How to replace a light bulb in a refrigerator: types of light bulbs and methods for replacing them

Almost every person has a refrigerator in their kitchen. It is indispensable for storing food. The operating principle of refrigerators is quite simple. Even if you purchased “sophisticated” equipment, it is not difficult to operate. you just need to connect it correctly to the power source and set the necessary operating parameters (for the main part and the freezer compartment).

An indicator and indicator of the proper operation of the refrigerator is the light bulb located inside. It also makes the unit convenient to use. But sometimes it turns off temporarily, flickers, or even burns out. So, it's time to replace this light source.

To troubleshoot problems, it is necessary to accurately understand the reason for the lack of lighting. In our article we will share ways to diagnose and identify the causes of damage. In addition, we will tell you how to eliminate the defect and return the lighting to the refrigerator.

What kind of light bulbs are used in refrigerators?

A refrigerator is a single mechanism consisting of many components and parts. All of them are necessary and equally useful. The refrigerator light is no exception.

There are several types of lamps used in refrigerators:

• General purpose incandescent lamp: burns, emitting warm light, affordable, has a relatively short lifespan. It heats up during operation, and the service life is short - up to 1000 hours.
• Halogen: can be either cold or warm glow, economical, lasts longer.
• Luminescent: creates a bright, cold light, is less expensive, lasts up to 15,000 hours.
• LED: generates light in any color range, including colored tones. Does not heat up, insensitive to low temperatures, “eternal” lamp - its service life is over 100,000 hours (about 11 years of continuous operation in household refrigeration appliances).

The type of lamp does not affect the cost of the refrigerator, but it does affect the service life.

Often, refrigerators use lighting fixtures with a power of 15 W or 25 W.
In large chambers, 2 light bulbs of the same power are installed, or one up to 40 W. See also -
Why the refrigerator began to work loudly: causes of malfunction

How to extend the life of a light bulb

The lighting in the refrigerator can function for many years; it is important to follow these rules and recommendations:

• Ensure optimal humidity levels in the refrigerator compartment and wipe away excess moisture. Make sure that no drops of moisture come into contact with operating indicators and lamps. Condensation and water lead to rapid failure of electrical equipment and wiring;
• connect the unit to a grounded outlet through an RCD, which will make it possible to avoid voltage surges;
• purchase equipment with an LED lighting system, which is the most durable.

Replacing a refrigerator light bulb is a simple procedure. To extend the service life of the equipment, take precautions, defrost the unit in a timely manner, and avoid the accumulation of moisture and condensation.

Why doesn't the light in the refrigerator light up?

If the lights go out unexpectedly, you may not need to replace the light fixture.

• Check the wiring, electrical outlet, power cord.
• Connect another household appliance, such as a table lamp or hair dryer, to the electrical outlet.
• If there are no problems with the power supply, observe the operation of the refrigerator itself. Natural shutdown lasts up to 30 minutes; if it is silent longer, the problem is in the transformer.
• It's possible that the light hasn't been lighting correctly lately (the light has been flickering, turning off, and then coming back on). Check the cartridge, clean the contacts from grease and dirt.

Checking the suitability of the lamp

Don't rush to buy a new light bulb and replace it! This may not help if the cause is not electrical and equipment failures. To prevent errors, perform thorough diagnostics and determine the type of malfunction that has occurred.

• Check the wiring in your house. Often problems arise due to chafing or loosening of wires.
• Inspect the outlet and power source . Problems can arise from a poor connection. Plug other equipment into the outlet to check its operation.
• Make sure that electricity is supplied to the apartment as usual. Perhaps there was a power outage throughout the entire house? Try turning on other electrical appliances. If they also do not work, then the reason is the lack of light.
• Observe the operation of the household appliance . Refrigerators usually turn off for a few minutes. This is normal operation. If there is no light for more than 30 minutes, you can assume that the problem is with the light bulb.

If after following all the steps in the instructions the lamp does not light up and the refrigerator is still dark, then the problem lies with the lamp itself. To fix the problem, you need to completely replace it.

IMPORTANT! Some models have features for lighting the device. They appear during work. Check this with sellers or on the website with information about the product.

Replacing the lighting lamp in Samsung and Atlant refrigerators

The lampshades of these refrigeration units are held on by screws. The lighting device is mounted on contacts or connectors.

So, to change a light bulb, you need:

• disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply by turning it off;
• Unscrew the screws on the lampshade and remove the lampshade;
• disconnect connectors and contacts;
• Unscrew the burnt out lamp and screw in a new one;
• secure the lamp with screws.

Some Samsung have a protective strip that is removed before replacing the lamp in the refrigerator.

How to replace a lamp yourself

Please note that replacing a light bulb in a domestic Atlant can be done on your own without calling a technician, but in compliance with safety measures. The first thing you need to do is purchase a replacement lamp of similar power and type, and also check compatibility with the base. Many models have a lampshade that will need to be carefully removed.

