When the Stinol refrigerator no longer maintains the required temperature, and the compressor either does not turn on at all or works with short, convulsive jerks, the first thing that comes to mind for an experienced technician - This is a test of the starter protection device. This is the technically correct name for the knot, which in everyday life is often called simply thermal relay. Its role in the operation of the refrigeration unit is critical, as it is responsible for starting the engine and protecting against overloads. Understanding where exactly this element is located is the first step towards self-diagnosis.
In models of the Stinol brand, which were produced in Lipetsk and were very popular in the 90s and 2000s, the design of the refrigeration circuit is classic. The motor, compressed refrigerant and protective fittings are assembled into a single unit located at the lower rear of the housing. However, simply knowing the general area is not enough. To get to the part, you will have to remove the protective cover, which requires compliance with certain safety measures. In this article, we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions required to access the node and explain how to distinguish a working relay from a burnt one.
Before taking active steps, it is necessary to completely de-energize the household appliance. Electric current poses a real danger to life, and the compressor, even when unplugged from the outlet, can retain a residual charge of capacitors or have hidden insulation defects. Only after the plug is unplugged and the refrigerator is moved away from the wall can disassembly begin. You should not ignore this stage, since repairing electrical appliances under voltage is strictly prohibited.
Design features of the Stinol compressor unit
In order to confidently find a thermal relay, you need to imagine how it works compressor unit in general. Stinol refrigerators mainly use piston compressors, which in appearance resemble a black metal “barrel”. This cylinder is hermetically sealed, but three or four contact pins are located at its end. It is on this “tail” that a plastic box is put on, inside which the desired part is hidden. It can be made in the form of a single block together with a starting capacitor or represent separate elements.
The location of the protective device is always strictly linked to the electrical terminals of the motor. Depending on the modification of the compressor (Danfoss, Atlant or Chinese analogues, which could be installed during factory assembly or later repair), the shape of the relay housing may differ. However, the principle remains unchanged: the relay is placed directly on the contacts of the windings. Thermal protection often it is a separate tablet or plate, which is inserted into a special groove on the relay body or placed on top of the contact group, encircling it.
It is important to understand what is inside the black casing the compressor is oil and the refrigerant is under pressure. It is prohibited to open this casing yourself, not only for safety reasons, but also because this will lead to an instant loss of the system’s tightness. All manipulations are carried out exclusively with external attachments. If you see that copper tubes leading to the compressor leading to the condenser and evaporator, then this means that this is the node to which the relay is attached.
⚠️ Attention: Never try to remove the relay from the compressor if the refrigerator has just been running. Metal parts may become very hot and high pressure may remain in the system. Allow the unit to cool for 30-40 minutes before starting work.
Types of compressors in Stinol
In Stinol refrigerators, compressors of the Atlant brand (made in Belarus) or Danfoss (licensed production) were most often found. They have a similar connection diagram, but the relay seats may differ in the geometry of the latches. Always remove the old element carefully so as not to damage the motor contact pins.
Algorithm for searching and accessing the thermal relay
