Help with a chest freezer

[Brewgyver]

1. Unplug the thing.
2. Take the cover off the side or back where the compressor is located. Look at the compressor, and locate where the wires are connected, you don't car about any of the copper tube connections.
3. Typically, the overload/relay is connected directly to the compressor terminals, so you'll see a small gizmo with wires attached.
4. Usually, the wires are connected to the O/R with push-on spade terminals.
5. On some models, there may be a spring steel strap, about 3/8" wide, that holds the O/R in place, and the strap will un-clip on each side of the compressor terminal housing to release.
6. IF you feel confident, and buy a new O/R, you will simply have to pull the wires off the old relay, marking them as you go (usually marked C, R and S), remove the old relay, put on the new relay, and reconnect the wires. After connecting, double check that you connected C to C, R to R, and S to S, then plug thre freezer back in.

Given that it's cheaper to buy a new one than to get it repaired by a pro, you've got nothing to lose!

[brewerTristan]

1. Unplug the thing.
2. Take the cover off the side or back where the compressor is located. Look at the compressor, and locate where the wires are connected, you don't car about any of the copper tube connections.
3. Typically, the overload/relay is connected directly to the compressor terminals, so you'll see a small gizmo with wires attached.
4. Usually, the wires are connected to the O/R with push-on spade terminals.
5. On some models, there may be a spring steel strap, about 3/8" wide, that holds the O/R in place, and the strap will un-clip on each side of the compressor terminal housing to release.
6. IF you feel confident, and buy a new O/R, you will simply have to pull the wires off the old relay, marking them as you go (usually marked C, R and S), remove the old relay, put on the new relay, and reconnect the wires. After connecting, double check that you connected C to C, R to R, and S to S, then plug thre freezer back in.

Given that it's cheaper to buy a new one than to get it repaired by a pro, you've got nothing to lose!

Hey, thanks again for the info. That looks pretty simple and I think I should be able to manage that. Quick question though: do I have to worry about discharging the capacitor? Everything I read says I need to be careful with that. To boot, my ever-cautious and scientifically minded girlfriend is telling me not to electrocute myself.

[Brewgyver]

No worries, they bleed down in place. But no reason you should take my word for it, so just short across the terminals with a screwdriver.

Good luck!

[atomicpunk]

No worries, they bleed down in place. But no reason you should take my word for it, so just short across the terminals with a screwdriver.

Good luck!

Ugh. Just don't do this. If you do make sure it is an insulated screwdriver!!
Google discharging capacitors if you really want to do this or visit a good electrical store and buy the propoer tools to do it safely.

[brewerTristan]

No worries, they bleed down in place. But no reason you should take my word for it, so just short across the terminals with a screwdriver.

Good luck!

Ugh. Just don't do this. If you do make sure it is an insulated screwdriver!!
Google discharging capacitors if you really want to do this or visit a good electrical store and buy the propoer tools to do it safely.

Yeah I haven't done anything with it yet for precisely this reason. I have a friend who might be able to help me with it in a few weeks.

[brewerTristan]

My chest freezer remains broken, but I had an idea. I just brewed an English bitter and I really don't want to bottle it. So, I was thinking of just filling my chest freezer with ice to keep it cool and since English bitters don't need to be drank that cold and because they can be consumed in a fairly short amount of time, I thought it might be worth it. My question: is it? How much ice would I need? (approximately) I'd like to get it down around 55F. Any further help on my broken freezer would also be much appreciated.