Replacing the lighting element in Atlant models:

• unplug the device from the outlet, follow safety precautions;
• remove containers and trays that interfere with the procedure;
• unscrew the bolt and remove the lampshade;

The design of the lampshade in Atlant models

• disconnect the wires;
• if there is protective tape, remove it carefully;
• remove and install a similar lamp, after checking, screw in the lampshade.

Replacing lighting in devices of the Biryusa and Stinol involves the following algorithm of actions:

• The lampshade is not held on by bolts, but by clamps on both sides. To remove it, you need to clamp it at both ends. When the latches do not move away, pry them up using a flat-head screwdriver;
• unscrew the lamp from the socket and replace it with a new one;
• install the lampshade in place, press the fasteners for secure fastening.

Some models have LED lamps, in which case you will need to remove the lampshade with the electronic control module:

• press the clamps and remove the lampshade;
• unscrew the screws;

Removing the lamp shade

• disconnect the wires and remove the module;
• replace the lamp and install the module.

You can replace the lamp in a domestic refrigerator yourself; this procedure will not take much time, but this way you will save money on calling a technician.

Nord refrigerator repair

How to check and replace the thermostat in a Nord refrigerator

I will completely devote this article to the repair of a two-chamber refrigerator, and we’ll talk about a single-chamber refrigerator, no matter how later, in the section for repairing a single-chamber refrigerator (see the site menu). Before you begin repairing the Nord refrigerator, you need to make a correct diagnosis of the malfunction of this unit. First of all, I want to talk about the thermostat, namely about the signs that indicate its failure

My Nord refrigerator worked fine until recently, but just the other day it completely melted, and not only the refrigerator compartment melted, but also the freezer. The light inside the refrigerator compartment is on, but the engine does not start, the fault is with the engine start relay. Tell me, maybe there is some other reason

It is quite possible that the motor relay could fail, or the motor itself could burn out, but first, you need to check the thermostat. To do this, you need to get to the thermostat; there should be 2 to 4 wires going to it. First of all, pay attention to whether there is a green wire with a yellow stripe, or vice versa, a yellow wire with a green stripe → this wire must be moved to the side, this is the grounding wire. Disconnect these wires from the thermostat and short-circuit all wires except the green one with the yellow stripe. Thus, you will connect the motor directly, that is, without a thermostat. As a result, using such a simple test, you can check not only the operation of the thermostat, but also the relay, as well as the engine. If the compressor starts, the thermostat is bad and must be replaced. Below I suggest watching a video that I filmed, just on this occasion.

In the video above, I am changing the thermostat on an old-style Nord two-chamber refrigerator. In modern refrigeration units, the thermostat is usually located at the top under the cover, and in such refrigerators as Atlant, Indesit and Nord it changes almost the same way. Below you can watch another video about replacing this part, but in this video the temperature control mechanism is located at the top

Now you can add a comment to these videos. Now I want to list the signs that indicate a malfunction of the thermostat

1. The refrigerator does not turn off → this malfunction is not always related to the thermostat, but as a rule, the culprit for this behavior is usually a freon leak. In old refrigerators, where the crying evaporator was brought outside, as in the first video, the reason that the compressor does not turn off is usually the mounting strip. The fact is that it is fastened with two self-tapping screws or bolts, and they tend to rust; as a result, this bar falls off the body of the crying evaporator. As a result, the thermostat tube does not fit tightly to the evaporator and because of this, the refrigerator cannot turn off
2. The refrigerator does not turn on → everything is simple here, you need to do what I talked about at the very beginning of the article, that is, bridge the contacts on the thermostat, just don’t forget to move aside the green wire with the yellow stripe
3. The refrigerator motor very rarely turns on → usually, this also indicates a malfunction of the thermostat. Do everything the same as I wrote in the previous paragraph, but do not turn off the refrigerator for two hours and look how frozen the back wall in the refrigerator compartment is, if it is completely covered with frost and the temperature in this compartment is not higher than 5-6 degrees, then you need to replace thermostat

In principle, I have described the main signs, now we can begin to consider such an issue as a freon leak

The Nord refrigerator does not freeze

The first thing that comes to mind about this is, of course, a freon leak. In this case, refrigerators with a top-mounted freezer cannot be repaired, with the exception of old ones, where it was possible to pull the freezer out of the case. In general, we will talk only about those units in which the freezer is located at the bottom, and first we will list the signs of refrigerant leakage from the system

• The freezer is very cold
• There is no cold in the refrigerator compartment
• Doesn't freeze in both chambers
• Cold condenser → this is a metal grill that stands behind the refrigerator
• Ice freezing on the back wall of the refrigerator compartment
• The compressor does not turn off

I have listed almost all the signs that indicate a freon leak. To be completely sure, you need to do the following procedure. First of all, completely defrost the refrigerator, then turn it on for 2 hours and be sure to put an outdoor thermometer in the refrigerator compartment; during this time, the doors to both chambers must be closed, that is, they cannot be opened. After 2/2.5 hours, look at the temperature in the refrigerator compartment; if it is higher than 6-7 degrees Celsius, then 100% we are talking about a freon leak or a clogged capillary. Below I have posted a video in which I show the installation of a weeping evaporator in the refrigerator compartment. This is the only way to eliminate a refrigerant leak in the system.

