What is the term for the frequent starting and stopping of a refrigeration system?

The term "short cycling" refers to the frequent starting and stopping of a refrigeration system. This situation occurs when the compressor turns on and off repeatedly over short periods rather than running for an extended time to maintain the desired temperature. Short cycling can lead to inefficiencies in the system, impacting both energy consumption and the longevity of the equipment.

It is often caused by factors such as a thermostat that is set incorrectly, low refrigerant levels, or other mechanical issues within the system. Continuous operation would imply that the system runs without interruption, which is the opposite of short cycling. Excessive cooling refers to the system cooling beyond the set point, which might lead to other issues, but does not describe the on-off cycling itself. Overloading typically describes a scenario where the system is under too much load for its capacity, leading to performance issues, but again, this does not specifically address the frequent cycling behavior.