Hi all,
our Ariston FF stopped working suddenly (bought 2nd hand 3 years ago). Sounds like something inside the compressor has broken as it's a lot noisier than it used to be but zero cooling. I assume there's little point in repairing it.
However, does anyone know if there are any bits worth saving off it? It's quite a posh one with a digital display for setting the temperature of the fridge and freezer separately.
Cheers PJ
It depends. Its not too hard to swap over a compressor from an old machine. Some machines of that age use fuel gas refrigerant, which costs peanuts and is workable with.
light bulb, glass chopping boards.
NT
It depends. Its not too hard to swap over a compressor from an old machine. Some machines of that age use fuel gas refrigerant, which costs peanuts and is workable with.
Brazing equipment, brazing rod, recharging equipment, recharging valve, the correct refrigerant, specialised tools, the correct replacement compressor ...
light bulb, glass chopping boards.
NT
FF4DK or FF4DX?
Oh S**&, scrap that - no digital display on those.
(just heartache)
Mind ya, if you take the presumed still working digital electronics out and stick it on eBay, someone would be grateful.
yup
well...
=A31 from the hardware store if its butane/propane, or if an old R12 machine that you can recharge with that (often you can)
or anything suitable. If you pick one with the same gas and similar wattage you'll be ok. Some repair jobs become worth doing if you don't get overly fussy. The specs will then shift a bit, you might find it only maintains temps upto 27C isntead of 28C ambient.
NT
yup
well...
Well indeed ..
£1 from the hardware store if its butane/propane, or if an old R12 machine that you can recharge with that (often you can)It will not be butane or propane. I have never seen this in a domestic fridge freezer in the UK. R12 is now banned in the UK. Knowing how much refrigerant to put in if somebody has removed the sticker which is not always there. It can be for example 34 -120 grams. The amount is critical
or anything suitable. If you pick one with the same gas and similar wattage you'll be ok. Some repair jobs become worth doing if you don't get overly fussy. The specs will then shift a bit, you might find it only maintains temps upto 27C isntead of 28C ambient.
Nar, any old compressor which has something like the same spec will not do. High pressure side/low pressure side.... I think a refurb compressor costs about 60 quid.
Well ....
NT
Ohhh, I forgot to mention that the system must have a vac out before being recharged.
It is in use now, I've seen it.
Lots of old R12 kit still in use, but the OP's wont be R12.
if it was originally used with the same refrigerant it would work.
It is in use now, I've seen it.
It is highly flammable. This stuff gets hot in the condensing coils, it gets hot in the compressor. If the brazing is not done correctly it could leak out -- bang! Some freezers have mild steel pipes in the insulation. These are prone to rotting - leaking. The evaporator plate is prone to leakage. People defrost with a knife and stab it to death ---- hiss. Just where have you seen butane or propane being used in domestic refrigeration?
Lots of old R12 kit still in use, but the OP's wont be R12.
It might well be R12 depending on the age of his fridge freezer. Some of the old LEC stuff is still rumbling along on R12. The upgrade was R134A. There is a drop in replacement for R12 but you need to change the dryer.
Well?
if it was originally used with the same refrigerant it would work.
Unfortunately not. It is just not that easy.
Hmmmm
Does it claim to be a Frost Free? Is it completely broken or just failing to get cold enough?
If the latter, let it defrost completely over a weekend and restart it. Frost Free freezers work by blowing refrigerated air from a relatively compact freezer unit throughout the main freezer compartment. This means that any frost from condensate is restricted to the main unit and this is removed using a local heater that melts the ice and lets it flow away.
However, if the freezer is overpacked, the air vents that are used for circulating the frozen air get blocked with ice. These aren't near the heater so they never defrost and the frozen air stops circulating.
We had the same with our Hotpoint Frost Free. A 12 hour defrost was useless, but a 48 hour absence let all the trapped water thaw and it's been good as new since then.
Hope this helps
There was a gardening programme on the box a few years back which had several suggestions. I can't remember all of them, but: (a) a seed store, (b) on its back as a compost bin, (c) ditto with holes filled as a water-butt.
Chris
that's why it wasn't used here for so many decades. But stats from where its long been used in Africa have shown that in practice the risk is as good as zero.
First time I saw it here was a new Proline fridge freezer. They're easily spotted as they have a flame warning sign on the back.
3 years old won't be R12.Fridge freezers normally have the quantity on the ratings plate. You could always google for the people that do this.
"In highly purified form, propane (R-290) can serve as a direct replacement in mechanical refrigeration systems designed to use R-12, R-22 or R-134a chloro- or fluorocarbon based refrigerants."
that's why it wasn't used here for so many decades. But stats from where its long been used in Africa have shown that in practice the risk is as good as zero.
African stats ....
First time I saw it here was a new Proline fridge freezer. They're easily spotted as they have a flame warning sign on the back.
Jesus! Cheaper and cheaper crap.
3 years old won't be R12.He bought it second hand 3 years ago.
Fridge freezers normally have the quantity on the ratings plate. You could always google for the people that do this.
"In highly purified form, propane (R-290) can serve as a direct replacement in mechanical refrigeration systems designed to use R-12, R-22 or R-134a chloro- or fluorocarbon based refrigerants."
Hardly a home repair job.
Lower cost, more energy efficient, risk insignificant. Its good engineering.
People have done it succesfully. Anyone can google. End of story.
Lower cost, more energy efficient, risk insignificant. Its good engineering.
People have done it succesfully. Anyone can google. End of story.
Hardly a home repair job.
If the sides are metal they'll make useful tops for workbenches... I'd see if there was any frame inside which could be useful (in pieces as needed) on other projects too, but that's just me :-)
cheers
Jules
The sides are cheap thin mild steel. Inside is foam insulation which hold the interior of the cabinet together. The only things maybe worth saving are the racks which can be used as .... dunno really. The light bulb will be 15W .....
>
Yes, I suppose they might be on a recent one... as I mentioned in another thread, our fridge is 30-odd years old and built like a sodding tank, as are most* of that vintage :-)
Ahh, OK. Again, our ancient one definitely has a box-section steel frame at the bottom, I'm just not sure if it extends all the way to the top.
cheers
Jules
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