Replacing a (domestic) fridge thermostat

  • Thread starter Thread starter DogWatch
  • Start date Start date
D

DogWatch

Guest
My dear, darling, other half has decided I don't utilise my noggin enough and has taken it upon herself to bring me projects to repair.

This week I have a tabletop fridge (with small freezer comp) from her work. The stat is not shutting down and the thing just continues to freeze.

I have just had the stat out and apart, the bellows are moving under physical pressure and the switch is switching (not stuck as I was expecting (hoping). Nothing happens (temp wise) if the dial is rotated; and as this is a cam it is a mechanical operation so I must concede that the back end of the thermostat works, it must be the bellows ?? no?? There is an internal adjustment screw which I will have a go at in a bit, but I don't hold out much hope.

Just looking on the interweb, stats are pretty standard and finding the correct unit seems fairy easy, but I have never changed one before.

Two things concern me;

1. Most people who write to forums are complaining that the fridge is not turning on, not in this case stuck on, is it possible this is not the stat?

2. The new stats come with the sense wire attached, a quick look and this seems to disappear into a bulb which runs off the heat exchange radiator thungy. Is this wire just an interference fit, does it just pull out or is this likely to allow gas to escape? Is it soldered in place? If I do replace, how important is the route back to the stat, currently it is wrapped around bits and pieces on its route back, does this require (absolute) replication..

Sorry for none marine, though it is something that can also go on a boat, this fridge could go on a boat I suppose, though it weighs a ton!

thank you in advance for any help
 
Sandyman said:
IMHO Fridges are not worth repairing. Aim it at the skip.
Click to expand...

£6.75 for a new stat, £130 for new fridge

I reckon, even using basic maths, this makes it worth a punt. I wish I was as rich as you :rolleyes:
 
DogWatch said:
My dear, darling, other half has decided I don't utilise my noggin enough and has taken it upon herself to bring me projects to repair.

This week I have a tabletop fridge (with small freezer comp) from her work. The stat is not shutting down and the thing just continues to freeze.

I have just had the stat out and apart, the bellows are moving under physical pressure and the switch is switching (not stuck as I was expecting (hoping). Nothing happens (temp wise) if the dial is rotated; and as this is a cam it is a mechanical operation so I must concede that the back end of the thermostat works, it must be the bellows ?? no?? There is an internal adjustment screw which I will have a go at in a bit, but I don't hold out much hope.

Just looking on the interweb, stats are pretty standard and finding the correct unit seems fairy easy, but I have never changed one before.

Two things concern me;

1. Most people who write to forums are complaining that the fridge is not turning on, not in this case stuck on, is it possible this is not the stat?

2. The new stats come with the sense wire attached, a quick look and this seems to disappear into a bulb which runs off the heat exchange radiator thungy. Is this wire just an interference fit, does it just pull out or is this likely to allow gas to escape? Is it soldered in place? If I do replace, how important is the route back to the stat, currently it is wrapped around bits and pieces on its route back, does this require (absolute) replication..

Sorry for none marine, though it is something that can also go on a boat, this fridge could go on a boat I suppose, though it weighs a ton!

thank you in advance for any help
Click to expand...

You have to carefully pull out the old stat with the tube and bulb however I would suggest you tie a length of string to the bulb of the old one before removing it and then you can use this to pull the new one in.

It is usually reasonably easy to extract the old and install the new.

The bulb and tube are filled with a volatile liquid. In the old days ether worked if you really want to tinker but please don t blow up the kitchen..

I have in the old days refilled both these and the bulbs and tubes on old car water temperature gauges but I was an impoverished student.
 
DogWatch said:
My dear, darling, other half has decided I don't utilise my noggin enough and has taken it upon herself to bring me projects to repair.

This week I have a tabletop fridge (with small freezer comp) from her work. The stat is not shutting down and the thing just continues to freeze.

I have just had the stat out and apart, the bellows are moving under physical pressure and the switch is switching (not stuck as I was expecting (hoping). Nothing happens (temp wise) if the dial is rotated; and as this is a cam it is a mechanical operation so I must concede that the back end of the thermostat works, it must be the bellows ?? no?? There is an internal adjustment screw which I will have a go at in a bit, but I don't hold out much hope.

Just looking on the interweb, stats are pretty standard and finding the correct unit seems fairy easy, but I have never changed one before.

Two things concern me;

1. Most people who write to forums are complaining that the fridge is not turning on, not in this case stuck on, is it possible this is not the stat?

2. The new stats come with the sense wire attached, a quick look and this seems to disappear into a bulb which runs off the heat exchange radiator thungy. Is this wire just an interference fit, does it just pull out or is this likely to allow gas to escape? Is it soldered in place? If I do replace, how important is the route back to the stat, currently it is wrapped around bits and pieces on its route back, does this require (absolute) replication..

Sorry for none marine, though it is something that can also go on a boat, this fridge could go on a boat I suppose, though it weighs a ton!

thank you in advance for any help
Click to expand...
Jools
the bulb will be "attached" somewhere, just need to put the new stat bulb in the same position, you can detach the whole unit and heat and cool it to see the mechanism moving the switch. DONT mess with the adjusting screw, if it aint working, messing with that wont fix it!
Stu
 
skipper_stu said:
Jools
the bulb will be "attached" somewhere, just need to put the new stat bulb in the same position, you can detach the whole unit and heat and cool it to see the mechanism moving the switch. DONT mess with the adjusting screw, if it aint working, messing with that wont fix it!
Stu
Click to expand...

