How to Test a Refrigerator Condenser Fan

If you find that your refrigerator is extremely noisy all of a sudden, then there are a number of things this might be, one them could be a problemetic refrigerator condenser fan. In the majority of circumstances where the condenser fan is faulty, this will cause the refrigerator to turn itself on and off on a regular basis. Therefore, with these steps you can learn how to test the condenser fan to check if it is working correctly or not.

Step 1 – Preparation for Checking Condenser Fan

Before you start your test to see if your condenser fan is working in your refrigerator, it is very important that you turn off the power leading to your appliance from the mains. This is to ensure complete safety while testing an electrical unit.

Step 2 – Find where the Condenser Fan is

Next you need to find where the condenser fan is situated within the inside of the refrigerator. Normally the fans are found on the bottom of the refrigerator. It is highly likely that you will have to take off a panel on the front before you can get to the fan enclosed.

Step 3 – Check any Obstructions

Ensure that there are no obstructions blocking the fan when it turns by spinning it. If the fan does not spin around in a smooth, free motion then the motor may have stopped working or there may be something trapped in it to prevent it from moving. Make sure that you clean the blades while you are checking it to make sure there is no dirt or debris causing it not to function.

Step 4 – Pull the Motor Out

Next you need to check the motor to ensure that this is working correctly. Remove any screws holding it in place and gently pull out of its casing to check it over.

Step 5 – Check the Wiring

Once you have taken the motor out of its casing, you should have a look at the wires and how they are connected to the motor. There should be a few wires attached to the unit. You should ensure you know exactly where each one fits so you know where to put them back. With the pliers pull the wires out one by one and as carefully as you can. Ensure that you only touch the connectors and not the wires.

Step 6 – Test the Condenser Fan

Now you have the fan removed from the refrigerator you can test the fan with a multitester. Make sure your device is set to read the motor settings. The motor should trigger all three terminals. However, if one or more doesn’t work then you need to test these separately. Connect one of the wires to the terminal and one to the multitester. This should now be displaying a value of between infinity and zero ohms. If it displays between zero and infinity then the condenser fan is faulty and may need replacing. If the readings are correct then you should put the fan back in the refrigerator exactly the way you found it and look for another problem that might be causing your refrigerator from not working.