Compressor stays on short periods

[dr galaga]

Having problems with my new Cavalier CS-80-C.

Problem: Compressor kicks on and after it starts to quiet down it turns off (5-10 seconds).  A minute or two later it will do this again. Sometimes you can hear a click, compressor doesn't go on and it clicks again.

What I have done: The machine did this since the get-go.  Jumpered thermostat wires and compressor stayed on for awhile.  Soooooo I changed the thermostat.  Put in new thermostat and compressor stayed on a bit so I left it.  Came back an hour later and the inside was cool - not cold - so I thought it must be cooling.  I moved it in to position and plugged it in and I noticed the same problem as before.  Left it unplugged awhile, plugged it back in and still the same problem.  Disconnected the thermostat and jumped wires - still same  '> problem.

Other info: Compressor fan stays on.  If I turn the thermostat to off the compressor fan stops.  Person I bought it from said it cooled.  He told me when I picked it up that he replaced the compressor fan about 6 months ago.  There is good air movement (inside and outside) and the evaporator fan is always running.  The compressor does get warm, but I can still hold my hand on it.

What's my next course of action?  '>

[BrianB]

Sounds to me like your compressor is "short cycling" or going into thermal overload. I had the very same problem with my Cavalier 55 refrigeration deck and made the choice to send it to Eric at Global to see what he could do and he ended up having to replace the compressor because it was shot.

It kinda stinks especially when the previous owner claims that it "used to cool" and you get your machine home and it won't. When I restored my 55 I trusted the previous owners word so much that I went ahead and completely restored the deck along with the machine only to find out that it had a bad compressor.

I would give Eric a ring and see what he says before giving up hope though.

[Kevin C]

Hello

You may want to get a 3 -1 hard start/relay.  Plug it in inside the pecker head.

Kevin

[dr galaga]

I emailed Eric and a copy of this thread and told him I'll call him Monday (since it's after 5:00 on a Friday).

Kevin-
Good thing I have heard of a pecker head on a soda machine before or I would have thought that it was April 1st!  Where the main AC wire comes in and is split doesn't have any room for a relay.  I did notice that on the side of the compressor where the wire goes in and another wire for the fan comes out has a screw to remove the cover and is big enough for a relay.  Would the relay be in there?  

Here's a pic. Left side the main wire comes in and splits out(ignore the white wire, it's for my add-on bottle door light) and the right side is the side of the compressor.

[MoonDawg]

Quote (dr galaga @ May 18 2006,6:59)

plugged it in and I noticed the same problem as before.  Left it unplugged awhile, plugged it back in and still the same problem.

Don't know if you left it unplugged long enough. Must not restart a compressor for at least 5 minutes to allow high and low pressures to equalize.
       Yes, remove the cover on your compressor and you will see the overload relay that is turning your system off and on.

[dr galaga]

I let it sit overnight and it still did it.  '>