Has the equipment stopped turning on and working? First of all, diagnose the motor - this part is called the "heart". How to check the refrigerator compressor? If you do not want to contact the service center and pay the master, we will tell you how to do the work yourself.
Principle of operation and motor design
The operation of the refrigerator of any model (Atlant, Indesit, Stinol) is generally the same. It is based on the circulation of the refrigerant (freon) in the system. Initially, the refrigerant is gas, the pressure that the compressor creates helps it to enter the condenser. There, the gas cools, turns into a liquid and flows into the evaporator. When heated, the liquid goes into the initial state and repeats the cycle.
Therefore, if there are problems with the compressor, it will not create pressure or it will not be enough for normal operation.
The degree of cooling — the temperature in the chamber — is controlled by a thermostat. From it, the signal goes to the starting relay of the motor, which starts the whole process.
On the rear side of the unit housing is a motor-compressor. It is fixed in a special oil and covered with a protective cover, which you can see in the picture.
The electric motor consists of a starting and working winding, as well as a relay.
Three outputs are connected to the case, one of which is common. The other two lead to the starting and working windings. In the latest models of refrigerators, an electrical circuit is installed, which can regulate the speed of the engine.
Health Check
For what reasons does the compressor stop working:
- Burned out. This happens as a result of a sharp power surge and increased load.
- The start-up relay has broken.
- Defective wiring.
It happens that the device buzzes and works, but there is no cold in the cameras. The reason may be the release of freon gas. Then it is better to contact a specialist who will detect a leak and refuel the system.
Use a multimeter to find out if the instrument is working or not. As soon as you get to the motor, you need to make sure that the case does not penetrate, otherwise it may cause an electric shock. Most often this happens in old refrigerators. Attach the multimeter probes to the housing and each pin in turn. If the display shows "∞" - then everything is in order. If numbers appear on the scoreboard, the winding is faulty.
To perform further diagnostics, it is necessary to dismantle the casing and open access to the compressor. For this:
- Disconnect the wiring from the contacts.
- Snack on the motor tubes that connect it to other parts.
Important! Before starting work, find out what type of refrigerant is used in your refrigerator. This gas can be explosive.
- Turn off fixing bolts of a casing and take out of the case.
- Disconnect the relay by unscrewing the screws.
- Now take the device to check and measure the resistance between the contacts.
- Attach the probes to the right and left output pin. Normally, the resistance is 30 ohms. The top right will show 15 ohms, and the top left will show 20 ohms.
Based on the engine model and the refrigerator itself, the values may vary ± 5 ohms.
- If the readings do not match, the device is defective. If a break appears somewhere - a conventional or inverter motor must be replaced or repaired.
The compressor has passed the test, but the equipment does not work? So, proceed to further tests, but not with a tester, but with a manometer.
- You need to measure the pressure.
- Connect the outlet hose to the discharge fitting.
- Start the engine.
- Measure the pressure.
- Indications for a good instrument should be 6 Atm and increase. In this case, you need to quickly turn off the pressure gauge, otherwise it will break.
- If the pressure does not reach a little 6 Atm, such an engine can be installed in medium-sized refrigerators. Indications reach 4-5 Atm, which means that the motor can be used in single-chamber refrigerators. A compressor with a pressure of less than 4 bar is not working.
Health check passed, but no result. The unit also does not turn on. In this case, it is possible to establish the operation of the motor by connecting directly, without a start relay.
Important! Such work is life threatening. A wizard or an experienced person can conduct such a diagnosis.
Connect the motor through the cord as follows:
In extreme cases, you can check whether the motor is running through a relay. Perhaps the current does not reach the device.
- Prior to this, the diagnosis was carried out without a relay, now connect it to the motor.
- Run the launch.
- Arm yourself with a tick tester.
- Press the power cord with the ticks, which leads to the appliance.
- Look at the indicators: with a power of 140 W, the current should be 1.3 A. At a power of 120 V - 1.1–1.2 A.
Additionally, diagnose the start relay. His contacts are also measured with a multimeter.
Now you know how to check the motor compressor yourself. To be convincing, watch the diagnostic video: