HVAC Basics: First - Mini Fridge Refrigerator Troubleshooting Part 1 of 2

In this video we discuss some of the basic for trouble shooting a mini fridge refrigeration system. Testing for shorted ground, testing the thermostat operation and compressor running load amps (RLA) and locked rotor amps (LRA) are discussed. This is only half of the lesson and part two will be uploaded at a later time.

[@rickystubblefield3396]

The only thing I thought this entire video is this guy is one hell of a teacher. The world needs more people like this. Very informative. Asking the students questions to keep them engaged. Asking questions over previous lessons for memory through repetition and engaging the students. This was 10/10

[@attygarland6909]

I thought so, too. He's teaching them to think on their feet, which is what's needed in that line of work. I wonder if he was an instructor in the military (?)

[@ariebirb]

Bra I had a teacher like this, and she was cool and all, but like trust me asking questions to previous classes and stuff we’ve done many times, I feel the students and their awkward shuffle silence, cause it’s like, you gave a hint, but also, we’ve done it so much we forget it’s a procedure or formula or whatever, and it becomes more like second nature rather than having a name, so being asked to name it is hard

[@nigeljohn6676]

Yes he is,.. who the hell is he, I wish my teachers were like this guy for damn sure!!!! There is a clear difference in a quality teacher, and well,... the opposite. He's no fuss matter of fact, down and basics, simplicity all teacher. Just damn good.!!

[@Davewithfairoffer]

Agreed 3 mins in learned that 80% all issues are electrical

[@angel_cat]

I know. It is so cool. I'm not even in a related course but I got something out of this. 😅

[@fizzy0ne1]

I'm a 64 year-old woman and never knew I'd be interested in something like this. That's the sign of a truly skilled teacher -- engaging, animated enough to get the students excited about learning. Those students are lucky to have such a great teacher and mentor!

[@way2muchNFO]

fizzy0ne1 yes indee D

[@markb1911]

Within the first 30secs of the video I was thinking to myself “ah see this is the teacher you want to have”. I was fortunate enough to have an excellent HVAC teacher that included and engaged students similarly to this teacher, and it made all the difference to the level of skill we were able to then directly apply, & use confidently and successfully in the real-world workplace environment. This is the example for all teachers that teach hands-on technical/mechanical/industrial classes such as this one. You’ll know it you’ve got one at your school because their class registration will fill up most quickly after registration-opening. Try to get in that one.

[@edisonhvac]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@Quepasa_mufasa]

We need this type of education in High Schools. Would help a lot with youth mental health. These trades give us a purpose and helps us with growth in patience and problem solving. One heck of a professor.

[@matthewv9169]

Trade teachers or really any jobs with active/on the job training are always way more engaging. Anything where you can be shown in person how to and the teacher/trainer is really invested in making you successful are always the best. Feels a lot more "real world"

[@Dracstar]

I don’t know how I got to this video; I have zero interest in HVAC, but I watched quite a bit of it because your teaching style is incredibly captivating, efficient, and personable. I wish you the best

[@edisonhvac]

And here you are! I’d be interested to know how you landed here. Thanks for the kind words and for leaving the comment. Best to you as well.

[@Dracstar]

@@edisonhvac Of course, thank you for the well wishes. It was on my KZbin recommended homepage actually! I think that means all the positive engagement on your videos is starting to cause your videos to be recommended to a wider audience

[@whitesheatingairappliancer7101]

Those students are fortunate to have a instructor like him. Great video thank you.

[@edisonhvac]

+Ron White thanks for saying that. Very nice of you.

[@pauldzinnjr]

A. This guy is an amazing teacher. B. This guy sounds like Matthew McConaughey. 😆

[@workoutwarrior3118]

Lol alright alright

[@orlandoautoparts2993]

35 years old … I needed this teacher growing up

[@adamthornton5883]

My mini fridge quit working last year and I was just about to go buy a new one. Thanks to great instructors like this I won't have to. Great video 👍

[@sillybears4673]

Do mini fridges not have any fans moving air around? I feel like they would mold food quickly with our air circulating

[@Lotusblume.8]

We’re you able to fix yours? I’m trying to see if I could fix mine myself too.

