4door cooler-no cool

[meoff]

ok guys/gals, I own a resi/light commercial hvac business.I hold the master license.about anything I work on use subcool or superheat to charge but that's beside the point!
one of the business that I take care of had a fridg.not cooling and volunteered to take a peek while I was there working on a a/c.will try to get a model etc. when I go back.the condenser sets on top and wasn't comming on.the fans inside cabinet were running but had no power to compressor or fan.lowered panel inside cabinet and found power going to thermostat but not comming out and the out wire traced directly back to the comp.&cond.fan.which was a brown if that is a normal seen across the board.
I ohmed the brown at stat to ground and had straight continuity to ground with no resistance but was still connected to stat also(BTW-had a blk comming in 120v and brn going out 0v).my stomach would not let me spend a lot of diagnostic time in there as the smell was terrible!
they said it went out last night.this thing is in a hot kitchen and was still not unloaded when I got there late today with a 90*in cabinet temp.:eek:I guess you guys have gotten used to this but is a new one on me!I could smell it on top checking for voltage with all the doors closed!My hat is off to you!!heck I think I can smell it now here at my comp.and I haven't been there for3 hrs now.I did take a jumper and placed one end on brown at stat and touched to the blk hot on ther side of stat and got sparks.I know this isn't rocket science but any ideas?

[jpsmith1cm]

If I'm reading this right, you already found the problem.

It is sounding like you have a bad stat. If this is the 'coil sensing' type stats, also known as 'cold controls', Ranco makes a pretty comprehensive line of replacement parts.

No refer guy's truck is complete without them.

[Octopus]

When the morgue unit goes down I use Vick's vapor rub under my nose on my upper lip it helps mask the smell of dead bodys and bodily fluids. Also works well for walk in full of rotting meat.

[DDDpope]

You have a direct short between the thermostat and the condensing unit, that burned out the points on the thermostat. It could be the wiring going to the condensing unit or the condensing unit itself (compressor, or condenser fan motor). This should have been a no brainier for you meoff.

[meoff]

You have a direct short between the thermostat and the condensing unit, that burned out the points on the thermostat. It could be the wiring going to the condensing unit or the condensing unit itself (compressor, or condenser fan motor). This should have been a no brainier for you meoff.
I did tell them condensing unit was dead shorted to ground and probably wiped out stat before I left there!but after I got home was second guessing myself and hoping I didn't miss something.but the continuity to ground told me different. one of the things I didn't do was pull the comp.elect. cover and check for a burnt wire as the cond. coil was filthy.If I would have spent another 20-30 min. then would have known exactly where the short was!
I'm blaming it on my weak stomach for now:yes:gonna try to go there tomorrow to get M#'s and check a little deeper and will let you know what I find!

[DDDpope]

Sounds good, would like to hear from you.

[VTP99]

You have a direct short between the thermostat and the condensing unit, that burned out the points on the thermostat. It could be the wiring going to the condensing unit or the condensing unit itself (compressor, or condenser fan motor). This should have been a no brainier for you meoff.

3D,
How do you know he has a direct short to ground ?

[DDDpope]

3D,
How do you know he has a direct short to ground ?

You don't? Just read his post, seems clear to me. If you have another explanation would like to hear it.

[VTP99]

You don't? Just read his post, seems clear to me. If you have another explanation would like to hear it.




Just a little confused on the straight continuity part. Is he saying he had or didn't have. Big difference. Also could be short within switch. He should have removed the brown wire when checking.

[DDDpope]

Just a little confused on the straight continuity part. Is he saying he had or didn't have. Big difference. Also could be short within switch. He should have removed the brown wire when checking.

Very good point about a possible short in the stat. I interpreted it that he had continuity to ground, his words "with no resistance". We will see tomorrow.

[VTP99]

Very good point about a possible short in the stat. I interpreted it that he had continuity to ground, his words "with no resistance". We will see tomorrow.

What really confuses me is the smell part. What kind of restaurant owner leaves his product in a 90* box ?

[jpsmith1cm]

What really confuses me is the smell part. What kind of restaurant owner leaves his product in a 90* box ?

You mean they don't ALL do that.

I can't get my customers to even check temps half the time, let alone pull anything if the case gets warm.

They expect emergency service no matter what.



...and I like it when I can slap them with the bill..... :angel:

[VTP99]

I did fine a cooked mouse in a convection oven once. Belive it or not i still eat the comped food i get. Just stay clear of the baked potatoes. :couchhide:

[jpsmith1cm]

Heck, eating stuff like that is what keeps me tough enough to work the way I do.

I don't often get sick because I eat the crap they fix in these kitchens. I don't ask questions because I really don't want to know WHAT is in the special sauce at the chinese buffet, though. :LOL:

[VTP99]

Heck, eating stuff like that is what keeps me tough enough to work the way I do.

I don't often get sick because I eat the crap they fix in these kitchens. I don't ask questions because I really don't want to know WHAT is in the special sauce at the chinese buffet, though. :LOL:

Could be pieces of ceiling tile from moving them around over the wok. Never seems to bother them. It's really the ice machines that get me queasy. :o

[james122964]

You don't? Just read his post, seems clear to me. If you have another explanation would like to hear it.

If its a 120v refrigerator, the stat may be breaking the neutral, neutral meets ground back at the panel, just a thaught, since I did not read anywhere about a tripped breaker.

Jim

[VTP99]

If its a 120v refrigerator, the stat may be breaking the neutral, neutral meets ground back at the panel, just a thaught, since I did not read anywhere about a tripped breaker.

Jim

james,
OP said he had 120v @ t-stat.

[james122964]

james,
OP said he had 120v @ t-stat.

that is right, if the stat is open and it breaks the neutral, there will be 120v on one side and 0 to ground on the other.

Never saw a ohm reading on the stat with wires removed.

No tripped breaker, no short to ground.

Jim

[VTP99]

found power going to thermostat but not comming out and the out wire traced directly back to the comp.&cond.fan

James,
Did you read this part of his post ? If it was a neutral side configuration this would have been reversed.

[james122964]

found power going to thermostat but not comming out and the out wire traced directly back to the comp.&cond.fan

James,
Did you read this part of his post ? If it was a neutral side configuration this would have been reversed.

Yes, mainly, putting forward that there is not a direct short, if the breaker is not tripped.

Jim

[meoff]

Sorry guys-I forgot I had this thread hanging:oops:
FYI- found out breaker tripped but was not told that when I got there and cook in kitchen said heard a pop(this is probably when stat was wiped out)pulled wires off compressor and ohmed each terminal to ground and the R term(run)was shorted to ground.with compressor wires disconnected I then jumped the stat with a jumper and condenser fan came on.advised resturant owner and they are checking into a used condenser or compressor from another source! I don't think I wanna get into all that as is looking more and more like digging a grave for the poor machine.tapping out:nopity:
I did fix the ice maker while I was there!will start another thread for that as not to bore everyone too bad!
thanks for the replies and help:cool: