LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

WBallam · 14th Aug 2020, 5:52 pm

Hi I have a 1950’s LEC colonial fridge that has stopped working. Has been running fine for years but now the compressor has packed up. Does anyone know of someone who can replace the compressor or specialises in old fridge restorations?

saxmaniac · 15th Aug 2020, 12:18 pm

The problem may be with the type of refrigerant used which will probably be long out of production or illegal as climate change regs tightened. Assuming it's R12 it might be possible to fit a modern compressor using R134a, you would need more expert advice on that than I can give. (R134a is still available btw but on the way out) If it is possible to drop something modern in place, it would be very expensive so it would depend on how valuable this thing is to you

Joe_Lorenz · 15th Aug 2020, 9:57 pm

Hello,

as far as I know the R 12 substitution issue (and R 134 ...) is just for vehicles a real issue.
Stationary refrigeration machinery may still use "old" refrigerants. R 413 (no typo) are still available. Ask your butcher's: "Who does the service on your refrigeration?" Maybe there is a small local company with good knowledge.

Regards, Joe

G6ONEDave · 16th Aug 2020, 3:25 pm

Are you sure it's the actual compressor thats stopped working and not the contactor box or thermostat thats failed? I had an old 1950's Fridgedair some years back (our first fridge in our first house) and that stopped working but was due to the contactor on the side of the compressor. Given it's age and no spares, what I did was to replace it with a solid state relay to supply the compressor motor and feed a 5vdc supply to the cabinet thermostat in order to control the solid state relay. This modification lasted for some ten years before the actual compressor finally suffered from burnt out windings.

Tractorfan · 16th Aug 2020, 8:02 pm

Hi.
Fridge compressors usually have a starting relay or capacitor to 'kick start' them when the 'stat calls for it. Starting relays of that age often have burnt contacts that it may be possible to strip down and clean.
Just a thought.
Cheers, Pete.

saxmaniac · 17th Aug 2020, 7:19 am

If that should be the case and it's a relay type starter, be wary of fitting a universal NTC type, these leave a continuous current running in the start winding, overheating that winding as it's designed to be out of circuit when running

CambridgeWorks · 17th Aug 2020, 9:25 am

Three sealed terminals on the compressor. First, check with megger none are down to earth.
Using an ohmeter, the two with highest resistance are the start and run. The third being common.
From common, highest resistance is the start winding. Second highest resistance being the run winding.
Back in the 70s, the mechanical current operated start relays were replaced with Positive temperature coefficient starters as plug in replacements.
Very low resistance at ambient, rapidly rising as current flowed and they got hotter. This PTC was between the run and start winding. Once the compressor started, it was then passing a very small current insufficient to damage the start winding.
Their drawback being, if too little time between powering off and on again at the mains (a minute or two, from memory) they were still high resistance and the motor would not start. It was however still protected by the thermal relay from burning out.
What you should have, the original mechanical relay type, is shown here. Figure 34 :
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=...AAAAAdAAAAABAJ

Rob

saxmaniac · 18th Aug 2020, 7:38 am

Sorry I should have said NTC. My point was that 30 odd years ago when I was involved with white goods, there were universal NTC starters supposedly able to replace a relay type. When I tried these, I found that the compressor would overheat due to the small extra current running in the start winding when the compressor had been designed for relay type. It was a warning to the OP that if he go lucky and the problem was only the start relay, he shouldn't be tempted to fit one of those universal NTC starters

WBallam · 18th Aug 2020, 5:23 pm

Thanks for all your info and advice but way over my head. We love the fridge and would rather spend money getting it working than buying a new one. We had someone come and look at it, they said the compressor had gone but not sure if he knew much about old fridges. Does anyone know of someone who could replace a part or repair what’s there who has the knowledge of old fridges?

ex 2 Base · 18th Aug 2020, 7:14 pm

First of all does the unit actually run. Usually for a fridge that age to have a three prong terminal box on the back of the motor compressor unit. The prongs are in an inverted vee configuration, top common, you can check each motor winding for continuity. The check the relay box by teasing the box apart and check the continuity of the operating coil, low ohms as it is series with the main or run winding and check the state of the contacts. Can't help with unit change as I think they are a thing of the past. Ted

14th Aug 2020, 5:52 pm	#1
WBallam Diode Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 2	LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor Hi I have a 1950’s LEC colonial fridge that has stopped working. Has been running fine for years but now the compressor has packed up. Does anyone know of someone who can replace the compressor or specialises in old fridge restorations?

