The question of how much copper is contained in a compressor from an old refrigerator often arises among those who recycle household appliances or plan to hand over the metal to reception points. Many people mistakenly believe that the “motor” consists mainly of valuable red metal, but the actual design of the unit is much more complex and contains a significant amount of steel. Understanding the actual yield of non-ferrous metal helps to assess the feasibility of self-disassembly and avoid disappointment when weighing.
Modern and old compressors have a similar architecture, where copper is used primarily for the stator windings. The weight of this material depends on the engine power, year of manufacture and manufacturer of the device. On average, the share of pure copper is only about 10-15% of the total mass of the unit. The rest is a heavy steel case, oil and refrigerant, which must be properly removed before disposal.
In this article we will look in detail at what the amount of copper depends on, how to properly extract non-ferrous metal and what safety measures must be followed. You will find out why some models are valued above others, and whether it is worth spending time on completely dismantling the windings or is it easier to hand over the entire unit.
Compressor design and distribution of metals
To understand where copper comes from, you need to look inside sealed casing the compressor. The basis of the design is a stator made of electrical steel plates. It is in the grooves of this stator that coils made of copper wire are located. In modern models, especially in the budget segment, manufacturers are increasingly replacing copper with aluminum to reduce the cost of construction, which critically affects the final weight of non-ferrous metal.
The rotor rotating inside the stator is also made primarily of steel and alloys that do not contain precious metals in significant quantities. The shaft, bearings and housing are everything black scrap metal. Copper here is presented in the form of varnished winding wire, which is tightly wound around the core. The more powerful the engine and the older its model, the thicker the cross-section of the wire and the greater its quantity.
It is important to note that the tubes coming out of the compressor housing can also be copper, but in old Soviet refrigerators they were often made of steel with a copper coating or completely made of steel. In more modern models (after the 90s), red copper is actively used for the refrigerant circuit, which can be separated and disposed of separately from the motor itself. red copper, which can be separated and sold separately from the motor itself.
⚠️ Attention: When opening the compressor housing, there may be used compressor oil inside. It is toxic and requires disposal in special containers; pouring it into the sewer or onto the ground is strictly prohibited.
The weight distribution of materials on average looks like this: the steel body and internal mechanical parts make up about 80-85%, copper windings - 10-15%, and a small percentage accounts for insulating materials and freon residues. That is why the price for a whole compressor at collection points is always lower than for pure copper wire.
Factors influencing the amount of copper
The amount of copper in a refrigerator engine is not a constant value and depends on a number of technical and historical factors. First of all, this year of production. Soviet refrigerators, such as "ZIL", "Biryusa" or "Saratov", were equipped with motors with a large margin of safety and the use of natural materials, including pure copper for windings.
The second important factor is the power of the compressor. Dual-compressor systems or units for large Side-by-Side refrigerators have a more powerful motor, which means more turns of copper wire. However, the weight of the steel frame also increases proportionally, so the percentage of non-ferrous metal can remain approximately the same.
- 🏭 Manufacturer: European and Soviet models (Electrolux, Indesit, ZIL) have traditionally used more copper than some Asian budget brands of recent years.
- 📉 Energy efficiency: Modern inverter compressors may have a different winding design, where the amount of copper is optimized for specific tasks, sometimes to the detriment of maintainability.
- 🔌 Type windings: (presence of) aluminum winding instead of copper is a key factor that reduces the value of scrap to zero in terms of non-ferrous metals.
It is also worth considering the condition of the unit. If the compressor burns out, copper remains in the windings, but its removal can be difficult due to the sintering of the varnish and metal at high temperatures. In such cases, the metal yield may be less due to the inability to completely clean the wire from carbon deposits and insulation.
Table: Approximate copper yield by model
To estimate the potential profit, you can use averaged data. Below is a table showing how much copper can be obtained from different types of compressors. It should be remembered that these figures are approximate and depend on the specific modification.
| Compressor type / model | Total weight (kg) | Copper weight (approximately) | Output percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soviet (NKF, FKF) | 9 - 11 kg | 1.2 - 1.5 kg | ~13% |
| European (Danfoss, Secop) | 8 - 10 kg | 0.9 - 1.2 kg | ~11% |
| Asian (LG, Samsung, Panasonic) | 7 - 9 kg | 0.6 - 0.9 kg | ~9% |
| Budget (with aluminum winding) | 6 - 8 kg | 0.1 - 0.2 kg (outputs only) | < 3% |
As can be seen from the table, old Soviet units are of greatest interest for copper mining. Modern engines are becoming lighter and more technologically advanced, but the content of precious metal in them is decreasing. In addition, in modern models it is often found mixed windingwhere some of the turns are made of aluminum, which makes their processing less cost-effective.
