Basic refrigeration cycle and components:
1 - Compressor - Has two valves: Discharge line (outlet valve) and Suction line (inlet valve).
A. Via discharge valve - due to compression, refrigerant is released as a high temperature/pressure vapor.
2 - Condenser- Refrigerant enters the condenser coil as a high temp/pressure vapor yet changes into liquid as it travels through the condenser and refrigerant exits condenser as a subcooled liquid.
Condenser coil pushes/rejects heat into a separate room or area.
3 - Metering device -There are multiple types of metering devices such as capillary tube (fixed orifice), thermostatic expansion valve, and automatic expansion valves.
Metering devices feed the proper amount of refrigerant into the evaporator coil and creates a drop in pressure.
Whenever there is a drop in pressure, there is always a drop in temperature, and vice versa.
4 - Evaporator - After traveling through the metering device, the refrigerant enters into the evaporator as a low temperature/pressure liquid. As the refrigerant travels through evaporator, it changes back into a low temperature/pressure vapor.
Evaporator coils absorbs heat from interior of a space and contents within.
Basic electrical/mechanical components of a beverage/wine refrigerator:
| POWER CONTROL BOARD |
| RELAY OVERLOAD STARTER |
| COMPRESSOR MOTOR |
| LED TEMP DISPLAY BOARD OR DIAL THERMOSTAT |
| AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR |
| CONDENSING (EXTERNAL/EXHAUST) FAN MOTOR AND EVAPORATOR (INTERNAL/SUPPLY FAN MOTOR *** NOTE - MODELS VT-15TS/ VT-27TS/VT-28TS/VT-34TS/VT-48TS DO NOT HAVE EVAP FANS |
GENERAL LOCATION AND SETUP OF COMPRESSOR AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS:
1) AC Voltage of 110-120 from outlet via power cord energizes
2) Power control board then sends DC voltage to display board and sends AC voltage to
relay overload and compressor (3&5) motor to pump the refrigerant gas.
4) Drain is placed onto top of compressor motor. As compressor motor operates, compressor will heat up to evaporate any water/condensation that collects into the drain pan.
6) As the gas moves through the system and reaches the filter drier, filter drier begins to warm up and a drastic pressure drop a occurs as it reaches the capillary, causing system to cool the interior.
TYPICAL OPERATIONAL SOUND OF COMPRESSOR MOTOR:
•UNIT DEAD WITH NO LIGHTS OR FLICKERING LIGHTS, NO SOUND, AND NO COOLING:
1A - ENSURE BREAKER IS ON AND OUTLET HAS POWER.
1B - IF OUTLET HAS POWER, ENSURE UNIT IS PLUGGED IN.
1C - IF UNIT IS PLUGGED INTO OUTLET, AND UNIT IS STILL NOT ON, REPLACE POWER CONTROL BOARD (PCB) OR CALL FOR LOCAL SERVICE.
PCB FAILURE AND BLINKING.mov
VIDEO: PCB INSTALL FOR SELON UNITS:
Fixing a Wine Fridge Replacing the Vinotemp Power Control Board VT-52SN
Video: PCB INSTALL FOR CANDOR UNITS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zxgGCip8ms
UNIT HAS POWER BUT NOT COOLING:
2A -CHECK FOR NORMAL COMPRESSOR OPERATION - VIBRATION W/ ELECTRIC HUM AND WARMTH
2B - IF COMPRESSOR HAS NO VIBRATION W/ ELECTRIC HUM, AND COLD TO TOUCH, CHECK FOR LACK OF VOLTAGE W/ VOLT METER AND REPLACE PCB.
2C - IF COMPRESSOR WARM/HOT TO TOUCH WITH NO VIBRATION BUT HAS PERIODIC CLICKING ONCE A MINUTE, REPLACE RELAY OVERLOAD
SEALED SYSTEM FAILURE: (NEEDS SERVICE OR REPLACE)
2D - IF COMPRESSOR HAS NORMAL OPERATION W/ VIBRATION AND ELECTRIC HUM WHILE HOT TO TOUCH, UNIT HAS SEALED SYSTEM ISSUE, CALL FOR LOCAL SERVICE.
2C EXAMPLE:
IF CUSTOMER HEARS UNIT CLICK ON AND OFF INTERMITTENLY, RELAY OVERLOAD POSSIBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6BN5yHcSbY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBfVNX5YQ88
ADVANCED TROUBLESHOOTING (UPON REQUEST ONLY)
TESTING VOLTAGE OUTPUT FROM PCB TO RELAY OVERLOAD AND COMPRESSOR
If you are handy with a multi-meter, we can test to see if voltage from the power board is getting to the compressor.
Either 115 voltage from power control board is not being supplied to the compressor and fan motor.
OR the starting relay and overload needs to be replaced.
A simple way to check if voltage is being supplied to the compressor, unplug unit from the outlet,
and disconnect the two leads off of the relay and overload components
(one red lead connects to the overload, one white, blue or black lead connects to the relay) going to the compressor.