People often come to my workshop asking me to change the thermostat or check it. When you start asking why this spare part was removed, it turns out that the motor in their unit does not turn off. Guys, in such cases, 90% of the fault is not the thermostat, but the release of freon from the system. Understand that the thermostat will turn off a two-chamber refrigerator only if the required temperature is in the refrigerator compartment. In such cases, you don’t need to pay attention to the freezer and the fact that it’s pounding like crazy. By the way, if the freezer is very cold, and the cold in the refrigerator gradually disappears, this is the main sign of a leak. As an example, I want to consider one of the comments on my youtube channel

I have a two-chamber Nord refrigerator, the freezer is located at the top. In general, the problem is that it has stopped turning off, and in the corner of the refrigerator compartment, a block of ice has formed; on the rest of the back wall, droplets of water are visible and they flow into the drainage gutter. They called a technician, he came, touched something in the back, opened the refrigerator compartment and said that there was a leak. The most important thing is that the master said that these refrigerators cannot be repaired in such cases, that is, they are disposable. Please explain whether it is true that they are disposable and how the technician could determine the freon leak in 5 minutes. I have doubts about the qualifications of this subject, because as far as I know, you need to at least let off the gas to be sure of the diagnosis

Firstly, these refrigerators are truly disposable; if the freezer were at the bottom, it would be possible to install a weeping evaporator, but in such a unit, the leak could be anywhere, including in the freezer, but unfortunately you can’t check it. Now, as for the fact that the master made a diagnosis in 5 minutes, this is quite possible, firstly, he touched the condenser and apparently found that its temperature was not normal, then he opened the refrigerator compartment and saw a block of ice and drops of water on the back wall. In general, the conclusion here is quite simple and can be done not in 5 minutes, but in 30 seconds

What types of light bulbs are there?

In all devices produced in the USSR, only one type of lamp was used - vacuum. They were similar to those installed in ceiling chandeliers, but with less power. Of course, even now you can find models with such lamps on the market. However, manufacturers prefer to use other methods of lighting modern refrigerators.

Table No. 1. Types of light bulbs for refrigerators.

Prices for different types of light bulbs for the Indesit refrigerator

The nuances of replacing different types of light bulbs

It is worth noting that different types of lamps require different approaches. For example, you can hold a regular incandescent light bulb by the glass part, but do not press or squeeze it.

Be sure to screw in smooth movements so that the base is correctly positioned in the thread of the socket.

During the process of replacing such a lamp, the glass sometimes breaks. In this case, it is important to be careful and not try to remove the remains and fragments with your hands.

Round nose pliers or pliers will come to the rescue. You just need to grab the edge of the base with a tool and unscrew the lighting fixture.

Unlike vacuum bulbs, halogen bulbs cannot be touched by the glass part with bare hands. Local overheating may occur at the point of contact. This reduces its work life.

During installation, the quartz bulb of the lamp must be held through a clean cloth or with gloves. In case of accidental contact, it is recommended to wipe the surface with a cloth that does not leave marks, for example, microfiber with an alcohol solution.

Fluorescent lamps have very fragile tubes containing mercury vapor. Therefore, holding them by the glass part is prohibited - you can only grab them by the base

Such lighting devices must be removed very carefully so as not to break the flasks with harmful mercury vapors. They are used mainly in the food trade.

Why doesn't the light come on

There are several options why the lighting in the refrigerator does not turn on when you open the refrigerator door. Most often, the problem lies in a burnt-out light bulb - this happens due to a sudden drop in electricity in the network or the end of the life of the lamp itself.

Before carrying out any repair or diagnostic work on the refrigerator, you must turn it off by unplugging the power cord from the outlet.

There are also other possible reasons:

• Faulty power point. Perhaps there was a loss of electricity in the outlet to which the refrigerator is connected, but if, after opening the door, the refrigerator remains cold and you can hear the compressor running, then the problem is not in the outlet. To check the functionality of the power point, connect any lighting device to it.

  The light may not be on because the socket itself is faulty and the refrigerator is not working at all.

• Cartridge malfunction. If after replacing the lamp the light does not appear, you should check the functionality of the cartridge. To do this, you can contact a repairman or use a voltmeter to detect whether electricity is flowing to the contacts.
• Switch malfunction. To determine if the switch is faulty, remove the lampshade and use a voltmeter to measure the voltage supplied to the switch. If there is no current in it, we disassemble it and visually assess the integrity of the contact petals. For such work, it is also better to contact a specialist.

  
  The light bulb in the refrigerator may not light up if the switch is broken.

• Lost contact. Possible causes may include broken wires or poor contact in the wiring. In these cases, the light in the refrigerator may flicker or go off from time to time. In this situation, it is necessary to use a tester to ring all the components in the lighting system and eliminate the fault in the required place. To avoid damaging the refrigerator and harming yourself, it is better to call a specialist.