Fridge Won't Start

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The beers are warm and the fridge won't start... Can't have that here in the tropics.

I've just returned to my boat after a week away and tried to turn the fridge on. The compressor starts for about 1 second and then immediately turns off again. After about a minute or two, it tries to restart again, but turns off almost immediately.

Any ideas about where to start looking for the problem would be greatly appreciated.

It is a Frigoboat keel cooled system.

Thank you.
 
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Suspect an excessive voltage drop in the power supply to the compressor motor. Once the compressor starts it will probably run OK until the next time. Look at the plug and socket on the side of the motor. The plug may have worked loose, or the contacts need cleaning. Happened to me repeatedly. In the end I had to replace the plug, which meant replacing the controller as the plug was moulded to the controller output cable.
 
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1. Low voltage
2. Low gas

Unlikely to be the thermostat as it normally won't start up if that's bust. As already mentioned it's easy to check that, just short the two wires out.
 
UPDATE:
Turned it off for 30 minutes and then fired it up again. It started and has kept running for about two hours. Only the first 1/4 of then evaporator plate has got frost on it. I think this means that the gas is low.

I'll let it run overnight and if the situation hasn't changed, I'll add some gas in the morning.

Thanks for all the replies so far.
 
stingo said:
UPDATE:
Turned it off for 30 minutes and then fired it up again. It started and has kept running for about two hours. Only the first 1/4 of then evaporator plate has got frost on it. I think this means that the gas is low.

I'll let it run overnight and if the situation hasn't changed, I'll add some gas in the morning.

Thanks for all the replies so far.
Click to expand...
Would be interested to know how you go about doing a DIY re-gas. Didn't know it was possible.
 
GrahamM376 said:
Unlikely to be the thermostat as it normally won't start up if that's bust. As already mentioned it's easy to check that, just short the two wires out.
Click to expand...

If it hadn't happened to me I'd agree with you but subsequent clicking on and off of the thermostat started the fridge which then stopped. Guess there was some sort of short that could take some load for a short time. Glad to hear the problem has been found, low gas. Now need to find why it's leaked :nonchalance:
 
Adding the gas is actually quite straightforward, assuming you have the correct refrigerant, just a simple charging hose required, ideally via a charging manifold with gauge, problem is where did the gas missing go ? Sealed systems just do not not lose their charge unless a leak has developed. Re-gassing might work for a while if the leak is very small, but simply re-gassing won't solve the problem longer term.

Test all joints with soapy water to see if the leak is on a soldered joint. If found degas entirely, sweat the joint with a blow torch to re-seal then vac out and re-charge. The method mentioned by observing the evaporator plate is perfectly valid, but as soon as frost / sweat forms at the outlet end stop charging.
 
superheat6k said:
problem is where did the gas missing go ? Sealed systems just do not not lose their charge unless a leak has developed.
Click to expand...

Son Owen's experience (quite considerable, own AC and refrigeration business in Majorca) is that the plug-in connectors such as those on the keel coolers always leak slowly. In his installations he cuts them off and brazes the joints.
 
KAL said:
Would be interested to know how you go about doing a DIY re-gas. Didn't know it was possible.
Click to expand...

On the vast majority of our boats there is a Danfoss compressor, they have threaded connectors, 1/4" bsp if my aged brain tpremembers correctly. They have a schrader valve in them. They are covered with heat shrink palstic. Cut that off and you can unscrew the blanking cap. These are access ports, on is on the hi pressure side and one on the lo. You used to be able to buy small cans of gas to refill. The whole system only takes a few ounces. You cannot buy gas legally now, our tree luvving bunny huggers put paid to that! Scared we will let a bit escape in to the atmosphere and allegedly feck the ozone layer. The EU fecked us there conveniently ignoring the billions of Chinese, Indian etc shade tree mechanics happily letting it go free!
However, careful perusing ebay will allow you to buy some gas, not cheap anymore. In the old days connect the hose to the gas bottle, let a bit of gas out, connect the other end to the lo pressure access port. Start the fridge up. If it doesnt start due to too lo pressure, open the gas bottle up a bit to let some gas go in. This will open the lo pressure cut out. Then when you hear the compressor start, let some more gas in, little by little. Without pressure gauges on the hose you need to watch the evaporator, when it gets cold all across, let the system run. It will start to cool the fridge. When it gets to temp, watch the pipe from the evaporator, if the frost line starts to move towards the compressor, let a bit of gas out. The idea is that all of the liquid gas will have evaporated just past the evaporator. The whole system only takes a few ounces so be careful.
Now I know the old tooth suckers will be salivating at the thought of replying to this. BUT that is a good shade tree mechanics way of gassing a fridge!

As Vyv says, where has the gas gone? Have the couplings leaked? Or has wifey been doing a defrost with a sharp knife on the evaporator?

S
 
A common cause of these compressors not starting it that having been left to rest for 2 months, the compressor gets stuck. A quick way to start them is to tap with a spanner as you turn it on. I have had to do this on a 3 year old unit a couple of times, but its not given any more trouble since 3 years ago.

However, here the loss of refrigerant may be another factor.
 
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