[@CT-vm4gf]

@@sillybears4673 Many fridges and freezers don’t have fans, only frost free models require fans for air circulation.

[@Th33M4rksman]

I panicked when this guys literal first example of how something could go wrong was exactly what I did to break my fridge xD

[@crownzion]

Me too💀

[@peggystevens5144]

I have watched dozens and dozens of you tube DIY. Never have I seen someone so thorough, easy on the ears and eyes, and explain what, where, when, why and how so simply that I actually get it!

[@tylerjames1716]

This video took me straight back to my days in vo-tech school. Had an automotive teacher who acted and taught so much like this guy. I wish i could go back and be a young fledgling again.

[@edisonhvac]

Right on. Thanks.

[@sidsam99]

Returning to this video, to let people know. His explanation helped me to resolve a similar issue with my refrigerator. Thanks a million to the Wonderful Teacher!! 👍🏼👍🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@bluefm7370]

This man is a genuinely wants his students to succeed ..well done

[@tbone9454]

Schools need Teachers like this!!! Very informative!

[@user-ep1vq3dn2i]

I Love the way you teach, first year in school and boy those guys are so lucky to have you.

[@stewardjanelle]

When you teach that way you KNOW you have a passion for it!

[@Davewithfairoffer]

Agreed

[@gardenoftwitty]

Bog props and much respect to this teacher. I am inspired to learn more of these skills simply due to his instruction and encouragement. His confidence and intuitive real time teaching is high level. Whomever you young folks are that learned from him over the years, you should be proud and honored to have had such a teacher. P.S. this helped me fix a free mini fridge. Thnx Peace N Love

[@SallowDawn]

Had to subscribe right away out of respect for what a great teacher this guy is. I had a few teachers like him growing up; they're worth their weight in gold.

[@edisonhvac]

Thanks

[@harvestblades]

This guy is a great teacher! His students are very fortunate.

[@FranklinBallowe]

Awesome teacher!!! This guy loves what he does and deserves a major raise!!! These kids are blessed to be taught like this! A+ Teacher

[@1984juant]

he has talent to teach

[@edisonhvac]

Thank tecnico, very nice of you to say. Thanks for watching.

[@ChiefHoover]

edisonhvac I'm using the probes on my multimeter because I don't have a clamp, the little refrigerator I'm looking at is rated at .8 amps and at the Wire going to the overload switch I'm getting 1.1 amps do you think that is the compressor locked up?

[@mouse9008]

tecnico agree, I like his matter of fact style! Good teacher.

[@gradoisx2348]

@@ChiefHoover .8 amps +/- 10% . 1.1 is not unreasonable.

[@ArtimusJohnson]

Yea he does

[@Ilovebriannamizura]

This guy is an amazing teacher. I'd love to see him do some more instructional videos exactly like he did this one.

[@Bobbi141000]

This video saved me a lot of trouble and money. My wine cooler repair was cost was under $7.50. Wish this guy was here to share a glass of chilled wine. 😀

[@edisonhvac]

Thank you!

[@jonathannewton9233]

Man I love this. We need to get this back in every high school in America!!!

[@hjc4604]

