Question about using a multimeter on a fridge compressor

I was checking a Whirlpool side-by-side for a no-cool complaint, and my old boss from a shop in Toledo always said to check resistance across the windings with the unit unplugged. After getting a weird reading for the third time this month, I finally read the service manual and saw it clearly says to disconnect the overload protector first. Has anyone else missed that step and wasted time chasing a ghost diagnosis?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray7232mo ago

Man, does that ever bring back a memory. My buddy was working on a GE unit last year, same deal, and he spent half a day convinced the compressor was shorted. He was ready to call it, but then he remembered that little clip on the side. Popped it off, checked the windings directly, and bam, reading was perfectly fine. The overload was giving a false open. He felt like a total rookie for missing it, but it's such an easy step to skip when you're in a hurry. That manual line is there for a reason, I guess.

kelly_chen2mo ago

Actually, that clip is for the overload, not the windings themselves.

reese_lane2919d ago

Skeptical about this one honestly. I mean yeah the clip is for the overload but come on, if you're reading across the windings and it looks fine then you're good to go. That manual line might be there but it's like a suggestion not a rule lol. I've tested compressors a hundred times without pulling that clip and never had a false open yet. Maybe I'm just lucky but I think people overthink this stuff sometimes. Unless you're dealing with some weird high end unit it's probably not gonna matter 99% of the time. Feels like a time waster more than anything.