Weight and copper content in the Indesit refrigerator compressor

The question of how much copper is contained in a refrigerator compressor Indesitmost often arises among those who plan to hand over broken equipment to scrap metal collection points. Owners of old units often count on significant income, believing that the electric motor consists of pure precious metal. However, reality dictates its own conditions: the yield of useful metal depends on the model, year of manufacture and design features of a particular unit.

It is worth noting right away that compressor is a sealed unit, and it is impossible to determine the exact weight of copper without its destruction. On average, a standard household appliance Indesit contains from 100 to 350 grams of pure metal, which is significantly less than expected. The bulk of the product is the steel of the housing and heavy rotor components.

Many people mistakenly believe that there is a solid coil of wire inside, but this is not so. Winding occupies only part of the volume of the stator, and the rest of the space is filled with insulation, varnish and a metal core. Understanding these proportions will help you avoid disappointment when weighing the extracted raw materials.

⚠️ Attention: Independent disassembly of a hermetic compressor is dangerous! There may be compressed refrigerant under pressure inside, and if the housing is heated or damaged, there is a risk of explosion or sharp fragments flying away.

Design features of Indesit motors

Refrigerators Indesit are equipped compressors from various manufacturers, most often these are brands Danfoss, Secop or Aspera. The design of these engines is similar: they are of the type of sealed piston units. Inside the steel casing there is an electric motor that drives the piston group. It is the stator windings of this electric motor that are of interest to metal miners.

It is important to consider that the amount of copper directly depends on power the compressor. Single-compressor models of refrigerators are usually equipped with less powerful motors compared to dual-compressor systems or units with a function where more intensive refrigerant circulation is required. The higher the power, the thicker the wire and the more turns, which increases the final weight. No Frostwhere more intensive refrigerant circulation is required. The higher the power, the thicker the wire and the more turns, which increases the final weight.

Why does the weight differ in different models?

Manufacturers optimize the design by using aluminum in some elements or changing the thickness of the wire insulation, which affects the final yield of pure metal.

In addition, year of manufacture techniques matter. Older Soviet or European models from the 1990s often used more non-ferrous metals due to less stringent resource-saving requirements. Modern engines are designed with maximum optimization, where every gram of material is calculated, and copper is often replaced with alloys or reduced in volume.

Factors influencing the yield of non-ferrous metal

When assessing the potential yield of copper, one cannot rely on average values ​​without taking into account individual characteristics. The first factor is volume the refrigerator compartment. Large two-chamber models require more efficient compressors, in which the stator winding is made of thicker wire. This automatically increases the mass of the useful component.

The second important aspect is the type of refrigerant and the design of the compressor itself. Some modern models Indesit operate on R600a (isobutane), which requires specific engine parameters. Although this does not always directly correlate with the amount of copper, such units are often more compact and may contain less metal than their freon predecessors R134a.

It is also worth mentioning the state of the node itself. If the compressor burns out, the winding could burn out or melt, making it difficult to remove and reducing the weight of the metal suitable for delivery. In serviceable motors, the copper wire retains its structure, but is covered with a layer of special varnish, which also has weight.

The exact weight of copper depending on the model

To get a more specific idea of what you can count on, consider the data obtained by experienced craftsmen and scrap metal acceptors. The weight of copper varies depending on the marking and series of the compressor. Below is a table showing approximate data for popular models installed in refrigerators Indesit.

As can be seen from the table, even in heavy-looking units weighing about 10 kilograms, the copper content rarely exceeds 250 grams. The bulk is steel bodywhich is also accepted for scrap, but at a much lower price. The motor rotor is often made of electrical steel plates rather than copper, which is a common misconception.

It is especially worth noting models with the marking Aspera, which are often found in budget lines Indesit. They may be a little lighter than analogues from Danfoss, respectively, and they contain less copper. When handing over a large amount of equipment (for example, from repair shops), this difference becomes noticeable in financial terms.

