SpudFiles

My neighbor is having a yard sale and one of the items is a mini fridge with a tap on the top, like a keg sort of deal I guess. Anyways it has a nice little co2 tank on the back and a fridge compressor in the base. Problem is he says it doesn't cool, but I'm thinking that can just mean it is out of freon but the compressor still works. He's asking 50 or best offer so if its still there in a while I'm gonna try to nail it for 20 bucks. So do you guys think the compressor still works and its just out of freon, or is the compressor probably done for?

You're sure it not one of these eh?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator

I'm pretty sure it's a normal refridgerator. The compressor is exactly like the one I already have.

If you already have one, and you do get this one, even if it is broken surely wouldn't it be fairly easy to repair? given that you already have a working compressor for reference.
Either way though, it's probably worth the risk for only 20 quid,

You have a point. I've read online that most of the time the relays go out and that's only like a 20 dollar fix, so it's probably worth it. Even if I don't get the compressor to work I still get the co2 tank.

You can check the windings to see if the compressor is ok electrically
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Thanks Poland. My neighbor ended up just giving it to me because I waited until the garage sale was over and they were just gonna put it by the road anyway haha. So I ripped the compressor out, grounded the two green wires to the feet and hooked a switch up to the thermostat wires. When I plugged it in, it turned on and ran fine the second time however, there was a short delay, and the third time it wouldn't turn on at all. But after letting it rest, it starts up fine. I'm gonna have to watch that video because that might be the problem. Also, the co2 tank has a functioning low pressure (0-60 psi) regulator and some co2 left which I will probably drain and refill using one of my now two fridge compressors

Ah it was a good day indeed

Pictures!! New editions to my family


Functioning regulator, some co2 left, not sure how much.


Threads on left are 1/2" but not standard NPT, threads on right unknown because tank still has air.


Regulator is left hand thread besides the ball valve


Fridgy


Small diameter (steel?) output line


Switch

the second time however, there was a short delay, and the third time it wouldn't turn on at all.

The start unite always need a time to recharge to start the motor, not a real problem.
Nice tank, I was looking for some high volume high pressure rated vessel, now that I'm using compressed air to clean my machines after work.

Get a scuba tank! You can get them used for cheap, and they can take any pressure your fridgy can put out, times 3. Then again, I don't know about their availability in Portugal...

Thanks for that little note on the starting relay. Makes sense!

I checked the windings and got a reading of 4, 8, and 12. Everything is good!

All that's left to do is get a fitting epoxied in place and maybe a quick connect on the input. It's a little compressor so it probably needs a little push

Gun Freak wrote:Thanks Poland. My neighbor ended up just giving it to me because I waited until the garage sale was over and they were just gonna put it by the road anyway haha. So I ripped the compressor out, grounded the two green wires to the feet and hooked a switch up to the thermostat wires. When I plugged it in, it turned on and ran fine the second time however, there was a short delay, and the third time it wouldn't turn on at all. But after letting it rest, it starts up fine. I'm gonna have to watch that video because that might be the problem. Also, the co2 tank has a functioning low pressure (0-60 psi) regulator and some co2 left which I will probably drain and refill using one of my now two fridge compressors

Ah it was a good day indeed

Pictures!! New editions to my family


Functioning regulator, some co2 left, not sure how much.


Threads on left are 1/2" but not standard NPT, threads on right unknown because tank still has air.


Regulator is left hand thread besides the ball valve


Fridgy


Small diameter (steel?) output line


Switch

those threads might not be normal cause your working with co2 tank , which a lot of times they are reverse threads, I may be wrong, just wanted to point that out

The regulator threads are left hand, but the tank threads are right. Just a different thread per inch.

When I plugged it in, it turned on and ran fine Very Happy the second time however, there was a short delay, and the third time it wouldn't turn on at all. But after letting it rest, it starts up fine.

that's 100% normal - PTC relays need time to cool down

Awesome. So there is nothing wrong with this compressor so far other than the fact that its tiny I want an AC compressor next!

Once I get a fitting secured on it I'm gonna see how powerful it is on its own. I expect 300 psi easily.

In the US all CO2 tanks are right hand threaded. For safety the left hand thread is only permitted on flammable gas cylinders such as Propane and Acetylene.

Due to problems creating safety hazards with the general public, the new overfill protected propane tanks use a right hand thread on the external thread on the valve. The internal thread for a POL fitting is still left hand threaded.

To make it easy for techs to tell them apart where both are present such as a welding torch, the fittings on the left hand parts have a groove in the center.

Here is a sample photo showing the groove in the flamable gas part next to the non flamable part. The red one is for welding gas and the other one is for Oxygen.

This prevents the wrong hose connections by a color blind person.

The compression style fitting that connects my regulator to the tank threads has the grooves on the hex part. While the threads that connect it to the tank are right hand, the nipple that goes into the regulator is left hand thread.

It's too bad the external threads are not NPT. However there are also internal threads on the same part that has the 1/2" threads. Tech, you know what thread size this could be? It appears similar to a 1/4" or 5/16" course threaded bolt.