I was checking compressor windings wrong for a whole year

I always used my multimeter on the ohms setting to check for opens or shorts, thinking that was enough. Then a guy at a supply house in Toledo told me to check the actual resistance values against the service data. I looked up a Whirlpool fridge compressor from a job last week, and the reading was way off spec even though it wasn't shorted. The unit was running but pulling high amps and would have failed soon. How many of you actually compare your winding readings to the factory specs, or do you just check for continuity?

3 comments

3 Comments

josephj741mo ago

Guess you were just giving those windings a participation trophy.

burns.ruby1mo ago

Participation trophies get a bad rap. Recognizing effort keeps people in the game long enough to actually get good. Maybe those windings just needed a little encouragement before they could really perform. Isn't the point to build something that lasts, not just win a single race?

wood.john1mo ago

You're right about keeping people in the game. Some folks just need to know their work is seen before they find their footing. Joseph's comment misses the point completely. It's not about handing out empty praise, it's about building the confidence to try again. A little support early on can make all the difference for long term success. Dismissing that as just a participation trophy is pretty short sighted.