Amp) . . . . . . (normally 10 Amp)
|-------------O----------|--------------O------------|
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
L1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L2
{< . . . . . . . . . . . .240v . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . >}

Your insurance company and / or the electric company may cover the repair / replacement costs

[Randini]

That makes sense. So some devices are breathing through a sippy straw and others are getting a tire chuck up their nose. Yike.

Turns out the compressor is running. The puppy is so quiet I have to take off the back cover and put my hand on it to even be sure. The condenser fan is also spinning, and a circulation fan appears to be blowing air from the freezer into the fridge side.

When I turn it off and unplug the compressor I get 5-10 ohms across any combination of the three leads. Infinite ohms to ground on all three.

But it's all at room temperature. And I'm guessing the compressor has been running like that for thousands of hours.

The outside of the condenser cylinder is pretty crudded up (maybe this fridge isn't as new as I thought). I'll vacuum that off, but if that were the problem wouldn't it still be cooling at least a little?

Could this be a coolant problem? If so, could that have been caused by a voltage problem (can't see how) or is this just coincidence?

Should I call a pro? I have good mechanical and electrical skills but refrigeration stuff is at the outside edge of my abilities. Or will that just cost me a hundred bucks to find out the thing is a boat anchor? Should I scrap this thing?

[RegUS_PatOff]

... So some devices are breathing through a sippy straw and others are getting a tire chuck up their nose. Yike.
... I get 5-10 ohms across any combination of the three leads. Infinite ohms to ground on all three.
... (maybe this fridge isn't as new as I thought).
... Could this be a coolant problem? If so, could that have been caused by a voltage problem (can't see how) or is this just coincidence?
.. Should I call a pro? ... that just cost me a hundred bucks to find out the thing is a boat anchor?

1)
2) that's about right ... Run terminal to Common + Start terminal Common should = Run to Start
3) serial number would confirm .. although leaks can happen at anytime
4) yes, no, yes
5 $$$
post picture (somewhere) of frost pattern of Freezer Evaporator Coils

[Randini]

SN HG250598. Will have pics up today.

[RegUS_PatOff]

SN HG ...
... So some devices are breathing through a sippy straw and others are getting a tire chuck up their nose. Yike.

May 2004
During the wind storm, if the Compressor were running, it would be getting "sippy cup" voltage,
and damaging the "straw" (the other devices on the other Line)

When the Compressor isn't running, the Fridge electronics is now the "straw" for other big "suckers"
but shouldn't have caused the possible "low Freon" problem

[Randini]

Vacuumed the worst of the stuff off the cylinder but it really didn't seem like enough to be a showstopper. Take a look (these are before cleaning):
https://picasaweb.go...gCO6U2fz01_fuZw

Had reasonable success using both hands to run a compressed air gun and a shop vac at the same time. Linty.

How do folks clean the back of these things?

Edited by Randini, 06 July 2012 - 04:11 PM.

[RegUS_PatOff]

post picture (somewhere) of frost pattern of Freezer Evaporator Coils

[Randini]

Ah. I can do that. But I'm betting the frost pattern = none. After running for hours the freezer is still room temp.

To get at the freezer evaporator, it appears I'm going in from the front? After removing the ice maker? I'm already envisioning selling this thing for parts/repair and buying a running used one. This is for a rental and it's feeling like a wash to either put umpteen hours into the thing or lose a hundred bucks or two to replace it.

[Randini]

OK, just cruised craigslist for a replacement and if I can get this thing running it's worth it. Let's talk worst case scenario. I take it apart and the frost pattern is zero. No coolant? Leak? Then we have to find the leak? Then find out if the compressor is good?

[RegUS_PatOff]

... No coolant? Leak? Then we have to find the leak? Then find out if the compressor is good?

may be $ 300 to $ 500 or more to find and fix the leak and re-charge ..

[Randini]

That's the pic I found that made me want to bag this thing.

Sears says they'll come fix anything up to $500 in parts and labor for $250+tx and warranty it for a year. Anyone had experience with this? Seems like the likely gotcha is they're billing Retail and the tab could easily go over $500.