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Post by solarmike on Mar 11, 2019 23:00:38 GMT
Since someone asked a question about a FEA...
I have a question about one of mine that I've been dealing with for many years now...
I'm sure the other fridges could have the same problem but here's mine....
When I defrost mine and restart it it will frost up all over the freezer area.... After about a week it will have a frost area about 4" square in the middle on the left side and it will frost up more until I defrost it again... It's cold all over but just frost in that small area....
I've tried the hot water thing with no help.... I have 1 LB of R12 like is recommended.... Yes the cooling fan works on this one... LOL
Any suggestions to what might be causing it??
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Post by solarmike on Mar 12, 2019 12:42:25 GMT
Turbo I figured you would have seen it before? I guess my problem must be rarer that I figured it was?
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Post by birkie on Mar 12, 2019 12:59:38 GMT
I'm not quite sure I follow - so you defrost, then things are normal (fully frosted evaporator) for a week or so, then the frost on the evaporator disappears except for a patch on the left side, and it remains that way until you defrost again? If that's the case, it is possible there is some water contamination that is freezing in the capillary tube, causing a restriction that goes away every time you defrost, then eventually re-forms.
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Post by solarmike on Mar 12, 2019 13:59:51 GMT
I'm not quite sure I follow - so you defrost, then things are normal (fully frosted evaporator) for a week or so, then the frost on the evaporator disappears except for a patch on the left side, and it remains that way until you defrost again? If that's the case, it is possible there is some water contamination that is freezing in the capillary tube, causing a restriction that goes away every time you defrost, then eventually re-forms. Yes sir you are correct, It's hard to describe when your typing.... When I first got it it was low on freon I re-charged it and it would leak down in about a year... After being on here and learning that I needed one of the charging tools to charge it correctly I found out that the needle where you charge it is where it was leaking it has stopped leaking... It has always had that frost patch... I've had this fridge for about 8 years...
Ok if it has water in it and that makes since how or can I get the water out? By the way the frost parch is always in the same place..
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Post by turbokinetic on Mar 12, 2019 18:39:57 GMT
Turbo I figured you would have seen it before? I guess my problem must be rarer that I figured it was?
Just noticed your thread. :-)
I'm not an FEA expert, but have seen other fridges which seem to have patchy frost buildup.
It seems that with starting up a unit with a very well sealed cabinet, the whole evaporator will frost initially, but then gradually the frost will migrate to the coldest part of the evaporator. Ice sublimation happens; so that the frost evaporates without first melting. This happens constantly. The water vapor then is collected again on a colder area of the evaporator. In a really dry climate this can happen more easily. On fridges with brand-new gaskets, that aren't opened a lot - this seems to be sort of common. It looks like there may be a thin ice coating on all areas but only white frost in certain places. If this is the problem, open the door for several minutes, a few times a day and see if you develop a full frost pattern.
Another possibility is a low charge. When the unit is at a heavy load, there is less refrigerant trapped in the condenser coils, because it is full or more hot gas than condensed liquid. This will raise the frost line when the unit is heavily loaded, such as after it's been allowed to defrost and reach room temperature. If the charge amount is low, it may seem fine when under a heavy load, but then lose frost line when it is stabilized.
And, as Aaron mengtioned - you may have water contamination in the system. This can result from chemical changes in the materials used in the compressor motor. The solution is to install a dryer in the system. Since you're capable of charging the system and working with the refrigeration system; it should he pretty straightforward to put a dryer in the unit.
It's hard to know without seeing it or making tests etc. These are just a few ideas to look into. 
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Post by solarmike on Mar 12, 2019 19:13:45 GMT
Man you both have been a great deal of help.... Yes it is sealed very well.... The fridge is in my cabin and I might not open the door but 5 times a week...
I will try the open door for several minutes and see what happens..... On a sunny day..... Don't want to run my batteries down....
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Post by turbokinetic on Mar 12, 2019 20:05:58 GMT
Man you both have been a great deal of help.... Yes it is sealed very well.... The fridge is in my cabin and I might not open the door but 5 times a week... I will try the open door for several minutes and see what happens..... On a sunny day..... Don't want to run my batteries down....
No problem about the advice. That's what makes this a good resource!
That sounds about like the ones I test-run here at my shop. They get that patchy frost pattern. Hopefully that's all it is. You seeing normal cycle times with it?
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Post by solarmike on Mar 12, 2019 20:28:40 GMT
Yes it's very consistent...... When it's lets say 62 degrees in the cabin it runs for about 90 seconds and off for 10 to 15 min..... Depending if I'm opening the door or not...... Even then it never runs more that 2 min max.... When it's 80 degrees in there it never runs more than 2 min..... What you think on the run time?? |
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Post by turbokinetic on Mar 12, 2019 20:31:16 GMT
Yes it's very consistent...... When it's lets say 62 degrees in the cabin it runs for about 90 seconds and off for 10 to 15 min..... Depending if I'm opening the door or not...... Even then it never runs more that 2 min max.... When it's 80 degrees in there it never runs more than 2 min..... What you think on the run time??
Well, as much as I hate to say it I don't have an FEA to compare it to! The CA I just repaired for the folks in Memphis runs about that much, in my 60 - 70 degree workshop. It has new gaskets.
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Post by icebox on Mar 12, 2019 23:27:53 GMT
Hi, hopefully nothing to worry about. I agree with David, I've seen odd frost paterns on evaporators - I think the frost just moves (sublimes) over time to parts of the evaporator that stays cold during the off cycle. It can give the apearance of low on charge, but for example my main running freezer has no frost on the tubing at the top shelf, and that's where the refrigerant enters from the cap tube, so it can't be because it's low on charge. A test you could do is run it after a defrost with the door left open slightly and check it all frosts up. But if it's cooling well and the cycle times sounds good you're probably ok :-)
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Post by birkie on Mar 14, 2019 1:03:07 GMT
Hope it's just sublimation. I have to admit, I've never seen one do that before!
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Post by turbokinetic on Mar 14, 2019 4:50:41 GMT
Hope it's just sublimation. I have to admit, I've never seen one do that before! I can oblige you with pictures tomorrow! |
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Post by solarmike on Mar 15, 2019 0:57:43 GMT
Here is a pic of what I'm talking about..... Lets see if this pic stays....  |
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Post by turbokinetic on Mar 15, 2019 1:27:35 GMT
Here is a pic of what I'm talking about..... Lets see if this pic stays.... If the unit is cycling properly and the cabinet stays cold, I wouldn't worry about it. My Frigidaire which does that has a patch around the top which initially frosts then clears its self. |
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Post by solarmike on Mar 15, 2019 1:50:24 GMT
If the unit is cycling properly and the cabinet stays cold, I wouldn't worry about it. My Frigidaire which does that has a patch around the top which initially frosts then clears its self. That's what I've been thinking..... Something I did today is defrost it with hot water, Moved the box beside of it down a shelf and let's see if that helps or moves the frost area? I'll let you know....
By the way I keep a thermometer in there and it stays at 38 on the top shelf...
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