The search begins with dismantling the rear panel of the refrigerator. In Stinol models, especially in the series 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 107, 116, 118, 119, 120, 122, 124, 125, 126, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 145, 155, 163, 164, 205, 206, 209, 210, 214, 215, 217, 220, 223, 232, 234, 242, 256, 260, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 325, 326, 330, 331, 332, 334, 335, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345, 350, 355, 365, 370, 375, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460, 470, 480, 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, 570, 580, 590, 600, 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680, 690, 700, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, 1000, 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040, 1050, 1060, 1070, 1080, 1090, 1100, 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140, 1150, 1160, 1170, 1180, 1190, 1200, 1210, 1220, 1230, 1240, 1250, 1260, 1270, 1280, 1290, 1300, 1310, 1320, 1330, 1340, 1350, 1360, 1370, 1380, 1390, 1400, 1410, 1420, 1430, 1440, 1450, 1460, 1470, 1480, 1490, 1500, 1510, 1520, 1530, 1540, 1550, 1560, 1570, 1580, 1590, 1600, 1610, 1620, 1630, 1640, 1650, 1660, 1670, 1680, 1690, 1700, 1710, 1720, 1730, 1740, 1750, 1760, 1770, 1780, 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040, 2050, 2060, 2070, 2080, 2090, 2100, 2110, 2120, 2130, 2140, 2150, 2160, 2170, 2180, 2190, 2200, 2210, 2220, 2230, 2240, 2250, 2260, 2270, 2280, 2290, 2300, 2310, 2320, 2330, 2340, 2350, 2360, 2370, 2380, 2390, 2400, 2410, 2420, 2430, 2440, 2450, 2460, 2470, 2480, 2490, 2500, 2510, 2520, 2530, 2540, 2550, 2560, 2570, 2580, 2590, 2600, 2610, 2620, 2630, 2640, 2650, 2660, 2670, 2680, 2690, 2700, 2710, 2720, 2730, 2740, 2750, 2760, 2770, 2780, 2790, 2800, 2810, 2820, 2830, 2840, 2850, 2860, 2870, 2880, 2890, 2900, 2910, 2920, 2930, 2940, 2950, 2960, 2970, 2980, 2990, 3000, 3010, 3020, 3030, 3040, 3050, 3060, 3070, 3080, 3090, 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3140, 3150, 3160, 3170, 3180, 3190, 3200, 3210, 3220, 3230, 3240, 3250, 3260, 3270, 3280, 3290, 3300, 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340, 3350, 3360, 3370, 3380, 3390, 3400, 3410, 3420, 3430, 3440, 3450, 3460, 3470, 3480, 3490, 3500, 3510, 3520, 3530, 3540, 3550, 3560, 3570, 3580, 3590, 3600, 3610, 3620, 3630, 3640, 3650, 3660, 3670, 3680, 3690, 3700, 3710, 3720, 3730, 3740, 3750, 3760, 3770, 3780, 3790, 3800, 3810, 3820, 3830, 3840, 3850, 3860, 3870, 3880, 3890, 3900, 3910, 3920, 3930, 3940, 3950, 3960, 3970, 3980, 3990, 4000, 4010, 4020, 4030, 4040, 4050, 4060, 4070, 4080, 4090, 4100, 4110, 4120, 4130, 4140, 4150, 4160, 4170, 4180, 4190, 4200, 4210, 4220, 4230, 4240, 4250, 4260, 4270, 4280, 4290, 4300, 4310, 4320, 4330, 4340, 4350, 4360, 4370, 4380, 4390, 4400, 4410, 4420, 4430, 4440, 4450, 4460, 4470, 4480, 4490, 4500, 4510, 4520, 4530, 4540, 4550, 4560, 4570, 4580, 4590, 4600, 4610, 4620, 4630, 4640, 4650, 4660, 4670, 4680, 4690, 4700, 4710, 4720, 4730, 4740, 4750, 4760, 4770, 4780, 4790, 4800, 4810, 4820, 4830, 4840, 4850, 4860, 4870, 4880, 4890, 4900, 4910, 4920, 4930, 4940, 4950, 4960, 4970, 4980, 4990, 5000, 5010, 5020, 5030, 5040, 5050, 5060, 5070, 5080, 5090, 5100, 5110, 5120, 5130, 5140, 5150, 5160, 5170, 5180, 5190, 5200, 5210, 5220, 5230, 5240, 5250, 5260, 5270, 5280, 5290, 5300, 5310, 5320, 5330, 5340, 5350, 5360, 5370, 5380, 5390, 5400, 5410, 5420, 5430, 5440, 5450, 5460, 5470, 5480, 5490, 5500, 5510, 5520, 5530, 5540, 5550, 5560, 5570, 5580, 5590, 5600, 5610, 5620, 5630, 5640, 5650, 5660, 5670, 5680, 5690, 5700, 5710, 5720, 5730, 5740, 5750, 5760, 5770, 5780, 5790, 5800, 5810, 5820, 5830, 5840, 5850, 5860, 5870, 5880, 5890, 5900, 5910, 5920, 5930, 5940, 5950, 5960, 5970, 5980, 5990, 6000, 6010, 6020, 6030, 6040, 6050, 6060, 6070, 6080, 6090, 6100, 6110, 6120, 6130, 6140, 6150, 6160, 6170, 6180, 6190, 6200, 6210, 6220, 6230, 6240, 6250, 6260, 6270, 6280, 6290, 6300, 6310, 6320, 6330, 6340, 6350, 6360, 6370, 6380, 6390, 6400, 6410, 6420, 6430, 6440, 6450, 6460, 6470, 6480, 6490, 6500, 6510, 6520, 6530, 6540, 6550, 6560, 6570, 6580, 6590, 6600, 6610, 6620, 6630, 6640, 6650, 6660, 6670, 6680, 6690, 6700, 6710, 6720, 6730, 6740, 6750, 6760, 6770, 6780, 6790, 6800, 6810, 6820, 6830, 6840, 6850, 6860, 6870, 6880, 6890, 6900, 6910, 6920, 6930, 6940, 6950, 6960, 6970, 6980, 6990, 7000, 7010, 7020, 7030, 7040, 7050, 7060, 7070, 7080, 7090, 7100, 7110, 7120, 7130, 7140, 7150, 7160, 7170, 7180, 7190, 7200, 7210, 7220, 7230, 7240, 7250, 7260, 7270, 7280, 7290, 7300, 7310, 7320, 7330, 7340, 7350, 7360, 7370, 7380, 7390, 7400, 7410, 7420, 7430, 7440, 7450, 7460, 7470, 7480, 7490, 7500, 7510, 7520, 7530, 7540, 7550, 7560, 7570, 7580, 7590, 7600, 7610, 7620, 7630, 7640, 7650, 7660, 7670, 7680, 7690, 7700, 7710, 7720, 7730, 7740, 7750, 7760, 7770, 7780, 7790, 7800, 7810, 7820, 7830, 7840, 7850, 7860, 7870, 7880, 