condensing unit on FIRE!!!! FIRE!!!!FIRE!!!

[tarzanseal]

It gutted the inside of the liquor store. The store was almost lost. I saw the security tape. On video it shows a Jack Frost ice merchandiser. The one with 2 glass doors. The condensing unit located on top. On video you see a faint puff of smoke then within 15 seconds it builds up to a fire. You can see the surrouding displays catching on fire. It was not the electrical cord or the outlet. Fire investigator says it was the compressor. Now my customers asking whats up their that can burn like that. Any ideas??.

[icemeister]

....but if it's like most indoor ice merchandisers the compressor area is just a trash catch-all loaded with discarded beer display boards and other combustible crap. It could have been a fried start relay, defrost timer or fan motor that set off the accumulated dust bunnies and caught the old Bud Lite signs on fire

[stevenj]

compressor shorted,blowing out terminals,causing oil to spew out and catch
fire from the continued shorting of the compressor,and or comp wiring.
just my guess.

[cyro]

icemeister you are so right.

[mcr]

....but if it's like most indoor ice merchandisers the compressor area is just a trash catch-all loaded with discarded beer display boards and other combustible crap. It could have been a fried start relay, defrost timer or fan motor that set off the accumulated dust bunnies and caught the old Bud Lite signs on fire
Did a p.m on a double-door traulsen cooler the other day. Found parts of old sandwiches,wrappers, cups,ect piled up around condenser and compressor. Got the kitchen manager up on the ladder and he almost had a stroke. Meeting time!:eek:

[refrigman22]

STEVENJ has it.
I saw a water fountain do that once!
That water fountain grounded in front of everyone, we had to put the fire out!

[hvacman77]

icemeister and cyro......it is amazing what i have found on top of merchandizers, reachin-ins etc...in fact like cans of lighter fluid, butane lighters paper all stuf just saying light me baby.....

[cyro]

I still have a few college bars I still do and I have found bras and panties on top of them.

I always wondered how they got there with 300 people in the place? Cameras,
and security.

Never anything of value just junk, and garbage tons of garbage, butts and always a beer sign or two.

[cyro]

Hey---- talking about these boxes, there was a fire this week at a new bar here in N.J. because he used a residential small brown extension cord 16/2 on his 3 door merchandiser.

Place is gone-----

[idontgetit]

Dead and live mice, paper bags, spilled rat poison, a variety of spilled foods/cleaners, etc. I am not sure there would be any end to the list of things found on top of these units.

Scarriest thing I ever saw that super expensive shelf called an ice machine was spilledliquid bug killer and yes, it was running down the sides and bin. Heard a call to health department was made by some crazy nut.