Fridge Mystery Rattle

[belizesailor]

Installed a new Vitrifrigo refrigerator (Danfoss BD35F compressor) a few months ago. System has been working great and still is, but each time I close the door with a gentle slam I hear a rattle that seems to be coming from the compressor. No loose bits to rattle that I can find (outside or inside)

Thought it might be a start-up issue so checked voltage. Compressor running: House bank 12.65, at compressor 12.09 (~ 4% drop). Compressor not running, house: 12.73, compressor 12.70. Seems reasonable to me.

Educated guesses?

[Reefmagnet]

My $0.02 is the mounted compressor clanging against a pipe or other piece of fixed hardware. A dud mount will also do it. I have the same unit I recently fitted and all I get is fan noise; and that's mainly from the additional fan I installed to vent the enclosure.

[colemj]

Does your head move when you slam the door?

Mark

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by colemj

Does your head move when you slam the door?

Mark

Only when its still in the fridge. =-O

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

My $0.02 is the mounted compressor clanging against a pipe or other piece of fixed hardware. A dud mount will also do it. I have the same unit I recently fitted and all I get is fan noise; and that's mainly from the additional fan I installed to vent the enclosure.

Couldn't be...I mounted it all myself! ;-) Its an external compressor mounted on top of the fridge, pretty solidly.

Fidling with it some more, noticed it does not happen every time.

Puzzling...

[bstreep]

If it's not something attached, the only thing I can think of is the compressor valves. They shouldn't be a problem on a new compressor. Did it come as a unit, or did a tech have to charge it? Rushing a charge with a hybrid refrigerant (4XX series) can damage the valves.

[sy_gilana]

Hey dood. How are ya. Its the internals of the compressor rattling against the dome.
Check it , switch off the compressor, then grab it and shake it, I bet you hear the same sound ting-ting ...

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by bstreep

If it's not something attached, the only thing I can think of is the compressor valves. They shouldn't be a problem on a new compressor. Did it come as a unit, or did a tech have to charge it? Rushing a charge with a hybrid refrigerant (4XX series) can damage the valves.

Brand new, pecharged unit.

[bstreep]

OK, so this rattle is a temporary sound?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

Hey dood. How are ya. Its the internals of the compressor rattling against the dome.
Check it , switch off the compressor, then grab it and shake it, I bet you hear the same sound ting-ting ...

I'm good. Just tending to boat projects. Confirmed today I need 2, not 1, new exhaust elbows - ah, the joys of boat ownership! T is off enjoying the highlands (Volcan) while I slave away on the boat (burrp...lots of fridge testing...may have contributed to my noticing the rattle!). We should be back your way in a few months. Boat repairs and then travel comitments in July.

Yes, sounds like an internal rattle to me. Concerned me because I just recently heard it for the first time, and I've heard dying compressors make a similar rattle (usually when trying to unsucessfully start, but this ones running fine).

How's rainy season weather now? Saw a few good boomers down around Holandes I think as we were leaving.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by bstreep

OK, so this rattle is a temporary sound?

Yep, only when I close the fridge door and not everytime. But its delayed by a few seconds from closing the door. Gently slam door, pause a few seconds, hear brief rattle. Sounds very much like a compressor rattle and seems to be coming from the compressor.