Showing posts with label Refrigerator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Refrigerator. Show all posts
Friday, November 6, 2015
Friday Morning Videos: Refrigerator Organization (simple + cheap!)
Recently we found a stash of videos that talk about techniques for refrigerator organizing. This video features some good organization idea, but it also contains a factual error. At about 1:15 the presenter makes the comment that the back of the top shelf is the coldest spot in the refrigerator. She is only half right. The rear of the refrigerator IS usually cooler. HOWEVER, heat rises so it is the back of the BOTTOM shelf that is the coolest. That said, we hope you like the video and some kitchen organization ideas.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Friday Morning Videos: The Secret Life of Machines-The Refrigerator
The Secret Life Of Machines is a British series that looks at the development and workings of every day objects. This episode covers the refrigerator, the history is obviously British-oriented. Still the program does a good job of explaining the refrigeration cycle. It also offers an interesting look, with examples, at many common appliance parts such as compressors, cold controls, and door gaskets.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Wednesday Weekly Stock: "Universal" Refrigerator Parts
Every week at W.L. may we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we celebrate labor day with refrigerator parts that can "labor" on a variety of machines.
Regular readers of this blog will remember that whenever possible, we advocate using OEM parts from the appliances manufacturer. Even though the parts we are describing today are "universal", our intent is that these be used in places where the manufacturers OEM is no longer available.
Our first item this week is actually a piece of testing equipment. Determining the behavior of a malfunctioning refrigerator can be a time consuming process. Observation of the refrigeration cycle could leave a tech idle waiting for a while while they wait to observe the part of the refrigeration cycle that is acting up. A solution for that problem is a data logger.
For years, the common data logger was a large device, about the size of shoebox that had round paper discs with a graph that rotated. As the graph rotated pens marked the temp and time settings of the various stages of the refrigeration cycle.
Technology has greatly improved temperature data logging. These days the Supco data logger, part SL300T is a great solution. Much smaller than the old style of loggers, this unit is little more than a sensor. It is somewhere in size between a Zippo lighter and a cassette tape. The idea being you can leave the unit behind to take more detailed reading than the larger old mechanical loggers.
When you are ready to analyze the data, Simply plug the unit into the USB port on your computer. Using the included software a variety of analysis can be applied to the data, taking the guesswork out of refrigerator diagnostics.
Cold controls that regulate the temperature in a refrigerator are one of those parts that usually stay available longer than many components in a refrigerator. Even though that is true, every day seems to give us calls for situations where the manufacturer is no longer producing the OEM cold control. A good fix for those scenarios is the Supco universal cold control, part# SC1002.
Designed for freezer installation, the SC1002 is good for a range of -6°F to 39°F (-21°C to 4°C). It is intended for temporary usage and can be mounted via suction cup, Velcro or screw mounts.
A hard start is a device that helps the compressor out with a surge of power to increase the starting torque. Some technicians love these as they can help extend the life span of a refrigerator that may be on its last legs. Others feel that it does not do enough to address the root problem, and have fears of detrimental impact on the compressor. Regardless of opinion, we sure get a lot of demand for them.
The long standing favorite hard start was the 3-in-1 RCO series from Supco. As newer refrigerators do not always have a start capacitor, Supco introduced a new line of starters that can be used on machine with AND without start capacitors. For 1/4-1/3 HP compressors use URCO410. Smaller compressors in the 1/12th-1/5th HP range can use the URCO810.
Like the cold controls mentioned earlier, evaporator motors tend to stay in production for longer than many other refrigerator parts. Sometimes, though, the manufacturer discontinues even these common motors. When that happens, most refrigerators can be brought back online using the Supco SM999 universal motor kit. With an assortment of fittings this motor can be configured to mount in many ways.
Defrost timers are a part that is becoming less and less common. New designs of refrigerators often will incorporate the defrost timer into a "mother board" or they will provide a board specifically dedicated to defrost, called an adaptive defrost control or ADC for short.
Still, a lot of older refrigerators have timer failures. When you just can't get the original timer, the Supco UET120 universal defrost timer is a good fit. It is an electronic timer that can be programmed for the most common defrost settings and plugs in like a traditional manual timer. This is an item every servicer should keep on hand.
While we are on the subject of defrost system parts, here is another item you might not have considered. Defrost thermostats are frequently pretty cookie cutter in size. It is merely the temperature rating that can make the difference. That's what makes Supco# SL249 so handy. That part number gives you a 3-pack of clips used to secure defrost thermostats of a variety of temperatures.
