Refrigerator with 8x surge?

[wpns]

I've got a 20-year-old-ish fridge-only unit with a normal running current of 1.55A and an inrush of 12.51A for a surge ratio of 8x:

Is this 'normal' or should I look at replacing the {start, run?} capacitor on the compressor? Or just replace the whole thing with an inverter-style fridge from LG or someone?

I only decided to measure it because I noticed the dimmable fluorescent lights in my ceiling brief dimming was synchronized with the fridge starting. I can try to put the lights on the other phase from the fridge, but that won't fix the 12.5A surge, which is a pretty hefty chunk of my (currently one) 18Kpv output.

Thoughts? Other fixes? Other solutions for dimmable fluorescents? I've got 16 4-foot tubes pointing up in a ceiling cove with dimmable ballasts and a matched dimmer, so an LED-replacement would be non-trivial...

Thanks!

 

[TM48]

Max/Min style meters do not correctly show lock rotor or actual peak current. I've checked this with my two meters (one min/max buttoned and the other "Inrush") and they don't match. The problem is I can't remember which one read higher but I doubt the inrush is 8x unless there is a problem. Can you check the cap?

 

[Lt.Dan]

I would figure that's very normal, even with newer fridges.

 

[rogerheflin]

I've got a 20-year-old-ish fridge-only unit with a normal running current of 1.55A and an inrush of 12.51A for a surge ratio of 8x:
View attachment 277211View attachment 277212View attachment 277213
Is this 'normal' or should I look at replacing the {start, run?} capacitor on the compressor? Or just replace the whole thing with an inverter-style fridge from LG or someone?

I only decided to measure it because I noticed the dimmable fluorescent lights in my ceiling brief dimming was synchronized with the fridge starting. I can try to put the lights on the other phase from the fridge, but that won't fix the 12.5A surge, which is a pretty hefty chunk of my (currently one) 18Kpv output.

Thoughts? Other fixes? Other solutions for dimmable fluorescents? I've got 16 4-foot tubes pointing up in a ceiling cove with dimmable ballasts and a matched dimmer, so an LED-replacement would be non-trivial...

Thanks!

My fridge uses a compressor start relay (not a start capacitor) and mine surges to similar to this. It provides power to a coil I think for a very short period of time to start it up.

 

[740GLE]

We have a kitchen aid side by side (I forget who makes them these days), was around 3k picked up in 2018, it has an inverter style compressor that ramps up and down. I do fear a control board taking it out vs the kachunk relays and caps of simpler designs.

Electrolux should be a good brand I’d hold onto it as long as possible.