Fixed a fridge today

[skeer]

Not a question to post, but more of a short story I guess?

Today the neighbor posted on FB that he had free scrap. Since I saw a good looking
Propane grill I stopped by. Turns out he had a small fridge in the pile as well. One of these Galanz 7.6 cu ft Retro style.
He said that ‘well it stopped cooling, I don’t know if it’s the compressor or what.. I’m not good with that stuff.’

I offered to bring it back if I fixed it but apparently he’d already bought a replacement. Ok then.

So I get it home and plug it in.. nope, compressor is not running. Internal light it on so powers flowing. So knowing most, if not all, compressors have a fuse or a circuit breaker I pull off the two items between power and compressor.
Turns out this $12 item is all it needs.

Not sure if I should tell him, or not. Heh

 

[The Cobbler]

nice find. suggest to him if he wants it back, you found the problem. let him say no again.

 

[pelletman]

Why did the fuse blow?

 

[Meursault74]

Why did the fuse blow?

That's not a fuse. It's a relay. They wear out. I've replaced a few of them.

 

[pelletman]

That's not a fuse. It's a relay. They wear out. I've replaced a few of them.

Ohh, I didn't click the link! Just went with the mention of the fuse

 

[murd]

I had a friend want me to help him lift a mini wine fridge out to heavy garbage. I ended up taking it home. Pulled the relay off, opened and rotated the ceramic disk a little. Put it back together and it worked. Used it for almost two years more.

 

[skeer]

Yeah this one has the tiny ceramic disk.. weirdest thing I've ever seen. The disk in this was had a piece broken off of it.

 

[murd]

Eventually I moved the fridge and it stopped working again. Took the relay off and the disk was completely shattered. Got a new one, didn't fix it. I'm not sure where to look now, unless the replacement I got was bad from the start. I guess I could try to get another.

 

[Meursault74]

Eventually I moved the fridge and it stopped working again. Took the relay off and the disk was completely shattered. Got a new one, didn't fix it. I'm not sure where to look now, unless the replacement I got was bad from the start. I guess I could try to get another.

does it have the thermal overload piggy backed on to the relay? They usually sell them in pairs with the relay. I read that it was a good practice to replace both of them as when the relay is going bad the thermal overload goes into use and can wear. I followed that advice as the parts don't cost much and I was already down there. Not sure how valid it is, but thought to share my experience.

 

[skeer]

Yeah the Amazon item we ordered was both for $8.

I wonder what the benefit of this ceramic based relay is compared to a traditional

 

[mrVanagon]

Not a question to post, but more of a short story I guess?

Today the neighbor posted on FB that he had free scrap. Since I saw a good looking
Propane grill I stopped by. Turns out he had a small fridge in the pile as well. One of these Galanz 7.6 cu ft Retro style.
He said that ‘well it stopped cooling, I don’t know if it’s the compressor or what.. I’m not good with that stuff.’

I offered to bring it back if I fixed it but apparently he’d already bought a replacement. Ok then.

So I get it home and plug it in.. nope, compressor is not running. Internal light it on so powers flowing. So knowing most, if not all, compressors have a fuse or a circuit breaker I pull off the two items between power and compressor.
Turns out this $12 item is all it needs.

Not sure if I should tell him, or not. Heh

Just by chance, I happened to watch this (related) vid yesterday. Small world!

 

[skeer]

So I. Over this fridge down into the basement. Not rough or anything mind you and that damn disk broke…again.
Wtf is this nonsense? Relay my ***.