Owners of equipment manufactured in Tosno are often faced with the need for fine tuning when standard factory settings no longer cope. Adjusting an old Stinol refrigerator This may be necessary if the food in the chamber freezes, or, conversely, the freezer is not cold enough. These devices are famous for their reliability, but mechanical thermostats require intervention over time.
Before looking for a fault in the compressor or refilling freon, it is worth checking whether the basic parameters are set correctly. Often the problem lies in misaligned settings thermostat or incorrect position of the damper. In this article we will look at how to return the device to its optimal operating mode without calling a technician.
It is worth considering that models of the 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 110, 115 series 116, 117, 118, 125, 130, 132, 134, 135, 136, 185, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 213, 214, 215, 217, 218, 220, 221, 223, 225, 226, 228, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 240, 241, 242, 245, 256, 260, 261, 263, 268, 270, 271, 273, 275, 278, 280, 285, 290, 292, 295, 305, 310, 312, 314, 318, 320, 322, 324, 325, 328, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 354, 355, 356, 357, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399 have a similar design of control systems. Understanding the principle of operation will allow you to save on repairs.
The principle of operation of a mechanical thermostat
The temperature control system in older models Stinol is based on a mechanical sensor known as a thermostat. This device reacts to changes in temperature in the evaporator and closes or opens the electrical power circuit of the compressor. Adjustment occurs by changing the tension of the spring inside the sensor.
When you turn the knob, you change the force with which the contacts are pressed against each other. This determines how far the evaporator must cool before the compressor turns off. It is important to understand that the number on the regulator is not degrees Celsius, but a conditional index of cooling power.
Mechanical systems are reliable, but sensitive to position. If the sensor capillary tube is pinched or displaced, the readings will be incorrect. In such cases, a simple calibration may not help, and the element will need to be replaced.
- 🔹 The thermostat controls the cycle of turning the motor on and off.
- 🔹 The numbers from 1 to 5 (or 7) indicate the degree of cooling, not the exact temperature.
- 🔹 Mechanical wear of the contacts can lead to sticking or breaking of the circuit.
Setting the thermostat in the refrigerator compartment
The most common reason for dissatisfaction with the operation of the refrigerator is incorrect installation of the thermostat knob. In models with one compressor, the regulator is usually located inside the refrigerator compartment, on the ceiling or side wall. Temperature adjustment is done by turning this knob.
If the food in the main chamber begins to thaw, but everything is fine in the freezer, the regulator may be set to minimum. Try turning the knob smoothly clockwise, adding one division at a time. Do not expect an instant result: stabilization temperature control takes from 2 to 5 hours.
⚠️ Attention: Never turn the knob to maximum (number 7 or Max) unless necessary. This will lead to icing of food in the refrigerator compartment and increase the load on the compressor, which will shorten its service life.
The opposite situation, when everything freezes in the refrigerator, is solved by turning the knob counterclockwise. If even at the minimum division (1) the temperature is too low, the problem may be in the thermostat itself or a freon leak, which requires diagnosis.
☑️ Checking the thermostat settings
Adjusting the damper (damper) in two-chamber models
In refrigerators Stinol with system No Frost or drip system, but with two evaporators, an air damper is often used. It regulates the flow of cold air from the freezer to the refrigerator. If it is warm in the main chamber, but there is a snowstorm in the freezer, most likely the damper is closed or clogged with ice.
The damper setting can be mechanical (a slider inside the chamber) or through a thermostat, if it also controls the damper. In older models, a mechanical lever is often found. By moving it, you change the cross-section of the air supply channel. Adjusting the flow is critical for uniform distribution of cold.
Sometimes the damper does not open due to frozen ice. In this case, adjustment is useless until complete defrosting is carried out. Leave the refrigerator turned off for 24 hours with the doors open so that the ice completely melts.
| Symptom | Probable cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| It is warm in the refrigerator compartment | The damper is closed with ice | Defrosting 24 hours |
| The food at the back wall is frozen | The damper is fully open | Close the damper |
| Uneven cold | Air ducts are clogged | Check and clean the ducts |
How to check the operation of the damper?