Technology for extracting copper from the stator

The process of extracting non-ferrous metal from a compressor is labor-intensive and dirty work. To get to the winding, you need to open the sealed casing. This is usually done using a grinder, which is used to cut off the top cover or side seam. After opening, it becomes visible electric motorsqueezed inside.

The next stage is removing the stator with winding. It is often necessary to saw off the shaft or knock it out along with the rotor. The copper winding itself is removed from the plate packs. To do this, various methods are used: heating with a torch to burn out the insulation (which reduces the quality of copper and weight due to burnout of the varnish) or mechanically cutting off one side of the coils and knocking out the wire.

⚠️ Attention: When cutting the housing, be sure to use a respirator. Inside the compressor there is technical oil, the vapors of which, when heated with an angle grinder, are extremely toxic and harmful to the lungs.

The purest copper can be obtained if it is carefully burn insulated in a special oven at a controlled temperature, but this is difficult to do at home. Most often, the winding is handed over along with the remains of varnish and insulation, for which the receivers can reduce the price or weight, since this is considered “burnt” or dirty copper.

Economic feasibility of disassembly

When wondering whether the sheepskin is worth the candle, it is necessary carry out simple mathematical calculations. The cost of non-ferrous copper scrap is high, but the amount of metal in one compressor Indesit amounts to hundreds of grams. If you hand over the entire compressor as black scrap or heavy electrical scrap, you can earn less, but labor costs will be minimal.

If we consider disassembly for the sake of profits, then one compressor will not even recoup the cost of the disc for the grinder and electricity. Only package delivery is of interest: the accumulation of 10-20 or more units of equipment. In this case, the extraction of copper becomes an economically justified step, allowing you to increase the profitability of delivery by 30-40% compared to the sale of a solid unit.

It is also worth taking into account the depreciation of the tool. Grinders, chisels and hammers quickly become unusable during active disassembly. Therefore, for a one-time disposal of an old refrigerator Indesit it is more rational to hand over it entirely or call a recycling service than to try to extract 200 grams of copper in the garage.

Where and how to hand over compressors

You can hand over compressors from refrigerators at specialized collection points for colored and ferrous scrap. It is important to find a point that accepts electric motors separately or has a clear division of prices into “copper in pieces”, “electric motor” and “ferrous scrap”. Not all receivers are ready to accept sealed blocks due to residual pressure and oil.

Before the trip, it is recommended to clarify the acceptance conditions. Some items require that compressors be drained of oil and cut off tubes. Others can accept the unit assembled, but put it in the category “electrical scrap”, the price of which is lower than for pure copper copper.

Don't forget about the documentation. When delivering large quantities of scrap, especially if you are not an individual, you may need documents confirming the origin of the metal. For a one-time delivery of a refrigerator Indesit a passport is usually sufficient, but the rules may vary depending on the region and the internal policies of the collection point.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to determine the amount of copper by the weight of the compressor?

It is impossible to determine accurately, but there is correlation. Heavy compressors (10-12 kg) usually contain more copper (up to 250-300 g) than light models (6-8 kg), where the output can be only 80-100 g. However, the type of engine and year of manufacture make their own adjustments.

Is there aluminum in the Indesit refrigerator compressor?

B The stator windings themselves use predominantly copper. Aluminum can be found in some modern cheap models in the form of windings (the so-called “aluminum copper”), but in classic compressors Indesit most often pure copper wire is used. The housing and rotor are steel.

Is it dangerous to open the compressor yourself?

Yes, it is dangerous. There may be residual refrigerant pressure inside, and when heated, residual oil and freon form toxic and explosive mixtures. There is also a high risk of injury with a tool when cutting thick metal housing.

How much does copper cost from one compressor?

If the output is about 200 grams of copper and the current price of scrap (conditionally 600-700 rubles per kg), the cost of the extracted metal will be about 120-140 rubles. This does not include the costs of tools, electricity and time.

Do they accept assembled compressors?

Yes, most collection points accept assembled compressors, but classify them as “electrical scrap” or “motors”, the price for which is lower than for cut copper. Some receivers may ask to drain the oil before acceptance.