Frigidaire FCGM181RQB / FCFS181LQB

[GrahamW]

Are there service manuals available for these? Can anyone explain why the evaporator fan in the fridge is designed to run continuously? The little 4" fan is loud... real loud. Sounds like it is drawing more air than the volume allows.

 

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

10 hours ago, GrahamW said:

Can anyone explain why the evaporator fan in the fridge is designed to run continuously?

It is not designed that way in the middle schematic. In that one, the evap fun shuts off in two conditions: cold control opens (compartment temperature setting satisfied) or defrost timer goes into defrost (every 6 or 8 hours for about 20 minutes). The compressor is on the same circuit so it would be running continuously, too. 

If the fan really is running continuously, every single minute of the day, without even the defrost periods, then the defrost timer could be stuck in run mode. This would cause the evaporator frost up, making the FF compartment temperatures too warm and the cold control would never be satisfied so it keeps the compressor and evap fan running. 

What are the measured temperatures in both compartments. 

 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

Only one that runs that way Samurai is the "Stainless Steel Door Freezers",  If you look closely at the other two, (Stainless Steel Door Refrig & Glass Door Refrig), the evaporator fan motor connection is made before the t-stat so only shuts off in defrost.

Both models given in the title come back with cover pages showing as Upright Freezer but the FCFS181LQB appears to be a refrigerator from the appearances of the baskets and shelves.

Maybe Frigidaire has decided that running the evaporator fan continuously, (except during defrost), keeps the temps more even in the all-refrigerators and the extra energy required to run evap fan continuously is OK because it maybe keeps the compressor off longer by keeping the air moving over the cold evaporator.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Budget Appliance Repair

[GrahamW]

Quote

Only one that runs that way Samurai is the "Stainless Steel Door Freezers",  If you look closely at the other two, (Stainless Steel Door Refrig & Glass Door Refrig), the evaporator fan motor connection is made before the t-stat so only shuts off in defrost.

That's what I'm seeing. And yes, in both the fridge and freezer, the timed defrost cycle does cut the evaporator fan.

Glass door fridge:

http://www.frigidaire.com/Commercial/Refrigerator/FCGM181RQB/

Stainless door freezer:

http://www.frigidaire.com/Commercial/Refrigerator/FCRS181RQB/

The evaporator fan in each unit is the same small fan and, for the amount of air it is moving, it is annoyingly loud.

[GrahamW]

On May 12, 2016 at 8:47 AM, Budget Appliance Repair said:

Maybe Frigidaire has decided that running the evaporator fan continuously, (except during defrost), keeps the temps more even in the all-refrigerators and the extra energy required to run evap fan continuously is OK because it maybe keeps the compressor off longer by keeping the air moving over the cold evaporator.

Does anyone have any opinions on how to reduce the noise? The culprit is definitely the cheap plastic 4 blade fan mounted to a HuayI HY6010U120-2 (2 pole motor ~3400rpm). Changing the wiring to match the freezer would be trivial... Alternatively I could add a circuit to reduce the fan speed when the compressor isn't running.

[Budget Appliance Repair]

These units are classified as Commercial units - most likely they weren't that concerned about the extra noise because it probably wouldn't be notice in a noisy commercial environment as it would in a normal home setting.