[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

Just to close this topic. I removed the foam insulation from the 2 pipes running up the back of the fridge, leading to the condensor I imagine.
With the freezer sitting at -25 one of the pipes leading up is frozen with heavy ice build up, this pipe which is aluminium progressivly gets warmer the higher it goes until it’s at room temp. The return pipe, which is plastic, is warm all the way down.

So there we have it, a coolant leak I guess.

Thanks guys for all your help, it’s been much appreciated.

Keith.

[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

kwatt wrote:
Personally, given the type of machine and extremely high probability that the compressor is pumping weak, I’d bin it and move on.

K.

Ordinarily I would bin it K, but since I have just been given 2 weeks notice of redundancy that’s not an option for me just now.

I’ll give it another full 24 hour defrost, failing that it’s gonna get hit with a bloody great hammer :eeek:

Will update as and when I either get a result or face the inevitable. Cheers.

[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

Well I don’t know if my temp measurements will provide any answers or just throw a spanner in the works!

The device I used is from my weather station and is 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} accurate or as good as damn it.

Room temp +20°c
Fridge temp at bottom shelf +19°c
Freezer temp on top shelf -25°c

The freezer temp control is on maximum and has been over the last 24 hours.

Thanks in advance!

[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

Ok thanks Kwatt, i’ll get hold of a thermometer and see what it says, cheers.

[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

kwatt wrote:Almost certainly a compressor failure I think.

I was hoping not to hear that! Do you think it would still be the compressor even though the freezer is working perfectly?

[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

No there’s nothing there, just a few condensation drops, and the rear wall temperature is not much different to the room temp.

[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

The ice build up was only on the rear wall in the lower left hand quadrant, just a thin layer. The floor of the fridge compartment is cool but not cold and there is some condensation droplets again on the rear wall.

[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

Thanks again for your prompt response.

What is really infuriating is the F/F worked perfectly before the defrost, which we did over a 10 hour period. The fridge compartment had a small amount of ice at the rear but not enough to cause concern, basically it was a thin film which quickly melted once the door was left open.

Once defrosted we powered it back up and the freezer immediately started cooling, it’s still working fine and the food is frozen.
The cooling elements in the freezer are frosted evenly.

The compressor is running although it is very quiet, and answering to the thermostat.

I’m beginning to suspect that the defrost period should have been extended to a full 24 hours, this in itself presents a food storage problem!

Finally, this FF is only 3 years old, thanks again.

[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

Thanks ELDAR59, that’s very informative.

I’m resigning myself to the fact that I may have to strip this down so I can identify the fault but there is one major problem.
The back of the fridge/freezer is basically all plastic except for the bottom where the compressor is. How on earth is one to dismantle/repair something that looks like it’s a solid block of expanded foam?

Pics below of what I’m up against, thanks again.

[Notsocold]

Re: Proline PLC200SL fridge not cooling, freezer ok?

Thanks for your reply kwatt. The fridge/freezer has been powered up now after a full defrost for 4 hours. Still no sign of the fridge getting cold!
It’s a bit odd in as much as the outlet from the compressor goes into the freezer, it then passes through all the shelves and returns to the compressor. At no point does the refrigerant or tubing enter the fridge area. I can’t figure how on earth the upper fridge compartment is supposed to cool other than what I mentioned earlier about thermal coupling!

The compressor is still running and the freezer is nicely chilled and getting cooler by the hour!

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