Why is aluminum worse than copper?
Aluminum has a higher electrical resistance, so it is required to achieve the same power larger wire. However, it is lighter and cheaper. At collection points, aluminum is valued 3-4 times cheaper than copper, and often it is not accepted at all as part of motors, considering it to be defective.>
Technology for extracting copper from a compressor
If you decide to hand over copper at the maximum price, you will have to do dismantling. Simply smashing the body with a sledgehammer is ineffective, as you will mix the copper with the steel plates, making them extremely difficult to clean. The right approach requires tools and time.
The first stage is cutting the housing. For this, an angle grinder (grinder) with a metal disc is used. It is necessary to make two circular cuts: one in the upper part (where the shaft comes out), the other in the lower part (bottom). This will allow you to remove the covers and gain access to the insides. When working, be sure to use safety glasses and gloves, as metal shavings and sharp edges are dangerous.
After opening, the stator with windings is removed. Next comes the most labor-intensive process—copper removal. There are several methods:
- 🔨 Mechanical: cutting down the windings with a chisel or hammer drill on one side and pulling them out in bunches on the other. This is fast, but the copper remains with pieces of steel.
- 🔥 Thermal: burning out the insulation and heating the coils to facilitate removal. The method is dirty and releases toxic substances.
- ✂️ Neat: biting the wire on one side and pulling out entire strands. Gives the purest copper, but takes a lot of time.
☑️ Tools for disassembly
We should especially mention the tubes. If they are copper, they are nibbled off at the base of the compressor. Often they have steel sections soldered to them, which are better separated, since when handing over scrap, this will increase the category of the metal. Steel goes into ferrous scrap, copper goes into non-ferrous scrap.
Economic feasibility and safety
Is the game worth the candle? To answer this question, you need to consider the cost of the tools, the time involved, and current scrap prices. If you have one old refrigerator, mining copper for 1 kilogram of metal may not be feasible from a labor standpoint. However, if you recycle professionally or have access to dozens of pieces of equipment, the math changes.
Safety during disassembly is priority number one. Residual pressure and freon vapor may remain inside the compressor. When heated or sparked by an angle grinder, these gases can ignite or form toxic compounds. In addition, old oil contains breakdown products and acidic impurities.
⚠️ Warning: Never attempt to disassemble a compressor that is connected to the mains, or unless you are sure that the capacitors are discharged. Although capacitors are rarely found in motors themselves, they are found in control circuits.
It is also important to consider the environmental aspect. Burning wire insulation (varnish, paper, impregnation) in the open air pollutes the atmosphere. In some regions, there is a fine for lighting fires with toxic smoke. It is better to hand over entire compressors to specialized organizations, where they will be recycled in compliance with environmental standards.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to determine the presence of copper without sawing the compressor?
It is impossible to determine the exact amount, but you can use a magnet. Copper is not magnetic, but steel is. If you bring a powerful neodymium magnet to the windings through technological holes (if any) or to the ends, you can indirectly judge the material. However, it is safer to focus on weight: motors with a high copper content and a high-quality core are usually heavier than their aluminum counterparts with the same volume.
What is the price of copper from compressors in 2026?
Prices for non-ferrous metal fluctuate (fluctuate) daily depending on stock exchange quotes. You need to find out the current cost at your nearest scrap metal collection points. Typically, copper of the "Mix" or "Winding" category is cheaper than burnt or shiny wire.
Is it dangerous to store disassembled compressors at home?
It is safe to store whole compressors. Disassembled residues (stators with oil) can become dirty and emit odors. The steel blades from the core have sharp edges and can cause injury. It is recommended to immediately pack the disassembled metal into bags and take it out for recycling.
Do they accept whole compressors?
Yes, most collection points accept assembled compressors at the price of “heavy copper” or a special category “motor”, which is cheaper than pure copper, but more expensive than ferrous scrap. It is more time-efficient to hand over the whole thing if you don’t have tools for disassembly.