Water fittings can be a tricky item to look up. They can often be fairly well hidden in a parts breakdown. So keeping a few of these fittings on hand can be a real time saver. The part number is 84042 and it is a 1/4" OD fitting.
The last item this week is usually asked for with a request along the lines of "you know, that little t-shaped heater for the drain line." Yes, we do know. That is you part SH250, we keep it in stock for you-along with whole lot of other parts. If you have a need for a part for your appliance, just let us know. We are here to help and serve you!
Regular readers of this blog will remember that whenever possible, we advocate using OEM parts from the appliances manufacturer. Even though the parts we are describing today are "universal", our intent is that these be used in places where the manufacturers OEM is no longer available.
 |
| SL300T |
For years, the common data logger was a large device, about the size of shoebox that had round paper discs with a graph that rotated. As the graph rotated pens marked the temp and time settings of the various stages of the refrigeration cycle.
Technology has greatly improved temperature data logging. These days the Supco data logger, part SL300T is a great solution. Much smaller than the old style of loggers, this unit is little more than a sensor. It is somewhere in size between a Zippo lighter and a cassette tape. The idea being you can leave the unit behind to take more detailed reading than the larger old mechanical loggers.
When you are ready to analyze the data, Simply plug the unit into the USB port on your computer. Using the included software a variety of analysis can be applied to the data, taking the guesswork out of refrigerator diagnostics.
 |
| SC1002 |
Designed for freezer installation, the SC1002 is good for a range of -6°F to 39°F (-21°C to 4°C). It is intended for temporary usage and can be mounted via suction cup, Velcro or screw mounts.
 |
| URCO410 & URCO810 |
The long standing favorite hard start was the 3-in-1 RCO series from Supco. As newer refrigerators do not always have a start capacitor, Supco introduced a new line of starters that can be used on machine with AND without start capacitors. For 1/4-1/3 HP compressors use URCO410. Smaller compressors in the 1/12th-1/5th HP range can use the URCO810.
 |
| SM999 |
 |
| UET120 |
Still, a lot of older refrigerators have timer failures. When you just can't get the original timer, the Supco UET120 universal defrost timer is a good fit. It is an electronic timer that can be programmed for the most common defrost settings and plugs in like a traditional manual timer. This is an item every servicer should keep on hand.
 |
| SL249 |
 |
| 84042 |
 |
| SH250 |
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Wednesday Weekly Stock: Ice Maker Parts.
Every week at W.L. may we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we chill out with some refrigerator icemaker parts.
During the summertime the demand for icemakers jumps as everyone wants to get on on having ice for summer beverages ready to go at a moments notice. Many of the refrigerators sold these days come with an icemaker as a standard feature. Others are sold with the icemaker as and add on accessory.
GE has traditionally been a pretty easy company to work with, as their various refrigerators generally will use the same kit. Prior to 2001, that kit was part IM6. Starting in 2001, GE began transitioning to a new kit, part IM6D. The new icemaker will fit all top and bottom mount GE refrigerators produced since 2001. Sorry, this unit is not designed for side by side refrigerators.
Many of the newer Whirlpool refrigerators can get an icemaker added by using kit W10715708. Like the other icemaker kits we are featuring today, it comes with ann of the parts needed for installation as well as an ice bucket to catch the ice it produces.
Of course, Electrolux has their own kits to add an icemaker to one of their machines, In my experience, these can be the trickiest for a service technician to track down. If you are working on a top mount refrigertaor made since 2003, then you can use the IM116600 kit.
If you need some help figuring out which kit to use, give us a call. We would be happy to help determine the right icemaker kit for your refrigerator.
We get a lot of calls here at W.L. May Company asking for water filters for refrigerators. On newer models with built in icemakers, that filter is often a cartridge type or screws in like an automotive oil filter. It is sometimes funny when a parts counter (yes, we get calls from parts counters!) will call and say that the customer is asking for a filter for their refrigerator, but it is nowhere to be seen on the illustrated parts breakdown. By now you may have figured out that what they need is a filter that fits "in line" with the incoming copper tubing for water. When they remember that for many years, the ONLY kind of filters out here were the inline type. A popular choice is part 60461N. It is a 10" filter that works to improve taste and odor. it has a 1500 gallon capacity and uses 1/4" brass compression fittings. Those brass fittings make this filter popular with those who do not like press on water fittings.
Speaking of water lines into a refrigerator, there are a few different hook up kits for ice makers. A popular choice for years has been kit number 11-298. It features 25 feet of vinyl tubing and the compression fittings for installation.
