circuit boards

[Jeff423]

There was a recent article in the NY Times consumer section that agreed with most of the comments above and recommended buying the "dumbest" (meaning fewest printed circuits) appliances you can.
They also recommended not using the self cleaning cycle on an oven due to the deleterious effects of an 800 degree cycle on all the electronic components in the appliance.
I know my old Maytag washer and dryer and Philco fridge have and will outlast newer models.

 

[Tom S.]

Around 2010 we bought a big Amanda refrigerator.
2013 our ice maker in the freezer was full of melted ice.
The refrigerator section was around 50 degrees.
I called my uncle, who’s been an appliance repairman since Moby Dick was a minnow advised me to scrap it. Said it wasn’t worth fixing.
I told him we had paid about $1200 for it, and not a $200 cheapie. He said it was probably the compressor (Tecumseh) made in Brazil they are junk.
I did a little research on the web and looked up the symptoms. There’d be a loud buss for 15-20 seconds and then a loud click. A few minutes later it would repeat. If I unplugged it overnight it would run for a while and then, buzz, click.
Found out there is was is called a hard start capacitor, available on Amazon for about $12 shipped, back then. Supposedly increased the current to the compressor giving it some extra OOMPH!
I installed it in about 10 minutes and the fridge is still running today.

Sounds like you aren't your uncle's favorite nephew.

 

[steelslaver]

Usually the problem with a circuit board is either an electrolytic capacitor or a small relay. Circuit board in my camper's heater went out. I got a new one and at the same time ordered the relay that was obviously in the fan circuit (fan would not kick in) The part number is usually printed right on them. Replaced the relay and that board now works as well as the new one. The relay was like $8 and the board near a $100