Hello Stu and Bilgediver,

I am not quite sure we are on the same track here.. At the switch end of the temp sense wire there is a little bellows which when functioning should constrict and switch the fridge off. The wire is running down the back (outside) the fridge and seems to disappear into a bulb type vessel (hang on I'll go and take a photo).... tick tock

ah no, on closer inspection I was wrong, there is a second similar copper wire from the evaporator to the bottom corner of the cooling fins. The stat one goes into the back of the fridge.

Right 'o, will get a stat tomorrow and hopefully sort out the problem so I can be the hero at her work for a few minutes.

ta muchley.

J
 
1. Spend a bit of time before wife goes to work clanking some tools around and saying 'duh'.
2. When wife has gone to work, read newspaper until about 11ish.
3. Go to pub.
4. Be back in time to spread a few more tools about and when wife arrives explain that:
They dont make perts for that fridge anymore
Its on a Government list of Eco killing suicide fridges and they need a new one
You have found the perfect replacement for just £150
5. Arrange for the £130 fridge to be delivered and trouser the twenty to make up for what you had to spend in pub.


This is a guide only and can be adapted to a variety of domestic appliences.

Hope this helps.
 
capnsensible said:
1. Spend a bit of time before wife goes to work clanking some tools around and saying 'duh'.
2. When wife has gone to work, read newspaper until about 11ish.
3. Go to pub.
4. Be back in time to spread a few more tools about and when wife arrives explain that:
They dont make perts for that fridge anymore
Its on a Government list of Eco killing suicide fridges and they need a new one
You have found the perfect replacement for just £150
5. Arrange for the £130 fridge to be delivered and trouser the twenty to make up for what you had to spend in pub.


This is a guide only and can be adapted to a variety of domestic appliences.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

While this is an excellent plan, and I fully endorse the sentiment (I will store it for later use), I have to think clearly about what happens after your point 5.

Now dead fridge, which I did not invite into my home will have to go to dead fridge compound at local dump, which I believe now includes organisation with dead fridge administration types. Dead fridge, which I did not invite will have to be taken in car to dead fridge dump, who will have to take, muggins of course, lose-lose situation. Gardeners at the compound who are swapping their grass cuttings for bags of compost (actually a great thing offered by our local dump!) will tut and look at me with disappointment (green people don't own fridges).

Or, I pay a tenna (inc postage), fit stat, SHE takes reprieved fridge back to work.

6. I break the lock on the tailgate and no more stuff can get from her work to my home.

Got to work on the lesser of two evils, there is no scenario in this which allows me to win, I wish I had worked in an office.
 
Last edited:
I have spent several years running a marine refrigeration company and I would certainly recommend changing the thermostat which I believe is the problem. They often fail "on" as yours has if the sensor tube has ruptured and let the liquid out of the capilliary tube to the bellows.You should change as follows.The sensor wire is usually attached with some kind of clamp to the evaporator plate and should be easily removable. The new one should fit into the same place otherwise it will not sense the temperature of the plate and therfore not cut off when the plate gets cold. swap the wiring over to new stat and re-fit to fridge. Job Done. Cold beer coming up.
 
If this fridge is from some "place of work" were there are other employees and you are not a qualified electrician or refrigeration engineer then you are treading on dodgy ground as far as Elfin safety are concerned.

Sent it back saying you are not qualified to work on it!
 
fix frodge for a tenner about

I recommend http://www.espares.co.uk/ as somewhere to look for the thermostat.No connection, just a now working again built in Ariston fridge, many ouros saved!

They are running a competition with "valuable prizes" this January, strangely,where in Dublin one could leave everything outside the back door and it would freeze, like the mashed potatoes I left out for the birds,think I'll ;leave out the fishfood for them instead, a I can't see the fish due to him/her being imprisoned beneath the ice in his small pond!

Good luck with the beer cooler, or if I describe it thus it could be considered a boaty item on the forum!

Good sailing to all in 2010 or should that be ice-skating/yachting.
 
VicS said:
If this fridge is from some "place of work" were there are other employees and you are not a qualified electrician or refrigeration engineer then you are treading on dodgy ground as far as Elfin safety are concerned.

Sent it back saying you are not qualified to work on it!
Click to expand...
I am qualified as both!
Stu
 
Dear Dogwatch,

I hate to say this but you are doomed - this is a Lose-lose-lose situation.

- If you fail to fix it you & SWMBO will lose face at work and home.
- If you get it going & it fails later -same part or another, you will have "diddled" them by claiming to fix it
- If you get it going & someone pulls the plug out of the wall by the lead elecrtocuting themselves you will be shot at dawn by H&S
- If you get it going & it runs perfectly for years, you will be inundated by other "simple" repair jobs that they don't want to pay a professional to repair.

I suggest that you give them a suitably large bill for the repair (including consultancy costs for a forum booze-up) so that they will appreciate your importance & you can afford legal representation in the event of being subsequently sued.

:D:D:D
 
Good at fixing things and not getting electrocuted?

In the distant past I carelessly gained a reputation for breathing new life into washing machines! My day job then was quite different, involving a pen and paper.However the friends suddenly multiplied, mostly impecunius.Machines became a frequent visitor! When I eventually had to refuse one couple ( who would have suffered a shortage of beer money if engaging a professional repairer), they became quite shirty, and I seem to remember great disenchantment.Well, it was either my sanity or the w/machines. So expensive then, throwaway items now or were during the furry tiger years in Ireland. So beware, stick to the knitting, or change occupation rapidly and have a scale of charges, which you can then reduce for needy cases.SWMBO's outfit needs an invoice, which will provide funds to replace that frayed halyard!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

geem
First 6 months with no gas onboard
2 3
Replies
41
Views
1K
Baggywrinkle
Baggywrinkle

Share this page

Top