A lot of folks, for a lot of good reasons don't like using straight vinyl hose to hook up their icemaker. The reason is that vinyl hosing has been known to burst under certain conditions. This can cause flooding and can be significantly prevented by using a hose that incorporates a stainless mesh wrap. Part 48388 is a 6 foot fill hose with stainless wrap that comes prefitted with fittings on each end making installation simpler.
When the ice maker is being installed, the refrigerator might well be in a position where it is easier than usual to access the condenser coils. If so, this is a great time to give those coils a cleaning. That will make the refrigerator run more efficiently. This will save money in operating expenses and can help extend the life of the appliance. Whirlpool offers a reasonably priced cleaning brush for that job. It is stocked under part number 4396808
Many times a failure to the icemaker is most quickly and easily solved by replacing the whole unit. Frequently this is even the less expensive option for the consumer depending on labor rates. Still, sometimes a tech might want to repair the existing icemaker. If you are working on an refrigerator that uses Whirlpools D7824706Q icemaker, then you can service the icemaker. One of the most frequently requested parts for servicing that icemaker is the motor module. We do keep it in stock and your part number is W10190935.
Finally we have an item that is not designed for home usage. As many of you know, Whirlpool has a line of free standing ice machines, like those you might find in a restaurant or bar. These need periodic cleaning to remove hard water deposits and other microbes that can develop. Many products for cleaning are either not food safe. Other solutions may not be safe for the nickle plating used in these machines. Naturally, Whirlpool offers a nickle safe ice machine cleaner specifically designed for the job. Ask your parts representative for the 16 oz bottle, part 4396808.
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE
During the summertime the demand for icemakers jumps as everyone wants to get on on having ice for summer beverages ready to go at a moments notice. Many of the refrigerators sold these days come with an icemaker as a standard feature. Others are sold with the icemaker as and add on accessory.
 |
| IM6D |
 |
| W10715708 |
 |
| IM116600 |
If you need some help figuring out which kit to use, give us a call. We would be happy to help determine the right icemaker kit for your refrigerator.
 |
| 60461N |
 |
| 11-298 |
 |
| 48388 |
 |
| 4396808 |
 |
| W10190935 |
 |
| 4396808 |
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Wednesday Weekly Stock: Refrigerator Parts
Every week at W.L. May we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look into the world of refrigerator parts.
The "heart" of a refrigeration system is the compressor. A compressor is used to compress the gaseous refrigerant. The process of compression raises the temperature of the gas.The gas is then pumped into a condenser coil, where the heat will will transfer off the coils. This week we are featuring a 740BTU 1/4HP R-134 compressor from Embraco. The part number is FF8.5HBK1.
The compressed refrigerant makes the coils hot. To move the hot air away from the coils to allow further heat transfer a fan is used. For many years, and across many models, a 2 watt motor in a cast iron body was used. Packard offers their clockwise universal replacement as part 65109.
On newer GE refrigerators, a 9 watt c-frame motor is used for the condenser fan motor. The part number for that motor is WR60x10220.
Now that we have covered some of the pieces that make it cold, lets put some of that cold to use. On most Electrolux products made since 2001 the same replacement icemaker is called for. Sometimes labeled as part number IM115, we have it in stock under the Electrolux part number 5303918277.
The icemaker needs water to do its job. That is where the water valve enters the picture. Most modern machines have ice and water through the door. For those machines a dual valve is called for. For refrigerators that do not have ice and water through the door, or has an add-on icemaker, a single coil valve is called for. For Whirlpool refrigerators, the single coil refrigerator valve is part 4318047.
 |
| FF8.5HBK1 |
 |
| 65109 |
 |
| WR60X10220 |
On newer GE refrigerators, a 9 watt c-frame motor is used for the condenser fan motor. The part number for that motor is WR60x10220.
 |
| 5303918277 |
 |
| 4318047 |
 |
| WR02X11330 |
Back in April we told you about the 5/16 x 5/16 water line connector from GE. It is a size we still get regular calls for. If you would like to stock this part ask your account representative for part number WR02x11330.
Often, when we get requests for water line couplers, the requester describes the coupler as being'"down near the hinge". Remembering that brings to mind another part located near the hinge. Lower refrigerator door hinges have these little pieces called riser cams or door closers that actually cause the door to raise up and tilt just enough to let gravity help with.
Whirlpool makes a nice kit for their models that includes enough parts to fix the riser cams on both doors. That make sense because if one side is wearing out the other side is likely not far behind. By installing the parts in the kit on both doors you are proactively preventing a possible call back caused by the other doors risers failing. Part number for the kit is 4318165.
