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  1. #1
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    Mystery wire under compressor



    Hi - the photo is from an Italian gelato cooler: ISA Samoa.

    The cooler is 30 miles away. I'll be travelling over there next week to have a closer look.

    IMG_20170905_181021836.jpg

    I can't say whether the wire is coming from the compressor, or just passing under it.

    Anyone have any thoughts to share about that grn/yel wire?

    My guess: the compressor is on rubber feet, so the wire grounds it to chassis?

    Thoughts?

    Thanks!



  2. #2
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    Re: Mystery wire under compressor

    Hi DS
    looks like an earth wire to me, green and yellow, could be attached to the bottom of the compressor.
    There looks like there is a terminal on the wire just under the compressor, also it looks like the compressor has been replaced at some stage and this compressor is a replacement for what was there and the earth wire was not on the original so it was left unconnected.
    Regards
    Paul
    Born to fish, forced to work

  3. #3
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    Re: Mystery wire under compressor

    Hi DS.
    welcome to the forum.
    I was always taught that the larger pipe was the suction pipe.

    Or in this case is one pipe an Oil return or balance line?
    Grizzly
    Despite the High Cost of Living it still remains Popular!

  4. #4
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    Re: Mystery wire under compressor

    Thanks Paul! It makes sense that it is for earth.

    My impression is that no work has ever been done on the cooler, therefore the compressor should be original oem.
    However, I did notice that there seems to be a missing bolt and loose sleeve on the left-side foot of the compressor, so either that rattled loose or was lost during a replacement?
    I'm not technician.
    Does the compressor in the photo differ from what one would expect to see on an Italian display cabinet?

    Hi Griz, see short sentence above. :-)
    I couldn't begin to address your query, but I'm open to your thoughts or comments about anything you see n the photo that seems unusual.

    When powered on, this cabinet will operate normally and at programmed temperature for about 3 days, and then will return to ambient room temp. Stuck in defrost, I'm assuming?

    I offered to attempt to repair the cabinet for a friend by replacing the controller, probes, and compressor relay. Total parts cost is $155.

    My assumption has been that based on it's ability to operate normally for 3 days, the expensive half of the machine is working properly, and perhaps a replacement of all of the control components will restore normal operation.

    Comments welcome.

  5. #5
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    Re: Mystery wire under compressor

    .

    That compressor is definitely not original.
    It has been installed apallingly, it is not bolted down
    and the brazed joints are appallingly done.

    That earth wire is just lying loose, one end tucked under the
    bottom of the comp.

    It could be a multitude of problems, don't assume anything.

    The only way to find out is to be there.

    Rob

    .
    .. ... -. .----. - / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / --. --- --- -..

  6. #6
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    Re: Mystery wire under compressor

    Wow. I'm glad I posted that photo.

    Thanks Rob. Posts like yours are actually quite helpful.

    I haven't ordered the control parts yet. Maybe I should have another chat with the owner.

    I thought the joints were ugly myself, but this is the 1st refrigerator I've ever attempted to work on so I don't have any real basis for comparison.

    The owners called for local service a few times in the past. My understanding was that the tech played with the controller some, and then basically stopped returning calls. No one ever mentioned compressor replacement.

    Maybe ISA didn't do the conversion after all. Maybe it was a hack job by a middleman, who knows?

    Bummer. Now I no longer feel optimistic about replacing the control components.

    More thoughts or advice welcome...
    Last edited by DSinOR; 14-09-2017 at 02:55 AM.

  7. #7
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    Re: Mystery wire under compressor

    .

    Right, OK look at the bracket bottom left corner.
    That is the condenser bracket so the condenser is far bottom left of picture.
    The two pipe on the extreme right, just out of shot look like they could be a
    condensate line (a pipe that sits in the water tray to evaporate drain water)
    and they are very corroded and covered in oily residue.

    The compressor is stood askew to the condenser and is not bolted down which
    is further proof that the compressor has been changed.

    Without knowing the system I can only guess so here is my best guess.............

    The system has had compressor issues and a new one has been fitted (badly)
    the pipes at the right are caked in corrosion and oily residue which indicates
    leaks and continuous dirty water contamination. The environment that it is
    sat in could be greasy and that 1/4 inch pipe that appears to be blanked off in
    the top right of the picture seems like it had a capillary tube brazed into the end????

    This is not going to be a straight forward job, it could be a simple fix or a nightmare.

    Good luck

    Rob

    .
    .. ... -. .----. - / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / --. --- --- -..

  8. #8
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    Re: Mystery wire under compressor

    Thanks again Rob.

    I'll be stepping back from this thing...

    DS

  9. #9
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    Re: Mystery wire under compressor

    I would assume that the unit runs for 3 days then shuts down on klixon because the compressor can't get enough cooling from the restricted (small) suction line.

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