To check, remove the plastic cover of the air duct (usually in the upper part of the rear wall of the refrigerator cameras). Have a helper turn on the refrigerator and listen for air to flow through. If the damper is mechanical, try moving the lever by hand (carefully!). If it is jammed, the mechanism may need to be lubricated or replaced.
Setting the defrost circuit and heating element
In models with the No Frost system, defrost regulator plays an important role (timer or defrost thermostat). If the Stinol refrigerator is old and has stopped cooling, and a huge lump of ice is visible on the evaporator in the freezer, it means that the defrost system is not working or is configured incorrectly.
In some older modifications, the defrost timer has a mechanical rod for forced switching to defrost mode. Turning this rod with a screwdriver allows you to start the defrost cycle manually. This is a useful function for checking the serviceability of The defrost heating element and the defrost thermostat.
If after manual defrosting the refrigerator began to work normally, but a week later the situation repeated itself, the problem is in the timer or defrost thermostat. Adjustment will not help here - faulty elements need to be replaced. The timer should switch automatically at certain intervals of compressor operation.
- ❄️ The defrost timer switches the "cooling" and "defrosting" modes.
- ❄️ The defrost thermostat turns off the heating element when the ice melts.
- ❄️ The fuse protects the system from overheating if the thermostat malfunctions.
Eliminating problems with the door heating circuit
Many owners of old refrigerators Stinol notice that the rubber door seal freezes to the body, or condensation appears on the outside of the door. The door perimeter heating circuit is responsible for this. In some models, the intensity of this heating can be adjusted, but more often it works constantly.
If the door freezes tightly, this is a sign that the circuit is working efficiently, but the humidity in the room is very high. However, if the heating is too strong, this is an extra load on the energy system. In rare cases, when installing additional equipment, the connection diagram could be disrupted.
Check that the power cord or other communications are not pressed against the hot area of the door. Also make sure that the refrigerator is level: if it is tilted back, the door may not fit tightly, causing a lot of condensation to form, which then freezes.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to turn off the door heating circuit to “save electricity.” This will lead to a violation of the tightness, the entry of moist air inside and the rapid failure of the compressor due to constant operation.
Diagnostics and frequently asked questions
Correct adjusting an old Stinol refrigerator often solves 80% of temperature problems. However, if after all the manipulations the result is not achieved, it may be a refrigerant leak or compressor wear. Mechanical adjustment is not able to compensate for the physical lack of freon.
Always start with the simple: defrosting, checking the tightness of the door and setting the regulator to the middle position. Only by eliminating these factors should you think about complex repairs. Old equipment requires careful handling and regular maintenance.
Why does the Stinol refrigerator not turn off after adjustment?
If, after moving the thermostat knob to the minimum position (1), the compressor continues to work without stopping, this indicates a malfunction. Possible reasons: freon leak (the compressor cannot gain pressure and turn off), loss of system tightness, malfunction of the thermostat itself (contacts are stuck) or heat leakage through a damaged door seal.
How to understand that the thermostat is faulty?
Main symptoms: the refrigerator does not turn on at all (even when turning the knob to maximum), or works non-stop, freezing the entire contents. Another sign may be the absence of a characteristic click when turning the knob (although in some models the click may be barely audible). For accurate diagnostics, you need a multimeter to “test” the contacts.
Is it possible to replace the thermostat with an analogue one?
Yes, you can. The main thing is that the parameters match: the length of the capillary tube, the temperature range of operation and the mounting dimensions. For old Stinols, thermostats TAM, K59, Ranco are often suitable. However, it is better to select an analogue by catalog number or consult with a specialist, since incorrect selection will lead to incorrect operation.
What to do if there is water in the refrigerator compartment and ice in the freezer?
This is a classic sign of a clogged drainage hole. Water from melted ice does not go into the tray above the compressor, but accumulates at the bottom of the chamber. You need to find a hole on the back wall (usually at the bottom), clean it with a special brush or soft wire, and pour some warm water in there to check the drainage.