A symptom of a door not closing properly is frost build up in the freezer. Another cause can be a problem with the defrost system. Older refrigerators would frost up in the freezer and required periodic defrosting to avoid the whole freezer compartment turning into a giant ice cube. Modern refrigerators avoid that issue with the use of a heater that warms ups periodically to prevent frost build up.
Although many of the newest models control defrost timing using a computer board, older defrost heater were turned on based on a defrost timer that activated the element and then turns it off. There are still a lot of those units around. The GE part WR9x330DS activates the heater for 24 minutes every 6 hours. This style of timer was not only used on GE, HP and RCA refrigerators, but it frequently is a fit in models made by other manufacturers as well.
As a safety measure and for those times when the heater gets things warm faster than the defrost timer specifies, a defrost thermostat, also known as a defrost terminator, will interrupt the heater. These thermostats are fairly common and fairly universal. Supco offers replacements at a variety of temperature points. The most common range from 45-60 degrees. ML45 is a 45 degree cut out, ML50 cuts out at 50 degrees and so on, with ML55 and ML60 covering 55 and 60 degrees representatively.
 |
| 4318165 |
Often, when we get requests for water line couplers, the requester describes the coupler as being'"down near the hinge". Remembering that brings to mind another part located near the hinge. Lower refrigerator door hinges have these little pieces called riser cams or door closers that actually cause the door to raise up and tilt just enough to let gravity help with.
Whirlpool makes a nice kit for their models that includes enough parts to fix the riser cams on both doors. That make sense because if one side is wearing out the other side is likely not far behind. By installing the parts in the kit on both doors you are proactively preventing a possible call back caused by the other doors risers failing. Part number for the kit is 4318165.
 |
| WR9X330DS |
Although many of the newest models control defrost timing using a computer board, older defrost heater were turned on based on a defrost timer that activated the element and then turns it off. There are still a lot of those units around. The GE part WR9x330DS activates the heater for 24 minutes every 6 hours. This style of timer was not only used on GE, HP and RCA refrigerators, but it frequently is a fit in models made by other manufacturers as well.
 |
| ML45, ML50, ML55, ML60 |
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Wednesday Weekly Stock:Cooling Products
Every week at W.L. May we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look into the world of cooling products.
Summer has arrived and we have been hearing from folks all over the Western United States talking about high temperatures and general heat related misery. Fortunately, in our modern world, we have several appliances that can help us to beat the heat. Trouble is, when it gets so hot the appliance has to work harder.
Harder working appliances are more prone to failure. This is great news for the service industry as lots of repairs are required. It's not so great news when it is YOUR appliance that fails, leaving you in the heat. We at W.L. May know how important it is to get those cooling products back online ASAP. That's why we stock a wide variety of parts for cooling products. When the mercury is rising we don't want to make you wait.
In addition to cooling the air, an air conditioner is good for moving air. Air blown across cold evaporator coils cools the room while warm air is drawn from the condenser coils and out into the already warm outer air. In many GE window air conditioner the condenser fan that moves air across those condenser coils is part number WP94X10041, and we have it in stock.
With all of that air flowing across the coils, it only makes sense for there to be a filter to catch airborne particulates before they get caught up in the coils, reducing efficiency. Again we feature a common GE window air conditioner part, filter # WJ85x10041.
Another item that can generate calls when the weather gets hot is the icemaker. Most modern refrigerators that have icemakers also have a water filter inside the cabinet. Older refrigerators also need to use a water filter, but for those units, the filter is not usually built in. An in-line water filter is used for those models that fits directly into the inlet line. The filter we feature this week is a 10" filter that has a capacity of 1500 gallons, which should be about 6 months. This filter addresses taste and odor. Our part number is 60461N,
Once the water gets past that filter and into the refrigerator, it's time to make some ice. Problems with the ice maker can mean no ice, and that can mean a service call. In my personal experience, most technicians prefer to replace the whole ice maker if possible. However, sometimes the choice is made to rebuild the icemaker. It can be a less expensive proposition from a "cost of parts" point of view, however unless you are quick, the time in labor involved may end up leaving the cost the same to the home owner. If you are going to rebuild an icemaker, the motor module that drives the ejection of ice is a common need. Whirlpool has a module that is used an a great number of their icemakers. We stock it under the Whirlpool part number W10190935.
