Sears Kenmore Coldspot Chest Freezer 253.8195610 Part Question

[HappyCamper]

Model Number

253.8195610

Brand

Sears Kenmore

Age

More than 10 years

Kenmore Coldspot Chest Freezer 253.8195610
Manufactured 1989

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First Post. I appreciate any help very much.
I have a large chest freezer that was defrosted a couple weeks ago. It warmed up yesterday when the compressor/ motor started making a lot of noise and outside of the box was cool. I replaced the start relay and it smoothed back to normal and started very slowly cooling again. Outside of box is warm now as it should be. I thought all was good, but there's a cylinder on the right of the compressor that is occasionally buzzing and other times quietly cycling. I don't remember hearing that, but I also had the cover plate on before, perhaps dampening the sound. I can't find a schematic, so don't know what this part is.

It is a brass cylinder in a rectangular case with one electrical plug and gas tubes connected on the bottom.
It's scratched so I can only make out the two lower rows of numbers.
L16 701-038
8850 01

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I'm wondering if it needs replaced too and what the chances of it going at the same time?

I also want to find a low cost back up for the relay in case it goes bad again.
This low cost combination part https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A8O071...c1102a3ec4a06&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
sound attractive, but if you have an affiliate link, I will check that out and probably go that route.

 

[Jake]

Hi,

Here's the compressor start relay for your model:
Relay 5303007173


That's the most expensive relay I've ever seen, you may want to follow what @Dan O. says here about a aftermarket one:

Frigidaire FPCE21TFL3 Warm Air and Clicking Sound

Hello All, Weekend away and come home to see that all the food in freezer has thawed and warm air is blowing throughout the unit - freezer and fridge. Seems to be making its usual hum but every now and again there is a clicking sound. Its an older unit for sure...but has always operated...

www.applianceblog.com

It is a brass cylinder in a rectangular case with one electrical plug and gas tubes connected on the bottom.
It's scratched so I can only make out the two lower rows of numbers.
L16 701-038
8850 01

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That's your Solenoid, Defrost 3201514 but its no longer available.

 

[HappyCamper]

Thanks Jake.
That sure is an expensive relay. The one I had on hand might be working since the compressor has smoothed out and not real loud anymore. The sides have heated up too, however the inside is gone from 18°F to 20° this evening on the coldest side with the compressor and coils. The ice cream on the other side is thawed. No frost on the cold end has formed so there's still a problem.

Thank you for identifying the solenoid. It's frequently activating now, so I wonder if it might have gone bad? Do those go bad at the same time as the relay? So it's function is to defrost?
I've done that manually for years. Maybe it's not working properly?
Anyhow right now I've got a load of expensive meat that must stay frozen.
Do you think that replacement relay I used could be the culprit?

 

[HappyCamper]

PS: That solenoid keeps cycling on for about 3 to 5 seconds, then off for 15 seconds. It goes through this nonstop. If it only functions to defrost the static chest freezer, is there any reason I shouldn't remove it?

 

[Dan O.]

That solenoid keeps cycling on for about 3 to 5 seconds, then off for 15 seconds.

It should only be energized when the freezer should be defrosting. Activating at other times will cause warming.

is there any reason I shouldn't remove it?

All you need to do is unplug it. You can then manually defrost the freezer from then on.

Why it is being activated so often, I don't know. Maybe post a clear photo of its wiring diagram and we can look for possibilities.


Dan O.

 

[HappyCamper]

Hi Dan,

Last month I found an extra relay that was in my inventory that I had no idea was there. The compressor was working and solenoid buzzed every so often until the freezer started cooling down..The solenoid quit activating every couple minutes and finally shut up. After a couple days it dropped below zero F.
That's the good news.

The bad news is that it's acting up again after working well since our previous discussion. However, The temp alarm rang last night and I pulled the relay and overload protector off. Then shined the contacts with sandpaper and reinserted.
The sides of the freezer warmed a few hours, but now are cool already even though the compressor is running smoothly..
The solenoid is quiet now.
The freezer has defrosted.