Thank you for your videos, they are a great help to learning HVAC/R. It was a great help and a great educational experience in total. I especially loved seeing the "Annie". That being said, I believe you misdiagnosed this refrigerator. Happens sometimes when we are in front of an audience and have already formed a hypothesis. It's still a great educational video. I didn't see you test the start components. Near the end of part 1 you showed the schematic confirming my suspicions. The schematic shows this is an RSIR (Resistor Start Induction Run) compressor with no capacitors. It uses a PTC to provide Start winding current and then, as the resistance increases, decrease the Start winding current to prevent it burning out. It is probably a 4.7 ohm PTC. I found this video while attempting to repair a slighly larger mini-fridge that had the same symptoms. The compressor got very hot and hummed but wouldn't cool. I believe it was failing to start because of a failed PTC and just sat there with current flowing through the Run winding but not rotating, until the Thermal Overload cut it off. The cycle repeated when ever it cooled off enough to reset. It was drawing about 9 amps while sitting and humming with an LRA rating of 11 amps. I checked the PTC device and was reading about 60 ohms while it was supposed to be 4.7 ohms when cold. I disassembled it and found a coin shaped PTC sandwiched between 2 flat spring contacts. One side showed signs of arcing on the PTC disc and its contact. I sanded/scraped the PTC and the contact and got the PTC down to 11 ohms and reading 9 ohms when the device was reassembled. I reinstalled it to check my hypothesis. The mini-fridge started right up and is showing its rated RLA of 1.3 amps. The new replacement should arrive in 2 days but the fridge is still running. Again, thank you for your videos. They have been a great help in my HVAC/R education and will remain a wonderful resource. I hope you and your family are doing well!

[@edisonhvac]

Your one of only a few to catch that. It doesn’t even have a cap on that unit. Someone else mentioned it but didn’t go into the detail you did and I’d like to say thanks. Appreciate you leaving this comment for others to see. Thanks for watching.

[@30AndHatingIt]

You posted this a year ago, but I wanted to respond to let you know that I tried exactly what you just said… sanding the “dime” inside the PTC… and it worked for me. Found a non-working mini fridge on the side of the road, and that trick made it work, 100% confirmed. My only concern is, I also sanded away what looked like some kind of special coating. Not sure if that will lead to a future problem.

[@adub1440]

Really great teacher! Love his technique and hands on experience to learn what needs! Very impressed! Makes me want to take an HVAC course!

[@jacoyholbrook]

I am sure you hear it everyday, but I’ll say it again...You are an INCREDIBLY TALENTED teacher!!! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@optics5009]

Teachers like this make me wanna go back to school 😂 perfect .

[@JasonSmith-qx3zh]

Yeah he demos, lecture, and hands on you can't ask for anything better! Simply the best at what he do!

[@johnmcluckie484]

You are an awesome shop teacher. I would have loved to have had you in my shop classes!

[@matt4380]

I just watched this whole thing and now I'm a certified refrigerator man. I will now fix my fridge.

[@idevelopillnesses4908]

This guy made me wanna learn Hvac to be honest, obviously this is the simplest introductory, but growing up and being an adult showed me I should be able to fix my fridge or a/c, do my breaks change my own oil, not needing a specific technician and paying someone hundreds of dollars.

[@hardstyleminded]

I like the amount of information you give, other videos don't talk about troubleshooting the problem.

[@kristinmorgan2303]

Thankyou I was able to fix my mini fridge just by turning the knob off and back on. 🙌🏼 thought I needed to buy a new one. Thanks for your help! 😊

[@frankb1]

This is better than prime time TV.

[@marcellarobinson7867]

Best learning video I've ever seen. It brought back all the simple stuff that I thought I didn't need in high school.

[@gradoisx2348]

Very professional teacher, but those kids dont seem to care much about the valuable information they could be learning from him. Diagnosing electrical and mechanical problems is a very usefull skill to master.

[@johnburke1573]

Excellent teacher !!! They couldn't ask for anyone better.

[@JOEZEP54]

This is not what I was searching for, but glad I found it. I agree 100% with Ricky Stubblefields' comment. I watched the entire video gave a big .👍 & subscribed. Will be watching more of this channel. Stay safe, Joe Z

[@edisonhvac]

Thanks!

[@JOEZEP54]

@@edisonhvac 👍

[@hg2.]

Lot of nuances to pick up on here. Thank you professor. Thank you Edison HVAC.

[@wedontneedroads]

This teacher is amazing, I hope you see this. Keep it up.

