Worth swapping freezer compressor?

[topshot]

We have an old (70s or early 80s I'd guess) Hotpoint freezer that has finally conked out after defrosting it. Thought maybe it was the relay, but I just hot-wired the compressor with a test cord I made and it is toast. It does start but after a couple minutes the current rises above its LRA rating (23 A!!!) and in this case eventually popped the breaker on the circuit I had the test cord plugged into. Since these are sealed systems, I'm thinking it's going to be more expensive to have someone swap in a new compressor since that is beyond my skills than finding a used freezer or maybe we will just live without again. We only really used it because we had it though it was very convenient at times to stock up during good sales.

[lthenderson]

I would agree that it would probably be way more expensive than to just buy a new one. Also, even if it wasn't that expensive, you probably couldn't find a replacement compressor for it anymore.

[Cadman]

Were you powering the start winding or the run winding? A running comp should only draw a couple of amps, but the start could draw much more than that ias high-side pressure builds.

I just got done retrofitting our 1965 GE with a compressor from a modern fridge, 134A refrigerant and ECM type condenser motor along with a new drier and high/low side ports. Knock on wood, it's running great. But you'll never find a tech to do such work these days.

If I were in your shoes, I'd make doubly-sure it's not a sealed-system issue as those can be cheap/easy to fix. If it is, get yourself a nice cheap deep freeze and call it done.

[topshot]

I ran both windings for a couple seconds to get it going and then just the run after that. It was pulling about 9A IIRC on just the run at first but soon started climbing.

[CatamaranSailor]

I see freezers for free all the time on Craigslist. Some of them are scary, but I've seen nice/fairly new ones that people simply do not want to move. I'd start there first personally before spending a lot of time with an old unit. My $.02

[ncornilsen]

And the efficiency of a new fridge could really pay back too.