evoo4u
Well-Known Member
If a fridge thermostat fails closed, such that mains power is fed continuously to the motor/compressor, will any harm be done if, after it reaches it's minimum possible temperature, it's just left running?
Situation is the fridge, with STC-1000 controller, was getting erratic - stopping before set temperature was reached, then re-starting some time later, running for a bit, then stopping again - you get the picture. Now this is the dead-set simplest possible fridge, with no fancy heaters, beeper alarms, digital control panels, etc - just a plain generic bar fridge.
I investigated the terminal block where the mains power enters, and it was a bit sad, with a loose push-on connector (on neutral), and generally dirty contacts. I figured that if that's on the outside of the fridge, the contacts on the inside (thermostat, light) might also be sus. So I tightened and cleaned the connections in the terminal block, bypassed the thermostat, and directed mains power directly to the motor. So far it's running non-stop, and temperature is pulling down nicely.
I'll re-instate it into the brew shed, and plug it into the STC-1000 to control temperature, but my question was more general, really - if the thermostat, whether it be the original one or an after-market external one (ie - STC-1000), fails closed, can you just leave a fridge running non-stop, or will it stuff the compressor?
Situation is the fridge, with STC-1000 controller, was getting erratic - stopping before set temperature was reached, then re-starting some time later, running for a bit, then stopping again - you get the picture. Now this is the dead-set simplest possible fridge, with no fancy heaters, beeper alarms, digital control panels, etc - just a plain generic bar fridge.
I investigated the terminal block where the mains power enters, and it was a bit sad, with a loose push-on connector (on neutral), and generally dirty contacts. I figured that if that's on the outside of the fridge, the contacts on the inside (thermostat, light) might also be sus. So I tightened and cleaned the connections in the terminal block, bypassed the thermostat, and directed mains power directly to the motor. So far it's running non-stop, and temperature is pulling down nicely.
I'll re-instate it into the brew shed, and plug it into the STC-1000 to control temperature, but my question was more general, really - if the thermostat, whether it be the original one or an after-market external one (ie - STC-1000), fails closed, can you just leave a fridge running non-stop, or will it stuff the compressor?