Frigidaire Refrigerator Repair in Pink Hill, NC

This case study highlights a repair performed on a 5-year-old Frigidaire French door
refrigerator in Pink Hill, NC. The refrigerator had completely stopped cooling, and the
customer suspected a failed compressor. Upon further diagnosis, the real issue was
identified as a failed inverter control board.

Background
The condenser fan blade had fallen off, causing the refrigerator to overheat. The customer
assumed the compressor had failed. While I provided a compressor replacement quote, I
explained that compressors rarely fail due to a fan issue. Instead, I suspected the inverter
board, which controls the compressor, had failed.

Diagnosis Process
The inverter is mounted directly to the compressor and has two sets of wires:

• White and purple: supply 120V AC power which the board converts to DC voltage that
  functions like 3 phase AC voltage.
• Red and black: send control signals from the main board, instructing the inverter how to
  run the compressor.

Step 1: Verified 120V AC between white and purple wires – correct voltage present.
Step 2: Verified 5.6V fluctuating DC between red and black wires – confirms the main board
was sending signals.
Step 3: Checked compressor windings by measuring ohms across all 3 pins – resistance
readings were equal which indicated that the compressor electrical windings were intact.
Step 4: Checked inverter amp draw while forcing a compressor start in test mode –
remained at 0 amps, showing the board was not attempting to start a mechanically locked
compressor.

Conclusion
All testing confirmed that the compressor itself was healthy, but the inverter board had
failed. The failure was likely caused by the extra heat from the non-functioning condenser
fan. A replacement inverter board was sourced within two business days, and once
installed, the compressor started correctly. This case demonstrates how systematic testing
can prevent unnecessary compressor replacements and ensure accurate, cost-effective
repairs.

This repair highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis when dealing with inverter-
driven compressors. By carefully testing voltages, signals, and compressor windings, we
confirmed the failure was with the inverter board—not the compressor itself. This saved
the customer unnecessary costs and restored their refrigerator to full working order.

Dependable Appliance Repair provides expert refrigerator repair in Pink Hill, Kinston,
Greenville, New Bern, Washington, and surrounding Eastern NC areas. If your refrigerator
isn’t cooling properly, contact us today for fast, reliable service.