Take your voltmeter’s two probes and insert them into the wires.
Insert the power cord back into the outlet with the two leads safely distanced from one another.
If you get 115-120 volts, then voltage from the power control board is being supplied, and so it might be a bad relay.
You are testing for voltage between the red wire (hot) and the white/blue combo wire (neutral).
For control board access, please follow the video link below:
POWER CONTROL BOARD TUTORIAL: VT-TS SINGLE/DUAL ZONE MODELS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zxgGCip8ms
***YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO ACCESS THE BOARD FOR VOLTAGE TESTING
IF YOU ARE TESTING FOR THE OUTPUT BETWEEN THE RED/WHITE.BLUE WIRES.
UNIT HAS POWER W/ PARTIAL COOLING:
3A - CHECK TEMPERATURE SETTING ON TEMP DISPLAY BOARD, IF HIGHER THAN DESIRED, SET TO DESIRED LOWER SETTING
(See video) - TEMP DISPLAY UNLOCK AND ADJUST.mp4
3B - IF SET TEMP IS CORRECT, CHECK DOOR GASKET SEAL, AND ENSURE THERE IS NO AIR LEAK.
SEE EXAMPLE 1 BELOW
3C - IF DOOR IS CLOSED PROPERLY WITH NO AIR LEAKS, PLEASE CHECK INTERNAL EVAP FANS FOR OPERATION.
See EXAMPLE 2 BELOW
3D - IF ALL OF THE ABOVE IS OK, CHECK FOR DEBRIS ON EXHAUST VENT, IF DEBRIS FOUND, CLEAR OUT DEBRIS AND CHECK FOR AIR FLOW
SEE EXAMPLE 3 BELOW
3E – IF UNIT HAS ICING ON BACK WALL, POSSIBLE SEALED SYSTEM ISSUE, CALL FOR LOCAL SERVICE.
3D – IF COMPRESSOR IS RUNNING WITH FANS RUNNING AND NO ICING ON BACK WALL,
CHECK FILTER DRIER FOR TEMPERATURE, SEE EXAMPLE 4 PICS BELOW:
EXAMPLE 1:
GASKET CARE:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/U0-aVuXOTnQ
If the cooling system is running continually without reaching the desired
temperature, the problem may lie with the door gaskets not sealing correctly.
Examine the door gasket around the entire unit. An effective way to check for gaps is to
slip a sheet of paper between body and door gasket, and tug on sheet, if there is resistance; door seal is good. Perform test along entire perimeter of door gasket.
If no resistance, and sheet slips out easily, this may indicate that an area is not sealing properly.
If a problem exists, use the following guidelines to resolve the issue:
• Using a hair dryer, heat the gasket up while using your fingers to pull the gasket
outwards. Doing this for several minutes will loosen the gasket material and increase its flexibility.
• After heating the gasket, close the door and determine if the magnetic strip within
the gasket will seal with the metal strip on the door.
• Repeat this process until the gasket seals
correctly.
• Once it has, leave the doors closed for three
hours.
• The seal should retain the new shape after
this process.
EXAMPLE 2: CHECKING INTERNAL EVAPORATOR FANS
(CANDOR TOUCHSCREEN SINGLE/DUAL ZONE MODELS ONLY)
IF UNDER COUNTER SINGLE ZONE, THERE'S ONLY 1 EVAP FAN.
IF ITS A DUAL ZONE WINE COOLER SUCH AS VT-28-2Z SSDST, VT-122TS-2Z, VT-140TS/TSBW/VT-155SBB/EL-142TSST, EL-142SDST, THERE ARE 3 EVAP FANS.
1ST SET OF EVAP FANS IN THE TOP HALF: 1ST FAN AT TOP BACK CENTER WITH 2ND FAN PLACED HORIZONTALLY IN THE DIVIDER HOUSING
LOWER (SMALLER) EVAP FAN IN TH LOWER ZONE:
EXAMPLE 3: NON WORKING CONDENSER FAN OR DIRTY CONDENSER COIL
If the unit seems to not drop down and get to desired temperature setting OR get excessively hot to the point where your cabinetry is radiating the heat buildup, the overheating can be due to a non functional condenser fan motor and a dirty condenser coil.
If the condenser fan motor is not running at all and the condenser coil has dust/lint accumulation , the coil will not have cool, flowing air and the coil will not be able to reject and dissipate the heat.
EXAMPLE 4:
After having it run for 5-10 minutes to the far right hand side, there is a copper cylinder with a thin copper line out the bottom or side of it.
That cylinder should feel warmer than room temperature.
If compressor and fan motors are working, and filter feels excessively hot, there is restriction in condenser coil.
If the filter drier (copper cylinder) feels ICY & WET to the touch, this is a restriction in the filter drier.
If filter drier is room temp with no heat, this is a possible leak.
****ALL SCENARIOS REQUIRE SERVICE BY LICENSED TECHNICIAN
SEVERLY FROZEN EVAPORATOR COIL
