RAC Practical

Testing Of Various Components of Refrigerator

Aim: - Testing of current relay, voltage relay, positive temperature co-efficient

(PTC) relay, overload protector (OLP), capacitor.

Required Tools, Equipments & Raw materials: -

Series testing board, Multi meter, Screw driver, Combination and noise pliers,
Current relay (Open & box type), Voltage relay, PTC relay, OLP, Capacitor.

Description:-

In refrigeration system the various problems/faults are mainly occurs due to the
faulty electrical components. In order to resolve these faults, we should have
knowledge about checking and testing of such different components.

1. Current Relay-
I. Testing procedure of open type current relay
i. Firstly connect one probe of multi-meter/series supply at common
terminal of relay.
ii. Now connect the second probe of multi-meter/series supply to the one
of terminal out of supply and running winding terminal which is
available on the relay.
iii. Out of these two terminals, the terminal which shows continuity with
common terminal is marked as running winding terminal. Whereas the
terminal which does not shows the continuity is marked as starting
winding terminal. If these conditions not show then that relay is
faulty.

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iv. Note: This happens because of the relay coil is in the series with
running winding, whereas contact point is in the series of starting
winding. In right relay position the contact point is in the open
position.

Fig 1 Current relay with split phase induction motor

II. Testing procedure of box type current relay

i. Place the relay in its top position.
ii. Now connect the probe of multi-meter/series supply probe on any one
terminal out of two terminals L1 & L2 which are present on back side
of relay (Say L1).
iii. Connect another probe of multi-meter/ series supply to running
terminal. If the continuity shows then the relay is ok and if not then
the relay is faulty.
iv. Now in same top position check the continuity between running and
starting terminals then it will not show continuity. Now place the relay
in bottom position and again check the continuity between running
and starting terminals, in this condition it will shows the continuity. If
not then the relay is faulty.

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2. Voltage relay-
Testing procedure of voltage relay
i. This relay consists of five terminals i.e. 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6 respectively.
The relay coil is placed between points 1 & 5, the contact point is
present between points 1 & 2.
ii. Connect series test lamp between point 1 & 2, then the lamp should
blows.
iii. Now connect the test lamp between point 2 & 5, then because of the
magnetic field the contact will open which will make tick sound.
Which means the relay is ok.
iv. Connect the series test lamp between point 1 & 5 then if we heard the
cut in cut out buzzer like sound with some vibration then that relay
will be ok.

Fig 2 Voltage relay with CSR motor

3. Positive temperature co-efficient (PTC) relay-

Testing procedure of PTC relay
i. In this type of relay the common point & running point is connected
directly to each other, while there is a ceramic plate between the

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running and starting point. As the temperature in ceramic plate is

increases, their resistances will also increase.

Fig 3 PTC relay

ii. Now connect the series test lamp probes between starting and running
terminals, in such condition the lamp will glows. After certain time as
resistance increases the lamp will blows off, which indicates that the
relay is ok.
iii. In order to identify the starting terminal of relay we need to open the
clip, the terminal which is directly connected to common is running
terminal & the remaining terminal will be the starting terminal.

4. Overload protector (OLP)

Fig 4 over load protector

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Testing procedure of OLP

i. Connect the series test lamp between the two terminals of the OLP, if
the lamp blows then the OLP is partially ok.
ii. Now check the rating of OLP and connect the load more than that
rating, if the lamp will blows off then that OLP will be ok.

5. Capacitor
Testing procedure of capacitor
i. Connect the series supply to the both terminals of the capacitor for 2-3
seconds. Now short that two terminals using insulated screw driver or
simply touching the cables to each other.
ii. If we seen the spark with strong sound then that capacitor is ok, if not
then it’s faulty.
iii. Check the continuity at both terminals of capacitor, if it will shows the
continuity then the capacitor is open.

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