Dead kegerator :(

[Mat B]

The other night I was about to keg two brews and when I opened the lid of my home made kegerator I saw that it was very warm. It's a freezer with an STC1000 replacing the thermostat.

I'm not sure what the issue is, but I suspect the compressor has shat its dacks. The unit is getting power, and if I listen carefully it has the quiet hum you'd expect. It's not cooling at all. Visual inspection hasn't identified anything obvious. Does anyone here know much about refrigeration? Is a 20 year old chest freezer worth trying to repair or should I just write it off?

I've got the kegs chilling in my fermentation fridge which won't go below 9.7deg.

Not a good situation to be in.

 

[Brownsworthy]

I had a fridge do much the same thing turned out it had leaked it's gas.

I'm no refrigerator expert though

 

[Zorco]

Google stuck compressor. It helped me. A simple repair with a cap.

Not a fridgie but understand motors.

 

[peteru]

If the compressor motor is running, then the most likely fault is refrigerant gas leak. It's probably not possible/economical to repair.

 

[TSMill]

I once had this happen and the issue was a loose connection in the stc, try bypassing it and see what happens.

 

[Mat B]

Good thinking re the STC. I'll try that.

 

[Zorco]

Sometimes the hum is locked rotor. There is an overcurrent device on the motor pins of the compressor. It may be that there is a hum that isn't compressor rotation.

THere is a starting and run winding. A little thermal device and shift the current flow from S to R but it can die. A $25 3 in 1 capacitor / SSR unit may fix it.


Now,

If the hum is genuine compressor rotation then more than likely your gas is gone. That is an ordinary outcome for you.

But at T+20y, getting a new unit isn't unexpected.

 

[Mat B]

I'm going to get rid of it and get a bigger one to build a boss keezer

 

[Radshoes]

Sometimes the hum is locked rotor. There is an overcurrent device on the motor pins of the compressor. It may be that there is a hum that isn't compressor rotation.

THere is a starting and run winding. A little thermal device and shift the current flow from S to R but it can die. A $25 3 in 1 capacitor / SSR unit may fix it.


Now,

If the hum is genuine compressor rotation then more than likely your gas is gone. That is an ordinary outcome for you.

But at T+20y, getting a new unit isn't unexpected.

Is it just me or does this make as much sense as anything kerr says?

 

[Zorco]

 

[LAGERFRENZY]

Talk some more gibberish Cosdog, I think I'm starting to catch on. Is world getting freakier all ze thyme.

 

[Zorco]

Talk some more gibberish Cosdog, I think I'm starting to catch on. Is world getting freakier all ze thyme.

Yep true brother frenzy....When it comes to making sense on ethanol....

 

[wildburkey]

'I've got the kegs chilling in my fermentation fridge which won't go below 9.7deg.'

You could bypass the fridge thermostat then use the STC to control temps.

 

[wildburkey]

Also if you have a multi-meter you can test the wingdings on the compressor easily, just do a quick google search and there should be instructions.

 

[Camo6]

My bet is on low refrigerant. I've had three or four die on me and aside from one with a blown PTC relay the rest were low gas. The relay I could replace for $40 but the low gas isn't worth the hassle unless you are or know a licensed fridgie.
Feel the compressor housing: if it's hot your compressor is running. Check the pipes from the compressor. One should be relatively cold. If there is a service valve depress the shrader valve quickly (don't do it with a smoke in your mouth). If it doesn't release a good burst of pressure it's stuffed.

On the plus size you get to upgrade! My fermenting freezer died on me recently after several years of faithful crash chilling. Took me a few weeks on ebay but ended up with a fridge freezer pigeon pair for less than a hundred bucks. Boojah.

 

[spog]

Also if you have a multi-meter you can test the wingdings on the compressor easily, just do a quick google search and there should be instructions.

Edit for you: windings .
Ahh Sunday arvo....

 

[Cube]

I've tested a few wingdings in my time. Nothing quite like a wingding probing.

 

[TidalPete]

Cube, on 14 Aug 2016 - 7:41 PM, said:

I've tested a few wingdings in my time. Nothing quite like a wingding probing.

What a wanker you are cube!

Go back where you came from! :lol: :lol: :lol: