So a switch connects the compressor to the power. Is that switch so different from a thermostat that current does not flow through its contacts? And when that current does not flow, it can not weld the contacts together during a start surge into the capacitor because current doesn't flow through the switch contacts. I don't believe that is true.
You stop the fan and the machine uses more power. Hmmm...do you think the pressures increase and the compressor works harder for lack of air flow?
As far as I am aware the machine works by regulating the working gas to the freezing chambers. So the switch (mechanical) allows the gas to flow to one of the three cambers or not depending on the thickness of the slush. That seems to be how it regulates the temperature.
The compressor (and cooling fan) does not turn off unless I switch them off. Unlike a domestic fridge which clicks on and off the compressor to maintain temp this machine seems to always be on. The power draw does vary. On start up it draws more power and once the slush is frozen a few hours later it continues to draw power but at about 2/3rds of what is was while trying to freeze it up. There are no complicated microchips or anything like that (not counting the LED lights etc) so I'm not sure how it regulates how much power to draw. I assume one the product is frozen the compressor has less real load and of it is an induction motor compressor less load sjoipd draw less power.
I am concerned about what you say but I don't think I understand it. Are you saying that the addition of the run capacitors across the compressor can cause a current surge when I switch the compressor on/off? Why would there be a surge due to the addition of the cap I thought the cap reduced the real current drawn? Is it a real concern I should investigate and how could I look into this.
When the switch is closed (compressor and cooling fan turned off) the compressor and fan do have some momentum but I am talking about a second or two until they come to rest.
'You stop the fan and the machine uses more power. Hmmm...do you think the pressures increase and the compressor works harder for lack of air flow?'
That's a very good point. I did think of that myself my guess was probably not that because the measurements we're taken very soon after start up maybe just a few seconds. The thermal mass of the condenser should I believe have kept the working gas cool for a brief period even without airflow. However its the beat guess and probably correct. Maybe my recollection of how quickly I read the meter is wrong or maybe the working fluid heats up far quicker without the fan than I am assuming.