Old fridge popping the circuit breaker.

[alchemysa]

I've got a big old Whirlpool frost free fridge down at the shack. (Mainly just used for bait and beer). Its worked fine for a long time but on our last visit it ran for about 10 hours then popped the circuit breaker and wouldn't restart for the remainder of the 3 day visit. I figured it was totally cactus and was planning to replace it but this weekend I turned it on again and surprisingly it started up and ran for about another 10 hours before popping the circuit again. Once the fridge goes off it won't restart no matter what. Twiddling with the thermostat doesn't help. Theres no compressor noise or anything. The circuit breaker just keeps blowing as if theres a short somewhere. I've checked most of the easily accessed wires and connections but theres no obvious problems. I know next to nothing about fridges but its like the compressor is seizing up after about 10 hours running - although this seems like rather a long time to run before seizing.

Distance and time make it an extra hassle to replace this fridge so I'm just wondering if you guys can think of any other simple reasons why it may stop for a couple of days and then be able to be restarted 2 weeks later. Or is a seized compressor the most likely cause?

Thanks

 

[DocHeb]

I know next to nothing about fridges but its like the compressor is seizing up after about 10 hours running - although this seems like rather a long time to run before seizing.

Distance and time make it an extra hassle to replace this fridge so I'm just wondering if you guys can think of any other simple reasons why it may stop for a couple of days and then be able to be restarted 2 weeks later. Or is a seized compressor the most likely cause?

Thanks

From no actual experience, no actual training, and no firsthand knowledge, I think a thermal overload is kicking in. It won't restart right away, but in a few hours/days it will cool off enough to run again. Did you get under the fridge and clean out the dog hair, grass, mouse nests and debris that is over the coils, compressor and workings?

 

[polo1665]

I've got a big old Whirlpool frost free fridge down at the shack. (Mainly just used for bait and beer). Its worked fine for a long time but on our last visit it ran for about 10 hours then popped the circuit breaker and wouldn't restart for the remainder of the 3 day visit. I figured it was totally cactus and was planning to replace it but this weekend I turned it on again and surprisingly it started up and ran for about another 10 hours before popping the circuit again. Once the fridge goes off it won't restart no matter what. Twiddling with the thermostat doesn't help. Theres no compressor noise or anything. The circuit breaker just keeps blowing as if theres a short somewhere. I've checked most of the easily accessed wires and connections but theres no obvious problems. I know next to nothing about fridges but its like the compressor is seizing up after about 10 hours running - although this seems like rather a long time to run before seizing.


Thanks

Is it a GFI breaker or on the same circuit as a GFI breaker?

 

[BillyP]

Could be a number of things but it could be as simple as a faulty beaker.

 

[Thomas]

Good advice given so far.
Check the outlet make sure screws are tight on wires.
You may have what they call dead stop in compressor when trying to start.

 

[MarkV]

Have you tried anything else on that outlet? I have seen breakers that will do that.

MarkV

 

[alchemysa]

Thanks for the responses so far. No theres no GFI Breaker and the circuit breaker is fine. There definitely something in the fridge that is tripping it. I've looked under the fridge and cleaned and checked whatever I can reach.

A thermal overheat switch is a possibility but the first time this happened it didnt restart even after sitting for 2 whole days. (But then it restarted after it had sat for a fortnight).

Thomas. Whats 'dead stop'? I just remembered. About 6 weeks ago, it didnt start straight away when we arrived at the shack and I switched it on. It took about 30 minutes for the compressor to start up, which is pretty weird.

MarkV. Yes I tried a vacuum cleaner on the circuit.

 

[jinman]

It sounds to me like it might be associated with the defrost timer. After 10 hours of operation, it's about time for the first defrost cycle. We had a problem with one on a side-by-side refrigerator. We got a replacement timer and everything worked fine after that. The timer was located in the top-rear of the inside of the box. It only required removing a panel to expose the timer and replace it; simple fix if that's the problem.

 

[tallyho8]

Most of them have a small condensor fan motor underneath to keep the compressor from overheating and cutting out on the thermal overload, Make sure the motor is turning all the time the compressor is running. One with bad bearings will start and run slow for a while and then stop.

You said you made sure that the condensor coils underneath were clean. This is important.

If you are still having problems after checking those things then your next step is to replace the relay and overload. These are pretty inexpensive and easy to change. Some models have a start capacitor which is also cheap and easy to change.

The timer would not make it blow the fuse but if the timer was stuck in the defrost cycle, then the compressor would not start until the timer moved or was manually moved into the run cycle.

Yes, I owned and ran a refrigeration shop for 38 years.

 

[kenmac]

As tally said clean condenser coils, make sure the fan is blowing enough air, Compressor could be going (drawing too may amps). You should be able to check the amps on the compressor