Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

Thanks stj.

I'll get some ordered in. Bet I can't buy singles though.

Ok, if your compressor isnt kicking on, I start with this test.

It is now because when I used a jumper wire across the defrost gutter resistor terminals, it blew the main board.

What I can't understand though is if a wire is in there simply to heat up and keep ice at bay using a certain resistance, why would another wire blow the PCB? It conducts!

I have obviously have a lot to learn and some things I will never understand.

Does everyone on here get the feeling I shouldn't mess with electrics?

My missus is moaning now that I am trying to fix it!!!

[clearchris]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

Ok, if your compressor isnt kicking on, I start with this test.

Unplug the fridge for an hour or so. This allows the compressor to cool off from a possibly overheat condition. Plug it in, and listen. If the compressor tries to turn on but fails, sometimes a few times in succession, the start cap on the compressor is bad. Otherwise, its something else, but in my experience, over 50% of compressor failures are due to the start cap failing.

Edit: btw, if you unplug the fridge, leave unplugged for at least 5 mins. The gas pressures need to equalize so you arent attempting to start the compressor when the gas is already at a high pressure.

[stj]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

acs108-8sn
(datasheet page 11)
the 8 is the maximum voltage - higher is better.
the sn is the package shape
and

acs120-7sb
again, 7 is the max voltage and sb is the package shape

i'v never seen these before, so i cant answer the last question.
they are interesting though, cpu controlled mains switching with no extra parts - i can make some interesting stuff with these!

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

http://www.st.com/web/catalog/sense_.../SC477/PF62670

that's one of them

Amazing. I was struggling to find anything.

I found the ST website and their eStore but it just had developmental equipment.

I couldn't find an ACS108-5S though. Do you think the ACS108-6S would be OK. There's probably too many variables, is there not, to know which exact model to choose?

What other devices are likely to use these components as I have a lot of broken electronics kicking around?

[stj]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

so this may be the other!
http://www.st.com/web/catalog/sense_.../SC477/PF66524

[stj]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

http://www.st.com/web/catalog/sense_.../SC477/PF62670

that's one of them

[stj]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

r95 is 270 ohms - or it should be, check it.

i suspect the bad part is a high commutation triac.

so you have a split part too? damn.
must have got spiked by an arc from the vapor.

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

btw, try to read what's written on that black part, and it goes through a resistor on the other side - R95.
check that isnt burned or anything.
tell me the colours of the stripes.

R95 is red, lilac, brown, gold.

The triac or whatever it is is blown to smithereens! Is it safe to assume that it will be the same as the other two on the board which are
:-

A logo (ST or similar) followed by YCN
D2NC6
0
6HD421

I don't think it is safe to assume.

It start ST then
????????SL2
?????????7S
??????????2

Other one next to N is:-

ST E
ACS
108
5S
Y424

That is cracked in half

I've looked back at original pictures but impossible to read.

[stj]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

btw, try to read what's written on that black part, and it goes through a resistor on the other side - R95.
check that isnt burned or anything.
tell me the colours of the stripes.

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

clean the soot and oxide off it and take another foto with better lighting.

it looks like you just blew a transistor/triac/fet and vaporised the track between it and the connector.

if that is the case, a new part and a jumpwire and your sorted.

You beat me to it stj. You're a star and you're bang on the money.

[stj]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

clean the soot and oxide off it and take another foto with better lighting.

it looks like you just blew a transistor/triac/fet and vaporised the track between it and the connector.

if that is the case, a new part and a jumpwire and your sorted.

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

It appears to have vaporised a copper track!

Can I rebuild the track using flux and solder or is that TOO ambitious or just plain stupid?

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

Spot the difference!

Not sure if it is recoverable. It's blown holes in a couple of components and it was all going so well.

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

The fun continues.

Got the compressor working but I've blown something up! Hopefully a capacitor!

I thought I would test the fan and the defrost Resistor wire which is supposed to keep gutter clear.

I had no continuity sound in my DMM so I thought it would be a good idea to use a jumper wire in the defrost resistor terminal block in the back of the freezer.

Connected a wire (quite thick copper) and switched on.

Display came up! Compressor kicked in then BANG... Display now dead.

At least the compressor is still running!!!!

Problem now is whether to continue unplugging components and testing or leave alone and see if it freezes up.

I suppose with fan now working. The cold air is not going to transfer to fridge section.

[Behemot]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

Good for you than, so check those. Absorption fridge has no compressor, no moving parts, it is absolutely noiseless and as long as you don't loose working medium, it is immortal. It cools constantly, on the other hand it may have somewhat higher consumption than similar compressor units. But nto sure abotu this, I only encountered 20-40 years old models. Yep, some of those soviet models were still kicking

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

Fridge or freezer? If fridge than you may try to look after absorption one. They still exist west from us and thanks to technological advancement are bigger and consume less. But if you have very hot there during summer without AC than it probably wont handle that.

ADD// seems that there are also combined freezers/fridges, but in general do not count on deep freezing with ABS, it is not capable of such low temperatures. About -10 °C is the best you can get, good for storing food for couple weeks, surely not for half a year.

Oh Behemot! The United Kingdom is never very hot!!!! At least, not like mainland Europe.

[Behemot]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

Fridge or freezer? If fridge than you may try to look after absorption one. They still exist west from us and thanks to technological advancement are bigger and consume less. But if you have very hot there during summer without AC than it probably wont handle that.

ADD// seems that there are also combined freezers/fridges, but in general do not count on deep freezing with ABS, it is not capable of such low temperatures. About -10 °C is the best you can get, good for storing food for couple weeks, surely not for half a year.

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

"frost-free" is bullshit.

if you put unsealed wet items or items with moisture on them in a fridge the water will condense and freeze on the coolling element - that's just physics.

some equipment can detect the buildup and shut down for a while so the ice melts and drains out - in theory.
but they often dont work well.

Tell me about it. I have just been reading an article on frost-free and how technically complex they are.

Well since yesterday the fridge is beeping again saying I need to eat all the freezer contents in 24 hours!

At least I have a working LCD where I can cancel the beeping now.

Not intending to be sexist and I apologise in advance if it offends any ladies that may be on here (very clever ones if they are into electronics) but just asked the other half if she noticed that the compressor doesn't appear to be kicking in anymore and when since has that happened?

Obviously drew a blank expression!

I've defrosted the fan at the rear of the freezer and compressor still not kicking in so onto diagnosing that now!!!

The article I read said frost-free are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair.

Might start with the thermistor.

Anyone know any decent fridge makers these days without all the technological crap in them? Time for a simple fridge methinks.

[stj]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

"frost-free" is bullshit.

if you put unsealed wet items or items with moisture on them in a fridge the water will condense and freeze on the coolling element - that's just physics.

some equipment can detect the buildup and shut down for a while so the ice melts and drains out - in theory.
but they often dont work well.

[Rhothgar]

Re: Hotpoint FFA47X Fridge Freezer

When they are out of circuit you can re-read their values but I think we already established that several of the small ones were bad…

Now all I have to work out is why a frost-free appliance needs regular defrosting.

Actually, if you read the reviews online for this fridge freezer, it clearly had a design fault.

Not sure it is worth spending lots of money are buying the revised parts to then find it probably still doesn't keep itself frost free.