I have a Frigidaire Crown Series, probably 10-12 years old, plugged into a 3-prong outlet in a 53-year-old house. I doubt the wiring has been updated; likely the outlet was just put there for convenience and not properly grounded.

Under unusual circumstances, my wife touched the refrigerator and sink simultaneously and got a shock. I put a multimeter on the two and read 34 volts AC between them.

Would adding a chassis ground between the fridge housing and cold-water pipes solve this problem? Or do I need to do more?

Thats a good question, but I'm not sure on the answer.

An electrician could give you the correct answer, lets see if there is an electrician here in our forums that could tell you.

If you don't get a reply you may need to have an electrician come to your house to see whats going on.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances

Update:

I pulled the unit away from the wall to clean the coils, and connected the multimeter directly between the bare metal housing and sink.

Reading: 125v AC! The third prong of the outlet registers nothing, as I suspected.

I bet that even if I attached a ground to the housing (or grounded the third prong properly), all I would get is a bunch of sparks and a blown circuit breaker.

Must be a short in the fridge's wiring.

Back to the drawing board. And to the prayer corner, with thanks that nobody's been hurt by this.

Whenever I go to a older house and notice the outlet wiring isn't up to par, I always recommend them calling an electrician out, just to be on the safe side, its extremely rare to find any appliance causing a shock just by itself.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances

A little more info:

I unplugged the unit and put a continuity meter on the plug and housing. Only the third prong showed continuity, as expected. I checked other wires and got nothing.

Then I plugged it back in and put the meter on the hot lead to the motor. It shows continuity to the housing.

A local shop told me there is probably a shorted winding in the motor and it will need to be replaced.

I have hoses and R134, and can rent a pump. Am I a fool to think I can replace this motor?

The compressor you mean? If you want a $5000 fine do it.

You have to have a refrigeration license now to change the compressor.

I still say its your house wiring, I've seen that happen numerous times with older homes and sub-par receptacle outlet wiring.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances