3 replies to this topic

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Watch with shock and awe as the Samurai ruthlessly hunts down the cause for a refrigerator that gave off a burnt smell and then started warming up. Turns out the start relay on the compressor had burned slap up! Be amazed, o ye peoples, praise him all ye nations! 

 

Here's the genuine, OEM relay kit I used to fix this refrigerator: http://www.repaircli...466?RCAID=24038

 

 

 

[DurhamAppliance]

When replacing start relays, I always plug it in let it run in run mode for a minute then unplug it and plug it back in  so it will go into start mode to check out the start windings.  Is that necessary?

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

It's not a bad assurance check just to make sure the compressor hasn't been heat damaged and become a hard starter.  If it fires back up after you initially install the new start device, then you know the start winding is okay.  What you're really checking when you do your test is the bearings and mechanical components in the compressor that may have become damaged by the extra heat.  Not a bad idea.  I always do a compressor current draw and look for readings well under 2 amps.  On normal, older compressors, I'll usually see around 1.2 to 1.4 amps, even less on some of the newer ones.  If I'm really suspicious, I'll break open a can of whup-ass, er, I mean, my megger and check for current leakage from those compressor windings to ground.  

[DurhamAppliance]

ok... that makes sense.