How to Check and Replace Refrigerator Compressor Relay

If your refrigerator has been in use for some time, there may be some faults with the compressor. To troubleshoot the compressor, check whether there is abnormal noise or overheating phenomenon in the relay. Generally, the failure or damage of the refrigerator compressor relay will cause the compressor to fail to start. This article will take you to have a look at how to check and replace the refrigerator relay.



the dissembled refrigerator compressor relay

Figure 1: The refrigerator compressor relay is disassembled into three parts.



Before testing the refrigerator compressor motor, you should unplug the power cord to prevent any electric shock. If there is a capacitor in the compressor, dangerous charges may be in the capacitor. You have to discharge the capacitor. Otherwise, do not touch the terminals.

Remove the panels in the front and at the bottom of the refrigerator. Sometimes the panel could be at the lower place. Then remove the clip that connects the cover to the refrigerator.

If you find a cylindrical part whose one terminal is connected to the refrigerator compressor and the other to the relay, it should be the capacitor. Then take off the wires from the resistance where there are wires. This helps reduce the resistance inside the capacitor to prevent electric shock.



CBB60 relay for the refrigerator

Figure 2: A capacitor is used in the refrigerator.



On the lower side of the back of the refrigerator, there are wires connected to this terminal cover through the refrigerator compressor. After putting away the cover, you’ll find the relay and wires from the relay to the refrigerator compressor. The relay is also wrapped in copper wire, like a scroll. Remove the wire by pulling the connector instead of pulling the wires directly.



the inner structure of the refrigerator compressor

Figure 3: Refrigerator compressor.



The next step is that plug the wire into your new refrigerator compressor relay and put the relay into the connector of the old relay. Then you would put the cover onto the new relay and put the panel onto the terminal cover. After that, the compressor relay replacement is finished.

After cross-checking, make sure that no side wiring has been removed from its original position. You should examine that the wires do not touch any metal objects on the wall. It’s because metal is a good conductor of electricity, which would cause electric shock.

By plugging in the refrigerator, test if the relay replacement is successful. If there is a problem with the relay in the preliminary diagnosis and the compressor does not start within a few seconds, it would be the problem of the overload switch which has cut off the power supply of the refrigerator compressor relay. Overload switch is used to prevent damage to the refrigerator compressor. Please do not ignore the overload switch, otherwise, there will be fire or wire melting.

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