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Trouble-Shooting => Refrigeration => Topic started by: SLIDER on August 23, 2014, 11:12:21 pm



Title: Westinghouse WC-78 not geting cold
Post by: SLIDER on August 23, 2014, 11:12:21 pm
Picked up a nice complete Westinghouse WC-78 select o matic.  I have fixed all the lighting and have it vending perfectly now.
Plug it in bottom compressor starts up and runs fine. Turn on the t stat on upper half top starts up and runs no problem it just wont get cold.

Wondering where to start??


Thanks in advance


Sarge


Title: Re: Westinghouse WC-78 not geting cold
Post by: johnieG on August 24, 2014, 05:37:43 pm
Possibly one of two or three things..

1st: the compressor isn't really running & you may be mistaking the condensers fan motor noises & vibrations for the compressor, unplug the machine, temporarily stuff a rag into the condensers fan blades so they cant spin, now plug the machine in & actually put a hand on the compressor itself & feel if it is physically running, if so then remove the rag. (remove it regardless)

2nd; You have had a leak & the system is discharged with little or no freon left to do the job, check at the evaporator coil were the small thin capillary tubing joins into the larger evaporator tubing itself along the right side of the evap' coil, (hard to get to on a Westy' select-a-matic ) with the machine running you should see frost at this point & also a few coils along the line of the evap' assembly. if none, or even if it's just sweating condensate water. you have a leak.  You can also carefully touch the side of the condensing coil itself, it should be quite warm to almost too hot to touch, if it's not radiating heat, the system isn't "making" cold topside, if the condensers coils are cool to the touch, but the compressors warm of hot, then you have a leak/no gas in the system.

You have to get a set of gauges on the system via a temporary clamp-on type system tap-valve, or someone may have already installed one ( a clamp on style tap-valve)  on the low pressure side of the system, (the larger diameter copper line) if so, this may be the likely point of your leak.

3rd: You may a blockage somewhere in the cooling system, possibly the filter-dryer, the capillary tubing, or a kinked copper line. also check for a plugged up condensing coil, make sure your evaporator fans running too.  

these are some basic check points, hope it helps, watch your fingers around the fan blades..they'll 'getcha! & beware of high temperature components & always watch out for the electrical system ( It bites!)


Title: Re: Westinghouse WC-78 not geting cold
Post by: collecture on August 24, 2014, 05:52:53 pm
Sounds like it is wired wrong to me.
The upper (evap. fan) should run 24/7 and the compressor and fan (cond. fan) are the ones that should fire up when the T-stat is turned on.


Title: Re: Westinghouse WC-78 not geting cold
Post by: SLIDER on August 30, 2014, 04:15:32 pm
Well did some checking today:

1) Did the rags in the fan thing a yes the compressor is running for sure.  Other post is correct. Top fan comes on when plugged in.

2) Bottom compressor and condenser fan comes on when t stat is turned on

3) Get no signs of anything frosting, or remotely getting cold.


Title: Re: Westinghouse WC-78 not geting cold
Post by: SLIDER on August 30, 2014, 05:49:05 pm
So my guess is it has no Freon in it so obviously there is a leak somewhere.

I am almost certain its in the condenser as I see a very rusty spot in the lower corner
with a lot of rusty missing cooling fins.  I will post a pic of that section here.

Next questions: Do they sell new condensers for these?  or is it a whole unit together thing?

How do you charge these after repair, and what do you use to charge them with as R-12 is no more.


Thanks!