Dorm Refrigerator revival?

IaLeo

Well-known Member
Five years back I was given a small refrigerator which I used for beverages. About two years ago it quit running and I shoved into the shop for future work. Today I took the cover off the compressor connection: no fuse?. Measured the resistance across the 110 volt plug leads: 6.6ohms. I expected to trip the breaker when I plugged it in, nothing happened...no smoke, no sound. I assume no blown internal fuse if it registers some resistance. The unit is a cheapie, did run 4-5 years and I think it is not worth spending any money on it.
Any one have an experience/opinion on these little refrigerators and possibly a clue what might be wrong with it?
IaLeo..and thanks.
 
Where the power connects to the compressor, there should be 3 terminals, labeled R, C, and S. Put you volt meter across the C (common) and R (run) terminals, plug it in, see if you have 110v across them. If so, you have power to the compressor.

If you have an amprobe, put it around either R or C wires, plug it in, see if it draws amps. You'll have to be quick though, if it draws amps and doesn't start, the internal circuit breaker will open and break the circuit. Another test, if you don't have an amprobe, plug it in, feel for the compressor to get warm, and listen for an audible click when the CB opens. The CB will reset by itself, but may take a few minutes. If the compressor does not draw amps, the run winding is open.

Then put the volt meter across S and C. Plug it in, should get 110v momentarily until compressor starts. If voltage is present, and the compressor does not start, it's locked up. If no voltage is present, the start relay is bad. A very common failure.

Search "refrigerator compressor wiring diagram" for clarification.
 
(quoted from post at 12:55:27 03/30/15) Five years back I was given a small refrigerator which I used for beverages. About two years ago it quit running and I shoved into the shop for future work. Today I took the cover off the compressor connection: no fuse?. Measured the resistance across the 110 volt plug leads: 6.6ohms. I expected to trip the breaker when I plugged it in, nothing happened...no smoke, no sound. I assume no blown internal fuse if it registers some resistance. The unit is a cheapie, did run 4-5 years and I think it is not worth spending any money on it.
Any one have an experience/opinion on these little refrigerators and possibly a clue what might be wrong with it?
IaLeo..and thanks.
have fixed one in a strange sort of way. The starter on this was not a relay, but a voltage dependent resistor (Varistor), which is in assembly that plugs onto compressor pins/connector. Inside is an 'alkaseltzer looking' varistor element sandwiched between contacts. I took it apart, wiped it clean & put it back together & it started. Guess it just lost contact due to oxide or whatever?
 
The little ones usually do not have auto defrost, but if it does, the older ones had a little timer to turn the compressor off and defrost heaters on for a bit about once a week, to defrost.
Problem is that an old defrost timer may stick in the defrost position, keeping the compressor from running. I replaced the timer on several older full size refrigerators and got them working again.
What you measure across the plug blades may be defrost heater element.
 
Compressor is stuck. Take a block of wood and small hammer and give the compressor a good whack with it plugged in and
before the thermal OL kicks out. Should take off. Happens when they set for awhile.
 

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