Even if you were to opt out of repairing or replacing a faulty icemaker, you could still make ice the old fashioned way by using an ice tray. That is, of course, if the refrigerator is cold enough to keep things frozen. If your refrigerator is not cold enough, then fixing the icemaker still wouldn't get you ice. Lack of cold can be caused by the refrigeration system or it could be caused by control problem. A large number of recent Whirlpool models use the same computer board, not only to control cool but also to control defrosting. It is definitely part worth stocking.
Whirlpool calls this board a "Jazz" board. I have never heard why they call it that, but I always picture an engineer designing this board wondering what to call it. I imagining him thinking, "it is a cold control, but it also controls defrosting and all that jazz-I know, I shall call it a jazz board!" Well, however they came up with the name, it is a popular piece, we stock it, and you can order it as part W10503278.
I mentioned that the Jazz board addresses the function of a defrost timer on machines that have a jazz board. Not all refrigerators have a board that controls cooling temperature as well as defrost. Some refrigerators utilize aboard specifically dedicated to the defrost function. These are known as ADC (adaptive defrost control) or adaptive defrost boards. These are seen most often on Whirlpool products, including Maytag and Amana. Some Frigidaires also use the adaptive defrost board. A common Whirlpool ADC is part 61005988.
Finally, week we feature an item that has been around seemingly forever. The Whirlpool 2 Watt condenser motor is fairly universal for most refrigerators needing a 2 watt condenser motor. Definitely worth stocking, Part number 833697.
We are also featuring a few thermostats and thermistors for refrigerators this week. For all of your refrigeration part needs call us here at W.L. May.
Summer has arrived and we have been hearing from folks all over the Western United States talking about high temperatures and general heat related misery. Fortunately, in our modern world, we have several appliances that can help us to beat the heat. Trouble is, when it gets so hot the appliance has to work harder.
Harder working appliances are more prone to failure. This is great news for the service industry as lots of repairs are required. It's not so great news when it is YOUR appliance that fails, leaving you in the heat. We at W.L. May know how important it is to get those cooling products back online ASAP. That's why we stock a wide variety of parts for cooling products. When the mercury is rising we don't want to make you wait.
 |
| WP94X10041 |
 |
| WJ85X10041 |
 |
| 60461N |
 |
| W10190935 |
 |
| W10503278 |
Whirlpool calls this board a "Jazz" board. I have never heard why they call it that, but I always picture an engineer designing this board wondering what to call it. I imagining him thinking, "it is a cold control, but it also controls defrosting and all that jazz-I know, I shall call it a jazz board!" Well, however they came up with the name, it is a popular piece, we stock it, and you can order it as part W10503278.
 |
| 61005988 |
 |
| 833697 |
We are also featuring a few thermostats and thermistors for refrigerators this week. For all of your refrigeration part needs call us here at W.L. May.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Wednesday Weekly Stock: Supco
Every week at W.L. May we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look into the world of Supco.
When an appliance repair calls for parts, we encourage usage of genuine parts provided by the manufacturer. That said, many times a repair is being performed on an older model and genuine parts may not be available. In those circumstances, Supco manufactures a wide line of "universal" replacement parts that can be helpful in reviving older appliances that have no longer available parts.
Supco started out as maker of controls for HVAC products in 1945. A natural overlap into refrigeration parts followed soon after. Today, Supco offers a wide variety of both HVAC and appliance parts. Our focus today is on refrigeration related items from their catalog.
One of Supco's earliest refrigeration parts was the "three-in-one" Relay/Capacitor/Overload, part numbers RCO410 & RCO810. It's relatively simple design made it suitable for helping to start most refrigerator compressors that did not have run capacitors. Design changes in refrigerators led to many models also having a run capacitor. To address that change, Supco introduced the URCO series that can be used on models that have a run capacitor on the compressor. URCO410 is for 1/4-1/3 HP compressors. For smaller compressor of 1/12-1/5 HP the URCO810 will serve your needs.
It gets more complicated, though. Sometimes you don't need a capacitor, but you still need a relay overload. For this scenario, Supco has a few options. Perhaps the most popular is the PRO41. It is a push-on combination relay overload for 1/4-1/3 HP and it can be used on models with OR without a run capacitor.
The complication continues. Lets assume all you want is the relay. Whether there is a run capacitor or not it doesn't matter if you use the IC102. It is a 120volt PTC relay that can replace current and solid state relays from 1/20-1/3 HP. Over 10,000 models can use this relay. Now that's versatile!
Now that we have confused you with compressor relays of various flavors, lets look at the defrost system. You are probably aware that a refrigerator defrost system generally includes some sort of activation for the defrost cycle. New models often use an Adaptive Defrost Board that is tied into thermistors to initiate the cycle. Older models were generally activated by a mechanical defrost timer.
