where to get refrigerator compressors

[VH_man]

I have a sudden urge to construct one of these, but i have a problem...

the only way for me to get one is to:

1. Sabotage my refrigerator
2. sabotage someone elses refrigerator
3. buy a brand new one for 80 bucks.........

any other ideas on where to get one/anyone wanna sell me one? (i know this isnt in the classifieds area its just an idea.....)

Thanks

[biggsauce]

Keep an eye out by the side of the road. Thats how I found mine. Not always a reliable source, but the trash can yield quite a treasure if you're patient enough.

[noob of noobs]

A local junkyard?
An alley?
Ebay?
Maybe you could buy one of those mini fridges that are pretty cheap and take the compressor out of that.

[koolaidman]

My advice is this. Seek a person, hvac, or junk yard in your area that accepts refrigerators and ask. I did this and he offered me them for 5 bucks.

[rednecktatertosser]

I vote option number 2 in your original post.

[starman]

See if your waste collection depot has "metal" bin where large appliances are tossed....there will typically be one at semi-central locations. The other trick will be getting the dump guy to let you take the old fridge away.

[iisthemuffin]

Go to a metal junk yard. I have one right down the street that has ALL kinds of different appliances man. I could easily get one for 5 bucks. Maybe even free if i take the compressor off on the lot.

[POLAND_SPUD]

Maybe you could buy one of those mini fridges that are pretty cheap and take the compressor out of that.

they are no use - either they don't have compressors at all or they are low power..
one member (MrCrowley if I remeber correctly) had one but it turned out that there was only a big fan intead of pump...

other ideas are ok... people working in these places don't give a sh## about their stuff so a small bribe might help (beer or $)

[VH_man]

hahaha i will search around for local dumps and things. i know theres a place that my friend dumped her refrigerator a week ago (tear) before i could get my hands on the compressor. ill just keep my word out and get someone to give me one when the fridge breaks. my grandpa has a broken fridge, hes just not ready to part from it yet...........

ill go to the dump and ask.

thanks alot!!!!

BTW, whats the CFM on these compressors? i have some... large..... tanks (think those LARGE propane cylinders for gas grills, but intended for use with helium.....) that can easily take the 500-600 PSI a fridge compressor creates. could i make a legitmiate "shop compressor" that works at fridge compressor pressures? (meaning it keeps said tanks at 500 PSI untill i turn it off)

[POLAND_SPUD]

first of all CFM depends on:
1. on pressure
2. on the model of pump that you find (a refrigerator pump used for air-conditioning have much higher CFM than a typical fridge compressor)

My compressor has 0.6 cubic m/h written on it but well that won't tell you much (see point 1 and 2)


Of course you can use a propane tanks but :
1. propane tanks are pressure tested ussually up to 2.1 MPa (= 21 bar) so using them at 500 psi is a bit risky. There are other cheap pressure vessels -> Gippetto managed to get a CO2 FE from his fire department - I couldn't find that thread but it has to be somewhere here

2. don't expect it to pump an 11kg propane tank to 300 psi in less than 45 minutes

3. If you want to run it for several hours to fill the tank you'd need some sort of cooling system. (some people use a 12V fan )

I have one final advice for you - build your fridge compressor in the most basic configuration first.. then you can upgrade it, add a tank and more fridge pumps to increase the flow

[VH_man]

alright thanks!!!!

and like i said the tanks were filled with helium........ so i think they should be able to take those pressures.

if not, i do have acess to some Aluminum air cylinders intended for the transport of CO2............ they are like an inch thick......

[brother361]

craigslist.com
ether its free or its gonna be really cheap

[psycix]

I believe that smaller refrigerators also have smaller compressors, so try to get a large one for the lowest price.
I will be getting one soon too, and I will buy a 20 year old one via an ebay like site.

[daberno123]

Here's something that seems that it would work. Only $60, which is less than a lot of shop compressors.

really long link

[POLAND_SPUD]

60$ ....?

I am not saying it's not worth 60$ but these things are new and most likely imported from china, which means that they may be of low quality, have lower power (you know enviromental issues ) and importers get them for 5$ each

you can get a fridge compressor cheaper if you search in the right places (junkyards, etc.).
spend that 60 $ on fittings, airhose, a pressure gauge etc.