The refrigerator is an indispensable appliance in every home. Failure of such necessary equipment causes great inconvenience. During operation, the refrigerator motor does not work continuously, but is periodically turned on and off, and this is the norm. Depending on the selected mode, the periods of work and rest are different. But when the refrigerator turns on and turns off after a few seconds, this clearly indicates a breakdown. Depending on the cause of the breakdown, repairs can be made either at home or by contacting a qualified craftsman for help.
Why does the refrigerator turn off quickly?
The problem - the refrigerator turns on, and turns off after a few seconds - can be caused by several reasons, among which:
- Overvoltage or stably low voltage.
- A malfunction that arose in the start-up relay (it may have broken or burned out).
- Malfunctions, breakdown in the electronic board (only in modern units).
- The compressor broke down, the part that is responsible for the movement of the refrigerant through the cooling system.
To determine the cause of the breakdown, you can listen to the sound when the refrigerator turns on and off immediately. For example, if the device only works for a couple of seconds, and then turns off with a loud click, then most likely the problem is a malfunction of the compressor or start-up relay that starts the motor.
In the case when the duration of the intervals of operation of the refrigerator is violated, it is worth checking the electronic unit of the refrigerator. It may give incorrect signals on and off.
To fix the breakdown, it is necessary to find out the cause of this behavior of the unit.
Power instability
To begin with, one should exclude such a trivial reason as a voltage drop. It is enough to turn on the incandescent lamp and follow its work. If the lamp blinks, the light intensity slowly changes (it becomes dimmer, then brighter), then the reason that the refrigerator turns on and turns off after a few seconds is insufficient voltage. In this case, it is necessary to disconnect the equipment from the network in order to avoid its breakdown. If differences often occur, then you should think about surge protectors, stabilizers, fuses, or about installing a transformer and optimizing the supply of electricity to the premises.
The starting relay is malfunctioning
In refrigerators of old models and units of domestic manufacturers, the compressor motor is controlled by a start-up relay. Its main function is to regulate the operation of the motor, turn it on and off after a certain period of time so that the motor does not overheat. In the event of a relay breakdown, the refrigerator turns on and after a few seconds turns off arbitrarily. Such a malfunction can be determined by visual inspection of the disassembled part. Such a breakdown is frequent and easy to fix.
The start-up relay is inexpensive, so replacing it will not hit the owner of the refrigeration equipment.
The compressor is broken
If everything is normal with the voltage and the starting relay, you should check the "heart" of the refrigerator. Damage to the compressor is also common, but replacing this part will incur large costs. In the case when the refrigerator is old, a better solution would be to buy a new unit. But if the owner is sorry to part with an old friend, then replacing the compressor will be quite expensive.
A compressor is the most important part of a refrigerator. It pumps out freon, which is in a gaseous state, from the evaporator and delivers it to the condenser under pressure. The gas is compressed and cooled, turning into a liquid state. In a liquid state, freon enters the evaporator again and absorbs heat. The refrigerator does not work without a compressor. To determine the health of the compressor, it is enough to measure the resistance of its windings. If the device showed a nominal value, then the reason is different. Damage to the compressor can be caused by damage to the winding, a short between its turns, jamming of the motor. In this case, the motor continues to work, but with an increased load, which leads to its overheating. In turn, the relay turns off when the motor overheats, which causes the refrigerator to turn on and off after a few seconds. Compressor is not repaired, this part requires replacement.
The electronic control unit is malfunctioning
In modern refrigerators, when diagnosing, attention should be paid to the electronic board (electronic unit). In the age of technology, household appliances are increasingly supplied with electronic circuit boards. With their help, the refrigerator is turned on and off. In the case when the electronics are broken, the commands begin to arrive unsystematically, so a situation may arise when the refrigerator turns on and off immediately. What to do in this case? The malfunction of this board may be due to a defect during soldering during production, contact with condensate on the electronic unit, etc. Such a breakdown can only be detected with full diagnostics using specific equipment. The electronic unit may need a flashing for further work, or it needs to be replaced.
Conclusion
If the refrigerator turns on and turns off after a few seconds, the reasons may be different. You can try to eliminate them yourself, for example, replace the relay, or arrange the supply of electric energy under sufficient voltage. In more complex cases, when special knowledge and skills are needed to repair a breakdown, it is better to invite an experienced craftsman. He has all the necessary equipment and spare parts for the diagnosis and repair of household appliances, and will also give a guarantee for spare parts and work performed.