The defrost timer kicks off the defrost cycle. To make sure the freezer doesn't defrost TOO much, a defrost thermostat is used. Also known as a defrost limiter, Supco makes universal ones that go in 5 degree increments from 45-60 degrees, from there they continue in 10 degree increments all the way to 90 degrees. This week we are featuring the popular 45 degree thermostat, ML45.
As the refrigerator defrosts, condensation can be a problem. Evaporative drip pans can usually solve the problem. However, sometimes the drain can frost up or even freeze over. If a frozen drain tube is a problem, the SH250 might help. This is basically an small element that fits into the drain tube and can prevent ice build up.
There is one more Supco product to highlight in the evaporator area. That would be the universal evaporator motor SM999. Over the year many different evaporator motor have come and gone from the makers of refrigerators. For those discontinued motors, this kit can often fill the need. A variety of install parts make it suitable for use in most older refrigerators.
The last Supco item we are looking at today is their "universal" cold control. Designed for freezer installation it has an adjustable temperature range of -7-40 degrees F. It can be either screw mounted for permanent installation, or temporary installation can be achieved with the included suction cup mount.
Before we sign off today, we would like your feedback. Supco stocks many parts for usage in HVAC systems. If you are a frequent user of Supco HVAC parts, please let your account manager know which items make the grade for your truck stock. We value your input.
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE
When an appliance repair calls for parts, we encourage usage of genuine parts provided by the manufacturer. That said, many times a repair is being performed on an older model and genuine parts may not be available. In those circumstances, Supco manufactures a wide line of "universal" replacement parts that can be helpful in reviving older appliances that have no longer available parts.
Supco started out as maker of controls for HVAC products in 1945. A natural overlap into refrigeration parts followed soon after. Today, Supco offers a wide variety of both HVAC and appliance parts. Our focus today is on refrigeration related items from their catalog.
 |
| URCO410 |
One of Supco's earliest refrigeration parts was the "three-in-one" Relay/Capacitor/Overload, part numbers RCO410 & RCO810. It's relatively simple design made it suitable for helping to start most refrigerator compressors that did not have run capacitors. Design changes in refrigerators led to many models also having a run capacitor. To address that change, Supco introduced the URCO series that can be used on models that have a run capacitor on the compressor. URCO410 is for 1/4-1/3 HP compressors. For smaller compressor of 1/12-1/5 HP the URCO810 will serve your needs.
 |
| PRO41 |
 |
| IC102 |
 |
| UET120 |
The UET120 is a great stock keeping piece for those older units. It looks and mounts like a mechanical timer, but inside the unit there is a board that can be programmed with characteristics to replicate many of those older timers. Again, very versatile.
 |
| ML45 |
The defrost timer kicks off the defrost cycle. To make sure the freezer doesn't defrost TOO much, a defrost thermostat is used. Also known as a defrost limiter, Supco makes universal ones that go in 5 degree increments from 45-60 degrees, from there they continue in 10 degree increments all the way to 90 degrees. This week we are featuring the popular 45 degree thermostat, ML45.
 |
| SLT50 |
Would you like your defrost thermostat to come with a mounting clip? Well that's no problem. The SLT series of defrost thermostats can take care of that. This week we feature the 50 degree thermostat, SLT50.
 |
| SH250 |
 |
| SM999 |
 |
| SC1002 |
The last Supco item we are looking at today is their "universal" cold control. Designed for freezer installation it has an adjustable temperature range of -7-40 degrees F. It can be either screw mounted for permanent installation, or temporary installation can be achieved with the included suction cup mount.
Before we sign off today, we would like your feedback. Supco stocks many parts for usage in HVAC systems. If you are a frequent user of Supco HVAC parts, please let your account manager know which items make the grade for your truck stock. We value your input.
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Kelly's Korner - Summer Refrigeration
Hey, All!
Wow! Where did April go? Time seems to fly by faster every year! I wonder why that is? It seems like when we were kids, summer lasted for-e-ver! Now they are gone in a blink. Getting old bites! lol I was on staycation all last week and it went by so fast!
So with spring in full bloom and summer around the bend, you know your refrigerator is going to be used alot - whether it's grabbing a popsicle, or your kids think it is a fast way to cool off, those doors will be opening and closing alot. NOTE: Do NOT let your kids stand in the door to cool off! Your refrigerator works harder and your electric bill goes up. Good recipe for disaster!
