Determining that a compressor has failed on a refrigeration system is normally a relatively simple procedure. But, discovering why the original compressor failed may not be as simple.
With the compressor being such a critical element to a system, proper maintenance and repair becomes crucial to compressor and system longevity. But, equally important is correctly diagnosing the problem, ensuring that the problem lies with the compressor.
Checking the acidity and/or moisture content of refrigerant oil is one of the methods used to test if a refrigeration system is clean and uncontaminated. But how can you take an oil sample without an oil plug?
Bob and Tim have gone back to the job with the grounded compressor. They changed the compressor yesterday and ran the unit for a few minutes, then shut the system down, leaving the crankcase heat on so they could start it up later. They now want to determine why the compressor burned.
Why does the rapid cycling of a compressor on and off cause it to fail? Rapid cycling can cause a compressor to fail in several different ways. Read on to find out some.
Bob and Tim were on their way to a no cooling call at a commercial building. When they arrived, they talked to the building manager and checked the thermostat. It was set at 72°F but the thermometer was reading 78°. Tim said, “The fan is running, so there is control voltage and the thermostat seems to be calling for cooling.”
