Where to get Fridge Compressor?

BeaverRat · Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:23 pm

Hello,
I have been searching for a place to aquire a fridge compressor, but I'm having no luck. Where are some probable locations I can get one for free or cheap?
Thanks

geardog32 · Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:39 pm

I got mine on bulk trash day. I would say thats a good bet. also when colleges let out at the end of the year lots of mini fridges get throw out but thats a ways away.

Check out my YouTube SpudGun Channel! · Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:46 pm

eBay usually has them. Personally I got mine from a fridge behind an appliance store which sold and fixed fridges. It had a note on it "free to take away", I just nicked the compressor (of course I properly contained the freon gas

).

Ragnarok · Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:23 pm

geardog32 wrote:also when colleges let out at the end of the year lots of mini fridges get throw out but that's a ways away.

That doesn't necessarily work as a technique anyway. Many mini-fridges use other forms of cooling, and don't have compressors.

BeaverRat · Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:20 pm

Ok, I think I have a way of getting a fridge compressor. That only leaves one question. How do I attach the propper fittings to the output line? I will be using a schrader valve on the cannon. I have to somehow get from that small copper tube to a schrader filler...

blind909 · Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:37 pm

Get some compression fittings, or attatch a hose using a hose clamp, then hook up a shraeder filler(SP?). Make sure all your tubing/fittings are rated for the high pressure that the fridge compressor outputs. and just a warning, when you cut the lines, the freon gas will go into the atmosphere which is bad for the enviornment and illegal(no, im not a tree hugger, but just sayin).

Matt_NZ · Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:41 pm

BeaverRat wrote:Ok, I think I have a way of getting a fridge compressor. That only leaves one question. How do I attach the propper fittings to the output line? I will be using a schrader valve on the cannon. I have to somehow get from that small copper tube to a schrader filler...

There are two ways i can think of. The first and best way would be to wield it, you could use flare fittings. (see picture)

If you can't get access to that, then i guess you will have to use compression hose and hose clamps.

Crna Legija · Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:50 am

i got myn at a junk yard for free so i to 3 just in cass it didn't work.
i drilled a hole in a 1/4inch threaded plug then brazed it to the steel out put tube on my compressor i did the same for the in put so i can pressurize the input air/attach a air filter.

BeaverRat · Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:54 am

three questions:

-Can schraders take 500 PSI?
-Can compression fittings take 500 PSI?
-Would it be smarter/easier to use a female quick connect instead of a schrader on the cannon?

Thanks

Crna Legija · Tue Aug 24, 2010 1:17 am

schraders have been tested to IIRC 3000psi by Gippeto, but thats if your attachment of the schraders can take it to. iv never used comp fittings but Mitchza89 used his to 500psi.

yea i would say use quick connect but they are really hard to open 500

geardog32 · Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:01 am

Ragnarok wrote:
geardog32 wrote:also when colleges let out at the end of the year lots of mini fridges get throw out but that's a ways away.
That doesn't necessarily work as a technique anyway. Many mini-fridges use other forms of cooling, and don't have compressors.

almost all the ones I have seen have been compressor based, including the one in my workroom right now.

POLAND_SPUD · Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:03 am

@geardog
rag mentioned it becasue MrCrowley's minifirdge wasn't using a compressor. AFAIK all other minifridges mentioned here were not using compressors too. If your has it then it would be great if you could describe it and post a few pics of it once it is done.
I wonder if it will be able to reach higher pressures or just the opposite ??

You can build your own compression fitting... Get two male-female fittings and put a rubber washer between them... as you screw one into the other they squeeze the rubber washer and the hole in the middle gets a lot smaller... First you put the whole thing over the output tube and then you tighten it... and that's it

AFAIK people throw a lot of fridges with good compressors. It seems counter-intuitive since that's the only moving part in the fridge but that's the fact. I even removed one from a fridge which supposedly had a broken compressor. It turned out later that it was ok but the starting circuit was broken.

you can use this to check whether the compressor is ok (electrically) without having to wire it. Start the video at 2:30 (he shows how to check a 3phase compressor first)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IiIIMcA ... ure=search

POLAND_SPUD · Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:45 am

@geardog
rag mentioned it becasue MrCrowley's minifirdge wasn't using a compressor. AFAIK all other minifridges mentioned here were not using compressors too. If your has it then it would be great if you could describe it and post a few pics of it once it is done.
I wonder if it will be able to reach higher pressures or just the opposite ??

You can build your own compression fitting... Get two male-female fittings and put a rubber washer between them... as you screw one into the other they squeeze the rubber washer and the hole in the middle gets a lot smaller... First you put the whole thing over the output tube and then you tighten it... and that's it

AFAIK people throw a lot of fridges with good compressors. It seems counter-intuitive since that's the only moving part in the fridge but that's the fact. I even removed one from a fridge which supposedly had a broken compressor. It turned out later that it was ok but the starting circuit was broken.

you can use this to check whether the compressor is ok (electrically) without having to wire it. Start the video at 2:30 (he shows how to check a 3phase compressor first)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IiIIMcA ... ure=search
That doesn't guarantee that the compressor will work as there are other things that can break

EDIT
ohh great... I got internal server error but it posted my message anyway

c11man · Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:18 am

i would not trust a hommade compression fitting.... just buy a real compression fitting, they arent very expensive.

also i would have a look at salvage yards, but if you find one there dont be surprosed if it doesnt work....

geardog32 · Tue Aug 24, 2010 1:43 pm

this is the one that i yanked out of a mini fridge. I think you guys are referring to those mini thermoelectric fridges. its not hard to tell what kind it is, just look behind it!
<a href="http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc33 ... 000535.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc33 ... 000535.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>