troubleshooting refrgerator

[Kirk Leach]

Hello,

I live in Latin America and am having a problem with refrigeration in
my house that I think must be related to the electrical supply.

The refrigerator works properly for a period of time, several days,
and then does not, for several days at a time, with the temperatures
going into the 50s. Obviously unacceptable. We have tried six
different refriegerators, and it is happening with them all, so we
highly doubt the problem is the refrigerator.

We have had the electricity checked by three different electricians
and all get 110V from the socket, even when the fridge is not working
properly. They have check various other things, to no avail.

I have never had this kind of problem before, and that includes living
in Latin America for several years.

Anyone have any ideas what could be going on?

Thanks!

 

[Kirk Leach]

"Jack Hayes" <atrei@cyberbeach.net> wrote in message news:<10o2n5oi9f89c28@corp.supernews.com>...

"Kirk Leach" <roadrunnerhonduras@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:9bf2e3ef.0410281143.44327482@posting.google.com...
Hello,

I live in Latin America and am having a problem with refrigeration in
my house that I think must be related to the electrical supply.

The refrigerator works properly for a period of time, several days,
and then does not, for several days at a time, with the temperatures
going into the 50s. Obviously unacceptable. We have tried six
different refriegerators, and it is happening with them all, so we
highly doubt the problem is the refrigerator.

We have had the electricity checked by three different electricians
and all get 110V from the socket, even when the fridge is not working
properly. They have check various other things, to no avail.

I have never had this kind of problem before, and that includes living
in Latin America for several years.

Anyone have any ideas what could be going on?

Thanks!


Any chance it is running way off frequency?

Jack

I am not sure what that means. Please clarify.

 

[Rich Grise]

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 21:03:33 -0700, Kirk Leach wrote:

"Jack Hayes" <atrei@cyberbeach.net> wrote in message
"Kirk Leach" <roadrunnerhonduras@yahoo.com> wrote in message

We have had the electricity checked by three different electricians
and all get 110V from the socket, even when the fridge is not working
properly. They have check various other things, to no avail.

Any chance it is running way off frequency?

Jack

I am not sure what that means. Please clarify.

Apologies if this is insultingly basic, but you never know:

Power lines are AC, alternating current. The frequency is the rate at
which the current "turns around".

Many motors, called induction motors, derive their operating speed
from that frequency, because the AC sets up a rotating magnetic
field in the motor, which then drags the armature around behind
itself. (the magnetic field does this dragging). Getting a magnetic
field to rotate is a different topic - call it electronics trickery
for now.

If the line frequency is too low, the motor won't get up to
the proper speed, and won't generate proper back EMF, so it will
overheat and trip the thermal cutout.

If the frequency is too high, the motor might simply not run
at all because the rotor can't keep up.

Next time you ask the power company to look at your mains,
ask them if they have a recording frequency meter as well as
voltmeter and spikemeter and all that.

Good Luck!
Rich