15th Aug 2020, 12:18 pm	#2
saxmaniac Heptode Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 618	Re: LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor The problem may be with the type of refrigerant used which will probably be long out of production or illegal as climate change regs tightened. Assuming it's R12 it might be possible to fit a modern compressor using R134a, you would need more expert advice on that than I can give. (R134a is still available btw but on the way out) If it is possible to drop something modern in place, it would be very expensive so it would depend on how valuable this thing is to you

15th Aug 2020, 9:57 pm	#3
Joe_Lorenz Hexode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Hohenroda, Eastern Hesse, Germany Posts: 460	Re: LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor Hello, as far as I know the R 12 substitution issue (and R 134 ...) is just for vehicles a real issue. Stationary refrigeration machinery may still use "old" refrigerants. R 413 (no typo) are still available. Ask your butcher's: "Who does the service on your refrigeration?" Maybe there is a small local company with good knowledge. Regards, Joe

16th Aug 2020, 3:25 pm	#4
G6ONEDave Octode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Owston Ferry, North Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 1,701	Re: LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor Are you sure it's the actual compressor thats stopped working and not the contactor box or thermostat thats failed? I had an old 1950's Fridgedair some years back (our first fridge in our first house) and that stopped working but was due to the contactor on the side of the compressor. Given it's age and no spares, what I did was to replace it with a solid state relay to supply the compressor motor and feed a 5vdc supply to the cabinet thermostat in order to control the solid state relay. This modification lasted for some ten years before the actual compressor finally suffered from burnt out windings.

16th Aug 2020, 8:02 pm	#5
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,183	Re: LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor Hi. Fridge compressors usually have a starting relay or capacitor to 'kick start' them when the 'stat calls for it. Starting relays of that age often have burnt contacts that it may be possible to strip down and clean. Just a thought. Cheers, Pete. __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

17th Aug 2020, 7:19 am	#6
saxmaniac Heptode Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 618	Re: LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor If that should be the case and it's a relay type starter, be wary of fitting a universal NTC type, these leave a continuous current running in the start winding, overheating that winding as it's designed to be out of circuit when running

17th Aug 2020, 9:25 am	#7
CambridgeWorks Nonode Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 2,858	Re: LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor Three sealed terminals on the compressor. First, check with megger none are down to earth. Using an ohmeter, the two with highest resistance are the start and run. The third being common. From common, highest resistance is the start winding. Second highest resistance being the run winding. Back in the 70s, the mechanical current operated start relays were replaced with Positive temperature coefficient starters as plug in replacements. Very low resistance at ambient, rapidly rising as current flowed and they got hotter. This PTC was between the run and start winding. Once the compressor started, it was then passing a very small current insufficient to damage the start winding. Their drawback being, if too little time between powering off and on again at the mains (a minute or two, from memory) they were still high resistance and the motor would not start. It was however still protected by the thermal relay from burning out. What you should have, the original mechanical relay type, is shown here. Figure 34 : https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=...AAAAAdAAAAABAJ Rob __________________ Apprehension creeping like a tube train up your spine - Cymbaline. Film More soundtrack - Pink Floyd

18th Aug 2020, 7:38 am	#8
saxmaniac Heptode Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 618	Re: LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor Sorry I should have said NTC. My point was that 30 odd years ago when I was involved with white goods, there were universal NTC starters supposedly able to replace a relay type. When I tried these, I found that the compressor would overheat due to the small extra current running in the start winding when the compressor had been designed for relay type. It was a warning to the OP that if he go lucky and the problem was only the start relay, he shouldn't be tempted to fit one of those universal NTC starters

18th Aug 2020, 5:23 pm	#9
WBallam Diode Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 2	Re: LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor Thanks for all your info and advice but way over my head. We love the fridge and would rather spend money getting it working than buying a new one. We had someone come and look at it, they said the compressor had gone but not sure if he knew much about old fridges. Does anyone know of someone who could replace a part or repair what’s there who has the knowledge of old fridges?

18th Aug 2020, 7:14 pm	#10
ex 2 Base Heptode Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 510	Re: LEC Colonial 1950’s fridge in need of a compressor First of all does the unit actually run. Usually for a fridge that age to have a three prong terminal box on the back of the motor compressor unit. The prongs are in an inverted vee configuration, top common, you can check each motor winding for continuity. The check the relay box by teasing the box apart and check the continuity of the operating coil, low ohms as it is series with the main or run winding and check the state of the contacts. Can't help with unit change as I think they are a thing of the past. Ted