Check your door seals - stick a dollar bill or a piece of paper in the door and close it. Now pull on the bill or paper. If you feel resistance then you are good. Do this all the way around. Now check for flexibility. If it is flexible and has no cracks, you're good. Clean out those folds in it all the way around. This will prevent any nasty odors. If you see gaps where it contacts with the door or there is no resistance on the paper test, it is time to replace them.
Check your water filter and replace if need be. With summer comes an increase in water and ice usage, and you want your ice and water as clean as possible. Also, if you have an onboard icemaker, check to make sure that is working properly. It is always a good idea to totally dump the ice in the bucket at least once a month and clean it out. This way the ice left in the bottom doesn't smell or taste funny from sitting there forever.
Take a thermometer (we have them here) that you can set inside the fridge and freezer and check your temps. Refrigerators should maintain a 40 degree or below temp and your freezer should be at 0 degrees. Deep freezers should be at -10 degrees.
Clean out underneath your fridge and don't forget to clean the coils - this will prevent your refrigerator from working too hard. Because, as the temperatures outside rise, your fridges and freezers work harder to keep things cold.
If you have any problems or concerns, contact your favorite appliance technician for a checkup. Better to make sure things are shipshape now rather than wait until something really bad happens. The techs are really busy during the summer, too.
Time to clean out any old stuff, unidentifiable things or science experiments, too, to make room for all those ice cream bars, popsicles and otterpops!
Have a great week!
Wow! Where did April go? Time seems to fly by faster every year! I wonder why that is? It seems like when we were kids, summer lasted for-e-ver! Now they are gone in a blink. Getting old bites! lol I was on staycation all last week and it went by so fast!
So with spring in full bloom and summer around the bend, you know your refrigerator is going to be used alot - whether it's grabbing a popsicle, or your kids think it is a fast way to cool off, those doors will be opening and closing alot. NOTE: Do NOT let your kids stand in the door to cool off! Your refrigerator works harder and your electric bill goes up. Good recipe for disaster!
Check your door seals - stick a dollar bill or a piece of paper in the door and close it. Now pull on the bill or paper. If you feel resistance then you are good. Do this all the way around. Now check for flexibility. If it is flexible and has no cracks, you're good. Clean out those folds in it all the way around. This will prevent any nasty odors. If you see gaps where it contacts with the door or there is no resistance on the paper test, it is time to replace them.
 |
Take a thermometer (we have them here) that you can set inside the fridge and freezer and check your temps. Refrigerators should maintain a 40 degree or below temp and your freezer should be at 0 degrees. Deep freezers should be at -10 degrees.
Clean out underneath your fridge and don't forget to clean the coils - this will prevent your refrigerator from working too hard. Because, as the temperatures outside rise, your fridges and freezers work harder to keep things cold.
If you have any problems or concerns, contact your favorite appliance technician for a checkup. Better to make sure things are shipshape now rather than wait until something really bad happens. The techs are really busy during the summer, too.
Time to clean out any old stuff, unidentifiable things or science experiments, too, to make room for all those ice cream bars, popsicles and otterpops!
Have a great week!
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Weekly Wednesday Stock Ideas: Refrigerator Servicing Items
Every week at W.L. may we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look at a few refrigerator parts and related items.
Our first item this week is not particularly refrigerator oriented. Still, it is worth mentioning. Every servicer needs a flashlight, and the EMF-1 is a pretty good choice. Not only will it shed some light on the situation at hand, but it the light itself is on a flexible tip to help shine light into some of those dark corners that can be found when performing an appliance repair. To seal the deal, the tip is also magnetic, which can come in handy if you happen to drop a screw or some other metal part.
Another item that is not necessarily for refrigeration, but it often is. Leak Lock is a popular pipe joint sealant that can be used for refrigeration lines. It's versatile, though. It can also be used for pipe joints on gas appliances, water lines and more. Many people remember the products name, but not as many can recall the part number. It is HS10001.
This next product is absolutely refrigerator oriented. When trying diagnose a refrigerator it is important to know how cold the refrigerator is getting. That number can vary depending on a number of factors. A great way to track fluctuations in refrigerator temperature is by using a data logger. In the old days this was a big box with round paper discs that would record the temperature with a pen on a chart printed on the disc.
Technology has really done a lot to improve the process. SL300T is a small sensor on a USB that can track data then upload the readings to your PC. You can put this small unit in a customers refrigerator then return later to pick it up with temperature readings stored on the device. Very handy at times.
In addition to these 3 items, we are featuring 6 other refrigeration related items this week. For more details, ask your account manager.
