Refrigerator Question

[Hildy_42]

Helped one of my friends move this past weekend and got an old refrigerator out of the deal.  Last night I cleaned it all out and plugged it in.  It took about a minute but it finally kicked on.  I left it run for about two hours and then decided to move it into its new resting place.  It is in the garage so it rolled fine and I actually only had to move it five feet.  So I shut it off and then unplugged it and rolled it over to the new spot.  Plugged it back in and turned it on.  Nothing.  So I shut it back off and unplugged it and left it over night.  Plugged it back in this morning and nothing again.  Any ideas what could have happen between it working and now not working?  I tested the outlet and it works, my only other thought is that its a bad power cord.  The refrigerator is pretty old.  Any ideas?

[shardian]

Well in my experience a well placed kick or two usually fixes things. 

[Hildy_42]

I thought about that too, except I was going to kick it down the hill into the retention pond. 

[Havok]

Check out this site:

http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/diagrefrigerator.php

[Hildy_42]

Thanks Havok.  Looks like it is all leading to a bad outlet or cord.  Maybe at lunch I will run home and move it back to the spot where it worked last night and see what happens.

[Dervacumen]

Before you move it back try both outlets where it is.  And take something like a vacuum or other easily movable object and plug into those outlets to see if they work or not.  I bet the outlet is either bad or is controlled by a switch on a wall somewhere, or even possibly connected to a GFI outlet which has tripped.  If its in the garage and the garage has a cement pad and the house isn't too old, it's probably building code that the outlets be hooked to a GFI plug in case your washer overflows.

[Hildy_42]

Well I went home for lunch and plugged it in to the same outlet and the light came on.  So I turned the refrigerator on and it worked.  Is there some kind of delay once you unplug a refrigerator and the time you can plug it back in?   Well it is working now so hopefully my house isn't burnt down when I get home.  Thanks for all the advice guys.

[shardian]

Well after reading again it makes perfect sense. The compressor only runs to maintain a specified temp. If you let it run for two hours, then it reached that temp. If you only shut it off to move it a few feet and plug it in, then it makes sense that the compressor wouldn't kick on immediately.

[Hildy_42]

I thought that as well but the light didn't even come on.  I can understand the compressor not coming on but I would have at least thought the light would still work.  If it is still working when I get home I will count my blessings and if it isn't the to the retention pond it goes.

[markt]

You spilled pneumatic lifter fluid into the compressor and it went into safety shut off to prevent it from burning up.  After it drained, the safety switch shut off and you were able to turn it back on.  Coke machines work the same way.

Next time don't tip the fridge so much when you've moving it.

I have worked in the hvac/refrigeration field for the last 12 yrs and have never heard of "pneumatic lifter fluid".
The reason you don't want to tip a refrigerator on its side is that the oil can migrate out of the compressor and into the capillary tube.
The capillary tube is what meters the refrigerant going to the evaporator coil (inside the ref) when this happens it can restrict the flow of refrigerant.
A restriction can cause elevated head pressures which in turn will cause a high amp draw causing  the overload on the compressor to "trip".

[Chris G]

The real reason you don't want to tip a refrigerator...

[Mr. Greenjeans]

You spilled pneumatic lifter fluid into the compressor and it went into safety shut off to prevent it from burning up.  After it drained, the safety switch shut off and you were able to turn it back on.  Coke machines work the same way.

Next time don't tip the fridge so much when you've moving it.

I have worked in the hvac/refrigeration field for the last 12 yrs and have never heard of "pneumatic lifter fluid".
The reason you don't want to tip a refrigerator on its side is that the oil can migrate out of the compressor and into the capillary tube.
The capillary tube is what meters the refrigerant going to the evaporator coil (inside the ref) when this happens it can restrict the flow of refrigerant.
A restriction can cause elevated head pressures which in turn will cause a high amp draw causing  the overload on the compressor to "trip".

Yeah, what mark said!

I always wondered why you are not suppose to tip a fridge or freezer when moving, and if you do, let it sit for 24 hrs.

Knowing is half the battle! 

[boykster]

Did you check the flux capacitor?

[Hildy_42]

No but I did check the headlight fluid and it was full so I figured everything was good to go.

[shardian]

I guess if the fridge has pneumatic lifter fluid, it puts new meaning to the "Is your refrigerator running?" joke.* 

* Note: This was a joke. It was not meant to mortally offend anyone. It was not meant as a direct attack on a person's character. It was not meant to drive a person into suicidal depression. Just figured I'd start applying a disclaimer to my ribbings since certain people on this board tend to take things too seriously.

[danny_galaga]

i assumed the question to about something else...