The freezer has gone up to 35°F ambient temperature.
Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Dan O.]

The temp alarm rang last night and I pulled the relay and overload protector off.

Why, was the compressot NOT running? Was it getting power??

Then shined the contacts with sandpaper and reinserted.

I don't know why that would do anything.

The sides of the freezer warmed a few hours, but now are cool already even though the compressor is running smoothly..

What side? The inside, outside?

I don't know what you mean by "even though the compressor is running smoothly". It is supposed to run smoothly when cooling.

Do you have any suggestions?

Did you disconnect the solenoid as was suggested?


Dan O.

 

[HappyCamper]

Last month when I found another relay in the basement, plugged it in, it fixed the problem.
I didn't see a need to unplug the solenoid at the time, because it was only activating infrequently until I quit hearing kick on as the freezer cooled.

To answer your question above,
The Outsides were warm but the inside was not cooling. The compressor side didn't feel warm on the inside or cold.

The compressor was running rough/ louder than normal for a time.

Later I unplugged the freezer and plugged it back in. It was getting power, but the compressor quit running. It was quiet, so I heard some gurgling like coolant was circulating from before.

Good news.
Since I left this message, I did disconnect the solenoid and it's ground. Then I plugged the freezer back into power. The compressor then started running and the freezer finally started cooling!
It's been running nonstop and was 15°F last I checked earlier.
I'm wondering if the flash defrost switch could be the culprit? Right before I noticed the freezer quit cooling, the switch (button that depresses upon closing the lid) was stuck in some ice around the inner lip. It broke free as I opened it and activated when pulled out. I remember thinking that I hope I didn't break it.

 

[Dan O.]

If the outside of the cabinet is warm, that is the heat from inside. If warm outside it has to be cooling inside.

As I stated previously, the solenoid turns on the defrost = warmer temperatures. Unplugging it should stop the defrost and stop the temp. from rising unless there is another cause which would then need to be looked into.

The compressor side didn't feel warm on the inside or cold.

I don't know what you mean by that. The whole interior or whole exterior should all be basically the same temperatures.

Later I unplugged the freezer and plugged it back in. It was getting power, but the compressor quit running.

How quickly? If the compressor is running and you turn it off (by unplugging or whatever) it needs to be left off for 5+ minutes before trying to restart it again. The compressor will not immediately restart and you should not try to force it to or damage to the compressor can result. If you turn it off leave it OFF for 5-10 minutes before trying to restart it.


If it stops cooling again we need to know if the compressor is running at that time. If not running, we need to know if the compressor receiving power at that time.


Dan O.

 

[HappyCamper]

If the outside of the cabinet is warm, that is the heat from inside. If warm outside it has to be cooling inside.

As I stated previously, the solenoid turns on the defrost = warmer temperatures. Unplugging it should stop the defrost and stop the temp. from rising unless there is another cause which would then need to be looked into.
That's why I was puzzled. At the time the outside was warm and compressor running, however internally it was getting warmer. No frost was forming on the inside walls either. After following your instruction to disconnect the solenoid, it began cooling.

/\After a while the outside also felt just room temperature even though the compressor was running.

I don't know what you mean by that. The whole interior or whole exterior should all be basically the same temperatures.



How quickly? If the compressor is running and you turn it off (by unplugging or whatever) it needs to be left off for 5+ minutes before trying to restart it again. The compressor will not immediately restart and you should not try to force it to or damage to the compressor can result. If you turn it off leave it OFF for 5-10 minutes before trying to restart it.

Thanks! I didn't know that. I probably plugged it in too soon.

If it stops cooling again we need to know if the compressor is running at that time. If not running, we need to know if the compressor receiving power at that time.
Will do.

Dan O.

I will keep a close eye on the thermometer and freezer function. It's been running nonstop since it started cooling again. It's adjusted to 3/4 setting and remaining at -5°F.
The compressor feels hot, but other than that, it is functioning normally as far as I can tell.


Thank you very much for your help Dan!