Help with old Beer Miester 40-v

[lewis26]

Hello All,

I recently picked up a very used Beer Meister 40-v, in need of some work. It was free because the previous owner couldnt get it to chill and wanted it out of his house (the extras included made it worthwhile. One of the kegs has an $80 deposit.)

I am working on trouble shooting the kegerator to find out why it does not chill. As of right now, when plugged in it does absolutely nothing. The stock 120v fan that blew over the compressor was seized, so it was removed and will be replaced with a compatible fan.

The main part throwing me off is the wiring. It uses a 2 prong plug, that feeds into a rubber coated cylinder, which I can only assume is the controller for the compressor (the thermostat feeds into this as well).

This controller then has a 2 prong outlet that the compressor plugs into. The relay on the compressor looks good, and then feeds the 120v fan.

I would like to bypass the controller to turn the compressor on and verify that it still works and cools, but am worried about burning something up (i attempted to plug in the seized fan, and it arced.:smack: )

Attached are some pics, can someone please provide some help?

 

[Stealthcruiser]

The "coil" that you see there, in the wiring,is the contactor for the compressor, and the round thing next to it, is the "thermal limiter", which shuts it off in case of overheat conditions.

Got a meter?
You can check across the thermal limiter, and see if you have continuity, and if so, leave it in the circuit whilst troubleshooting.
If not, put a jumper across the terminals.

Now the fun part: make yourself a stout jumper, something you won't fry, and jumper across the contactor, and plug it in, with the thermostat set as low as it will go.

I'm telling you this, in the hopes you have some basic electrical knowledge, ( which is all I have!), and that you know the dangers of electricity!

But that's how I would see if it will start the compressor.

 

[lewis26]

Thanks for the explanation and I will do some testing on the thermal overload. My electrical knowledge of appliances is, as you said, limited. I'm mostly a low voltage person.

What is really throwing me off is the output voltage from the "plug" going to the compressor. I'm only getting a few volts, not 120 like I should with the thermostat maxed out.

This is making me thing I might have a bad thermostat. This is okay because I'd probably install a electronic controller anyways, but I want to make sure it cools before spending any money on it. The other part is without a wiring diagram, I am unsure which wire is hot and which is neutral on the compressor wiring.

 

[lewis26]

Jumpered the thermostat wires and it kicked on immediately!

Unit is chilling now, groans a little bit but it works.

Now the question is how I wire in a new temp controller to the old compressor. Basically which wire in this connector is hot and which is neutral. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1438816504.530334.jpg

 

[lewis26]

Or do I just leave the thermostat jumpered in the stock wiring, and hook an outlet up to my controller.

Trying to decide what's best here

 

[Stealthcruiser]

I believe the latter would work, but did you address the fan issue yet?

Does it run only when cooling, or of the type that runs whilst the compressor is off as well?

 

[lewis26]

I believe the latter would work, but did you address the fan issue yet?

Does it run only when cooling, or of the type that runs whilst the compressor is off as well?

Based on the fan being wired into the compressor, it only comes on with it I think.

I am going to wire the controller into an outlet box and plug the fridge in as well as a 12v transformer to run a fan near the compressor and a fan inside the fridge to move air into my tower.

Not just gotta figure out a replacement top surface. Thinking butcher block if I can find some inexpensively.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Look at your low voltage self go!

Butcher block, workbench top, bowling alley lane.............

Post a pic of the top, when you get a chance.

 

[lewis26]

Some updates. Getting really close to pouring beer. Went from a really really nasty unit to a freshly painted good looking unit.

Should be finished up this week. Got the top made and mounted today, and temp controller and fan installed.

Ended up with a laminate sheet countertop with oak trim. Couldn't stomach the butcher block cost.

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