[@standupforwhatsright8784]

Great Teacher.His students will prosper.👍👍

[@LiLNAGiSA]

I had a teacher like this , and his teachings and lessons slap harder than my dad😅

[@edisonhvac]

👀

[@laurijorgenson6683]

Great style and so informative. Loved the way you teach. So practical and logical in your approach. Thank you for filming and sharing your knowledge with us AND the future tradespeople of the world.

[@Dabby724]

I swear if my teachers were like this who cares and really gets the students involved with clear and a real simple explanation with plenty of examples, I would of succeeded instead of screwing off and relearn simple physics later in life "myself". Anyways great video and thank you for the enlightenment =]

[@wjcraig78]

You come across as a great teacher. Thank you for knowledge and teaching for our future

[@russpeck1320]

Great video, great teacher! My only criticism is that I wouldn't be leaning on the top of the metal fridge with one arm and hand while poking around inside it with the other when plugged in. I was taught to put one hand in my hip pocket whilst poking around live circuits, thus preventing a possibly deadly circuit through my heart.

[@shelynaemerald4676]

He is a pretty good, very informative teacher. He also sounds a lot like Matthew McConaughey 😀😊

[@benjisan042]

Loved your video and teaching style. The world needs more teachers like you! Cheers! What do you do for a mini fridge that is continuously running and not cooling like it use to?

[@Claircools9]

this mans competency is hot

[@mhwp3286]

Dude is a great teacher. I learned so much!

[@CappyCraigZ]

First thing you should do for any refrigeration/ac call is grab the suction line and the liquid line, every time. You’ll immediately know if that compressor is running, and based on how hot/cold the lines are you can make a determination if it’s low on refrigerant. Also touch that compressor and feel how hot it is. You can troubleshoot and rule out a lot of potential issues just by feeling the temp of different components

[@dubbs19831983]

I hope those kids realize how lucky they are to have that man as a teacher!

[@UtikaCollar]

this guy is a good teacher

[@JohnyTechReview]

Thank you again for teaching these kids. I just love watching it

[@DanO181919]

Where is this a s school located? The teacher really knows his stuff and is a wonderful instructor.

[@edisonhvac]

+Danny L. Alexandria, VA. Thanks for the nice comment!

[@JoBuggie27]

Ki

[@JoBuggie27]

@@edisonhvac t pl my Unglbmnplmilim pop B lgngh lpm P thought thjuuuy

[@JoBuggie27]

@@edisonhvac uh hunu

[@JoBuggie27]

U my j by btbro byhhthto by bgo

[@RandallMontano21]

I wish I would have done a class like this be apart of the program. Great guy teaching too!

[@edisonhvac]

Thanks.

[@vernselectraglide3018]

Very informative video with an outstanding teacher!

[@andycremeans]

This is a great informative video for the diyers of the world

[@caembriafurtado8353]

I feel so dumb. I plugged mine in (taken out of storage) used it for years. Plugged it in and nothing after 2 hours. Watched this and didn’t realize of that thermostat switch isn’t on it won’t run.🤦🏻‍♀️ Turned that on and bam it’s working. WOOOOW. Never had to touch that before (I didn’t set it up when I bought it my Grandfather did he didnt tel me that’s what turns it on) 😂😂

[@ryanworks35509]

Excellent video. Thank you to the teacher and the students

[@lafamiliagris]

A shop teacher that still has all ten fingers. You don’t see that everyday.

[@theyemeniwelder6310]

This teacher is going to make me switch from welding program to Hvac

[@thequintessential5503]

I found this very helpful! Thank for saving us money from buying a new fridge

[@crazyleaf257]

You're a great teacher!

[@edisonhvac]

Thank you. It’s very kind of you to say and leave a comment. 😁

[@Pete..]