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE
 |
| EMF-1 |
 |
| HS10001 |
Another item that is not necessarily for refrigeration, but it often is. Leak Lock is a popular pipe joint sealant that can be used for refrigeration lines. It's versatile, though. It can also be used for pipe joints on gas appliances, water lines and more. Many people remember the products name, but not as many can recall the part number. It is HS10001.
 |
| SL300T |
Technology has really done a lot to improve the process. SL300T is a small sensor on a USB that can track data then upload the readings to your PC. You can put this small unit in a customers refrigerator then return later to pick it up with temperature readings stored on the device. Very handy at times.
In addition to these 3 items, we are featuring 6 other refrigeration related items this week. For more details, ask your account manager.
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Weekly Wednesday Stock Ideas: Refrigerators
Every week at W.L. may we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look at a few refrigerator parts and related items.
A regular research we get here at W.L. May is for the thermostat for a refrigerator. When we get a request for the thermostat in a refrigerator, the first question is "cold control or defrost thermostat?" For the folks who want a cold control, we have a variety of OEM cold control thermostats in stock and can get many others that are less common.
When the OEM thermostat is no longer being made, some servicers will turn to the "temporary universal cold control". It is part SC1002. Billed as a freezer control, it covers a temperature range of -6 to 39 degrees F.
When the requester tells us they are looking for a defrost thermostat, we also have most of the manufacturers originals available as well. Sometimes though, no research is requested and a technician will order part ML50 as a bare bone 50 degree universal defrost thermostat.
Similar to the ML50, the SLT50 is also a 50 degree thermostat. The SLT50 differs in that it includes a mounting clip.
As we consider thermostats, it should be noted that many newer models of refrigerator do not have mechanical thermostats. Instead they have gone digital. Computer boards regulate temperature as advised by sensors on the machine. GE frequently uses a part# WR55X10025 thermistor sensor to relay that information to the board.
In addition to regulating the main cooling temperature in the refrigerator, the board often acts to regulate the timing of the defrost cycle. Frost buildup can occur because of probelems with the defrost system or simply due to a poor seal at the door. To help keep the door closed, GE uses a closer cam that mounts onto the lower hinge. Commonly that comes as an assembly, part WR13X10020.
While we are at the bottom of the door, another part we get asked about frequently can be found here. The WR02X11330 fitting is a coupler for 5/16" x 5/16" water hose connections.
Speaking of water lines, GE produced some stainless steel interior refrigerators from 2003 to 2007 that get so cold that frost can form in the water line near the dispenser causing blockages, To adress this service issue GE has released a service kit element to keep that water line thawed. It is part WR49X10173.
The heart of a refrigerator is its compressor. With a standard base of 4" x 6-5/8" this Embraco 1/4 HP for R-134a refrigerant is a good fit for some rebuilding needs on older units.
A mistake some amatures make when diagnosing a low cooling problem is thinking the compressor is always at fault for low cooling issues. The compressor can be fine, at least for now, if you are leaking refrigerant. To determine refrigeration leaks there are a number of techniques used, Bubble soap solutions, infra red dyes and UV lights, and "sniffer" meters.
Our last item this week is one of those "sniffer" meters, UEI Test Equipment makes RLD10. This meter is sensitive to .5 oz per year R134A, R123, or R410A. The meter features a two position sensitivity selector allowing a user to zero in one the source of a leak by increasing the sensitivity. It also auto zeros when turned on and features an 18 1/2" long gooseneck probe.
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE
A regular research we get here at W.L. May is for the thermostat for a refrigerator. When we get a request for the thermostat in a refrigerator, the first question is "cold control or defrost thermostat?" For the folks who want a cold control, we have a variety of OEM cold control thermostats in stock and can get many others that are less common.
 |
| SC1002 |
 |
| ML50 |
 |
| SLT50 |
 |
| WR55X10025 |
 |
| WR13X10020 |
 |
| WR02X11330 |
 |
| WR49X10173 |
 |
| FF8.5HBK1 |
A mistake some amatures make when diagnosing a low cooling problem is thinking the compressor is always at fault for low cooling issues. The compressor can be fine, at least for now, if you are leaking refrigerant. To determine refrigeration leaks there are a number of techniques used, Bubble soap solutions, infra red dyes and UV lights, and "sniffer" meters.
 |
| RLD10 |
Our last item this week is one of those "sniffer" meters, UEI Test Equipment makes RLD10. This meter is sensitive to .5 oz per year R134A, R123, or R410A. The meter features a two position sensitivity selector allowing a user to zero in one the source of a leak by increasing the sensitivity. It also auto zeros when turned on and features an 18 1/2" long gooseneck probe.
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)