Samsung Refrigerator Inverter Board: Compressor Not Starting
This page goes with a repair we did in Palm Harbor on a Samsung French door refrigerator, model RFG298AARS: the compressor wasn't always starting, and we replaced the inverter board. Unlike our other tech sheet pages, this one isn't typed from a sheet found inside the refrigerator. It's what we saw on that job, plus general public service information for this Samsung family. Test details can differ between models, so check the service data for yours.
This is service technician information. An inverter board holds high-voltage DC in its capacitors, even with the refrigerator unplugged. If you're not trained for that, call a technician.
What the inverter board does
On this Samsung, the compressor isn't switched on and off by a simple relay. A separate inverter board runs it. The main control tells the board when cooling is needed, and the board starts the compressor and sets how fast it runs.
On the unit we worked on, the board was labeled AW2 INVERTER, with a compressor model of BK190C-L2C on the data label.
What it looks like when it's failing
- The refrigerator cools some days and not others.
- The compressor doesn't always start, but it may start fine while a technician is standing there.
- When the compressor doesn't run, the refrigerator and freezer slowly warm up.
That's why this kind of problem can take more than one visit. On our job, the first visit found everything working, and so did the second, until the compressor didn't start.
Error codes
The compressor error codes below come from a Sears PartsDirect error code listing for the Samsung RFG29 series. We haven't verified them on the RFG298AARS itself.
| Code | What it means | What the listing says to do |
|---|---|---|
| 81 E | Compressor failed to start | Check the wiring between the inverter board and the compressor first. |
| 84 E | Compressor locked | Usually means the compressor has to be replaced. |
You may also see the inverter board's own LED blinking. Public sources disagree on what the number of blinks means, so we don't list a blink table here.
What gets checked
These are the checks commonly given for a Samsung compressor that won't start:
- Wiring and connectors between the inverter board and the compressor.
- The inverter board's two inputs: 120 VAC from the line, and a low voltage control signal (about 4 to 6 VDC) from the main board. If either is missing, the compressor won't run.
- Resistance between the compressor's winding terminals. Sources give different ranges, so use the service data for your model. An open or shorted reading points to the compressor.
- The compressor's start relay and overload protector.
- If the compressor and wiring check out but it still doesn't start reliably, the inverter board is the next suspect. That's what we found.
Refrigerator cooling on and off? We repair Samsung and other refrigerators around Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, Clearwater and nearby. See our refrigerator repair page or call(727) 599-9631.