Great teacher just need kids to understand the value of knowledge because we as kids are so carless for the most part

[@tthomsen76]

He's a good teacher we need more teachers like that I got a little refrigerator like that and the line coming off the compressor was leaking and I was told that you can't fix that is that true 🤔

[@edisonhvac]

Depends. If it’s cracked on the shell where the line connects that is tough but if its just the copper pipe then that can be repaired. Sometimes the compressors leak from where the electrical terminals connect and that also cannot be fixed. Where exactly is the leak?

[@djpcinema]

Wow. This is a teacher.

[@bigcountrylivingbcl966]

Great video. You are a good teacher.

[@edisonhvac]

Thanks for the comment. Spread the word😊

[@FezCaliph]

Who else loves feeling the compressor when it's doing it thing?

[@edisonhvac]

The hum and scent of data centers was always a favorite

[@michaelling5599]

Well done teacher...I'm sure the students more understand of AC

[@washburnroad8816]

One student kinda gets it - and pre-check of bench exhibits is messed up by prior class. Good save by instructor

[@tyleralred5528]

I learned so much here I felt like I was in class with him tryna answer his questions 😂😂

[@edisonhvac]

🙏

[@stevejette2329]

I had a GREAT teacher like him at Brown Electronics Institute in Minneapolis in 1972. Problem was he cared too much. Ron Taylor. I'm sure he stayed up at night worried about his students.

[@drewprof]

Great teacher, loved your style!

[@edisonhvac]

Thank you!

[@drewprof]

@@edisonhvac Pleasure is mine. Keep up with the good instructions.

[@toitle2086]

what a great teacher i feel so enlightened

[@Bobherry]

I love this video! I am in HVACR school right now!

[@TheBinklemNetwork]

oh goodness I am LUCKY! This looks like the exact mini fridge I'm dealing with

[@edisonhvac]

Fix it?

[@TheBinklemNetwork]

@@edisonhvacindeed! 20+ year poker group is enjoying not having to get a new one and I'm looking handy as a concierge Thanks to you and this video

[@allalone5810]

I really like the teacher like that.He is cool.

[@MrMClivo]

Great teacher indeed.

[@eddiekilby]

Wow he's a born teacher.

[@jasonmccampbell]

Thank you, very helpful and interesting.

[@edisonhvac]

Thanks for the comment. Spread the word😊

[@bevil45181]

Great teaching. well done!

[@stevenng4638]

Great teacher! Thank you for the video!

[@scooter8187]

Great teacher. Keep up the good work sir.

[@HVinduction]

3:28 You should use a megger to test for ground leakages since small leaks will only show up on a high AC voltage because it is most of the times capacitive and not a dead short.

[@edisonhvac]

Good point!

[@saja7366]

Excellent teacher

[@edisonhvac]

Thanks

[@di3inglife]

great teacher

[@Mobileunit6]

Impressive video, hope to see more

[@edisonhvac]

+Mobileunit6 thanks for watching.

[@1337rooster]

great teacher, love it

[@drunkwoodswyllia4885]

Awesome teacher!!!!

[@freddelarosa5748]

Great video, Thank you KZbin!!

[@edisonhvac]

Thanks for watching!

[@father04co]

Wow felt right back at school! Haha Thanks for all the informative infos!!

[@mrwonderful2081]

I have a mini fridge that has a working fan and the lights work in the fridge but it isn’t cooling, the thermostat is set to max cool as well, no oil leaking, can anyone help me out?

[@justingt3rs]

3:20 step 1 is to confirm continuity thru the multi-meter first

[@franks551]

Yeah I'm here 11/19/2021 love from Visalia CA

[@bgregg55]

Excellent teacher!!

[@petergriffin4453]

I just got me a little mini-fridge and I want to know how long it takes to get cold. There's this lady living with me and her children keep eating my food. I come out of work and half of my food is gone.

[@rafaliciousbmx]

Tell them to piss off!!!

[@kovuqui]

good camera guy, thanks for the video, was very helpful as I just picked up a used mini Haier fridge for free. Wanna make sure im not gonna shock myself or explode it lol

[@edisonhvac]

Thanks for the tip!