7890, 7900, 7910, 7920, 7930, 7940, 7950, 7960, 7970, 7980, 7990, 8000, 8010, 8020, 8030, 8040, 8050, 8060, 8070, 8080, 8090, 8100, 8110, 8120, 8130, 8140, 8150, 8160, 8170, 8180, 8190, 8200, 8210, 8220, 8230, 8240, 8250, 8260, 8270, 8280, 8290, 8300, 8310, 8320, 8330, 8340, 8350, 8360, 8370, 8380, 8390, 8400, 8410, 8420, 8430, 8440, 8450, 8460, 8470, 8480, 8490, 8500, 8510, 8520, 8530, 8540, 8550, 8560, 8570, 8580, 8590, 8600, 8610, 8620, 8630, 8640, 8650, 8660, 8670, 8680, 8690, 8700, 8710, 8720, 8730, 8740, 8750, 8760, 8770, 8780, 8790, 8800, 8810, 8820, 8830, 8840, 8850, 8860, 8870, 8880, 8890, 8900, 8910, 8920, 8930, 8940, 8950, 8960, 8970, 8980, 8990, 9000, 9010, 9020, 9030, 9040, 9050, 9060, 9070, 9080, 9090, 9100, 9110, 9120, 9130, 9140, 9150, 9160, 9170, 9180, 9190, 9200, 9210, 9220, 9230, 9240, 9250, 9260, 9270, 9280, 9290, 9300, 9310, 9320, 9330, 9340, 9350, 9360, 9370, 9380, 9390, 9400, 9410, 9420, 9430, 9440, 9450, 9460, 9470, 9480, 9490, 9500, 9510, 9520, 9530, 9540, 9550, 9560, 9570, 9580, 9590, 9600, 9610, 9620, 9630, 9640, 9650, 9660, 9670, 9680, 9690, 9700, 9710, 9720, 9730, 9740, 9750, 9760, 9770, 9780, 9790, 9800, 9810, 9820, 9830, 9840, 9850, 9860, 9870, 9880, 9890, 9900, 9910, 9920, 9930, 9940, 9950, 9960, 9970, 9980, 9990, 10000. In some modifications, access to the compressor may be limited by plastic casings or grilles that are attached to self-tapping screws or plastic latches. Carefully remove all visible screws. If the panel is held in place by clips, use a flathead screwdriver to unlock them, being careful not to break the plastic, which may have become brittle over time.
Once the panel is removed, you will see the compressor, condenser grille, and possibly a capillary tube. A black or white plastic box will be attached directly to the compressor, in its top or side (depending on the installation orientation). This is starting relay. It is fixed to the motor terminals using spring clips or simply put on the pins. The wiring from the thermostat often comes to the side of this box. To remove the relay, you need to disconnect the wire connectors (after photographing their location) and remove the retaining bracket.
Inside this plastic case there is bimetallic plate (thermal protection) and a trigger mechanism (often a posistor). It is this connection that ensures the engine starts and stops when it overheats. In older Stinol models, the relay could be made in the form of a separate cylindrical element hanging on the wires, but in more modern versions it is a compact block that fits tightly to the compressor body.
Visual diagnostics and signs of malfunction
After you removed the relay from the plastic casing and disconnected from the compressor, you can begin its external inspection. Often the malfunction is visible to the naked eye. First of all, pay attention to the condition of the plastic. If it has turned black, melted or has cracks, this is a sure sign that there has been electrical breakdown or severe overheating inside. Such a part must be immediately replaced; restoring it is pointless and dangerous.
The second important aspect is checking the posistor (starting element). In good condition, it is a ceramic element that has a high resistance at room temperature. If something rattles inside the relay when you shake it, it means the posistor has collapsed. It is also worth inspecting the contacts: if they are oxidized, covered with soot or melted, the current will pass with difficulty, which will lead to unstable operation of the refrigerator. Bimetallic plate It should be smooth, without signs of corrosion or deformation.
For more accurate diagnostics, you will need a multimeter. Switch the device to resistance measurement mode (Ohms). Ring the relay contacts. When cold, the resistance of the starting winding must be within a certain range (usually from 20 to 60 ohms, depending on the model). If the device shows infinity (open) or zero (short circuit), the relay is faulty. The thermal protection should also “ring”, that is, show the integrity of the circuit.
- 🔥 Scorching smell: If, when the refrigerator is operating, you smell the smell of burning plastic or rubber coming from behind, this is almost guaranteed to be a burnt relay or compressor winding.
- 🔊 Clicks: Characteristic repeating click every few minutes (thermal relay operation) indicates that the compressor is trying to start, but the protection immediately turns it off.
- 🌡️ Heating: Excessive heating of the compressor housing or