I have just completed a repair of a Danby Wine Fridge that required (or at least precipitated) some unorthodox solutions. My qualifications are limited to at-home tinkerer and patient google reader, so I'd basically like to explain what I've done and allow someone who knows what they are doing to say either "that seems like a reasonable solution" or "remove power to that device immediately before your home incinerates".
The fridge was making a tremendous noise, which I determined was being caused by the aging condenser fan. The fan (and perhaps its manufacturer) is discontinued and I could not find available replacements online. Some internet browsing convinced me I could simply replace the fan with a PC fan of the same size, so I ordered a PC fan of the same dimensions, requiring the same amperage, and producing similar volume air flow as the old. I cut the power source running to the old fan and spliced the positive and negative wires to the new fan. The PC fan came with a 3 pin connector so I disregarded the signal wire. After getting the new fan mounted in place and pleased with my work I plugged in the fridge...Instant fire.
Post-mortem showed that the fireworks were a result of the small resistor embedded in the positive wire to the PC fan having exploded as soon as I plugged in the device (I used the optional low-noise wire attachment that can with the PC fan and has a small resistor in the circuit to lower the fan speed). After a period of confusion and googling, I determine that the old fan was built to take a direct 100-125AC current, meaning that the fan power supply that I had just sent to the 12V PC fan and its poor resistor was 120AC.
The resistor appeared to have taken the brunt of the load and the fan seemed fine so I got to thinking of a solution. I had several old AC adapter computer chargers and the like sitting around the house. I found one made to power a computer monitor that converts ~120AC to 12V DC, up to .9 Amps. The amperage requirement of the fan is .09 Amps. I cut the cables on either side of the AC converter inline box and spliced the box in between the fan power supply and the fan. I re-powered the fridge and the new fan is now humming.
So - the fridge appears to be functioning fine with this setup, but I am apprehensive to simply tuck in into its space in the counter. Are there any concerns with using a consumer electronics AC converter box in a permanently-powered role within an appliance? The AC converter is rated to output 12V DC, but up to 10X the amperage required by the fan - is there a risk of frying the fan? Any other issues I'm not experienced enough to know to ask about? I'd really like to avoid repeating the fire show that took place in round 1.
Appreciate any thoughts on this.
Best
The fridge was making a tremendous noise, which I determined was being caused by the aging condenser fan. The fan (and perhaps its manufacturer) is discontinued and I could not find available replacements online. Some internet browsing convinced me I could simply replace the fan with a PC fan of the same size, so I ordered a PC fan of the same dimensions, requiring the same amperage, and producing similar volume air flow as the old. I cut the power source running to the old fan and spliced the positive and negative wires to the new fan. The PC fan came with a 3 pin connector so I disregarded the signal wire. After getting the new fan mounted in place and pleased with my work I plugged in the fridge...Instant fire.
Post-mortem showed that the fireworks were a result of the small resistor embedded in the positive wire to the PC fan having exploded as soon as I plugged in the device (I used the optional low-noise wire attachment that can with the PC fan and has a small resistor in the circuit to lower the fan speed). After a period of confusion and googling, I determine that the old fan was built to take a direct 100-125AC current, meaning that the fan power supply that I had just sent to the 12V PC fan and its poor resistor was 120AC.
The resistor appeared to have taken the brunt of the load and the fan seemed fine so I got to thinking of a solution. I had several old AC adapter computer chargers and the like sitting around the house. I found one made to power a computer monitor that converts ~120AC to 12V DC, up to .9 Amps. The amperage requirement of the fan is .09 Amps. I cut the cables on either side of the AC converter inline box and spliced the box in between the fan power supply and the fan. I re-powered the fridge and the new fan is now humming.
So - the fridge appears to be functioning fine with this setup, but I am apprehensive to simply tuck in into its space in the counter. Are there any concerns with using a consumer electronics AC converter box in a permanently-powered role within an appliance? The AC converter is rated to output 12V DC, but up to 10X the amperage required by the fan - is there a risk of frying the fan? Any other issues I'm not experienced enough to know to ask about? I'd really like to avoid repeating the fire show that took place in round 1.
Appreciate any thoughts on this.
Best