Defrost Thermostat - How to Test and How they Work
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Short video explaining how defrost thermostats work and how to test a defrost thermostat. If you are having a defrost issue you will want to know how to test one of these and how they work.
Thanks for Watching, If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comment section below and subscribe to my channel and I'll answer any question you have.
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Finally, someone that explains it in a way beginners can understand! Thanks!
Rest in peace Bill.
Thank you for your great videos.
I wish I could thank this guy for his videos and let him know just how helpful they were. RIP Bill.
From reading manufacturer's catalog, I learned the markings on a fridge defrost thermostat L60 - 20F meant it opens at high temp 60F and closes at low temp 60-20 = 40F rather than low temp closes at 20F. A lot of people got so confused, even for people who are selling the products. It made a lot more sense to me in the case when I tried to fix my Kenmore dehumidifier, although its defrost thermostat is the reverse action of the ones used in the fridge, this will close at high temp 60F allowing the compressor to run, but when the evaporating coil is cold enough to start accumulating frost at 40F (freezing temp is at 32F), it will open to stop compressor and letting frost to melt by room temp air passing through them, (fan will continue to run regardless the evaporating coil is working to collect moisture or resting to melt its frost accumulated) If L60-20F meant the low working temp is 20F which is way passed freezing point of 32F, my dehumidifier evaporating coil will be frozen solid! -- The marking on my dehumidifier defrost thermostat actually reads L58-20F, it closes at 58F and opens at 38F to avoid reaching freezing point 32F. It is hard to guess why marking are not straight forward to have hi-lo temp to avoid confusion, but not until you are in the industry or try to learn more, like a 2" x 4" lumber actually measures 1.5 inch x 3.5 inch (because of 1/2 inch dry wall thickness). a 24 foot extension ladder is actually not 24 feet when fully extended, it has 4 feet overlap, so it measures only 20 feet, I had to exchange the ladder to get a longer one in order to reach my roof..
This makes a lot more sense than the video. If it didn't close until temp cooled down to 20°, then how could the ice water test ever work when icewater is 32°?
Excellent. That’s how it works not like the guy says in the video, that’s misinformation there
Just wanted to say a hearty 'thanks' for your videos Bill! They saved me several hundred dollars in diagnosing a bad defrost timer. I recently noticed my evaporator fan was silent and still... and upon watching your clips and testing the wires to it, I learned it was getting no juice. When all the local shops kept telling me my problem was ice build-up and that they would have to send a technician out to 'investigate', your videos empowered me to tackle the problem myself. Again, thank you!!
your videos are sooo helpful for me. I get lost in all the details from the repair clinic types. thanks
Bill , a word of thanks to you for putting this information out for the public. I realize you made this in 2012 but makes no difference it is still relevant information. The problem is the thermostat, the unit is puffed out on top and not functioning
Great video. I guess the commenters are correct about the L70-20 meaning it clicks on below 50 deg F. A glass of ice water will get below 50 but not below 32, so it would not reach 20 F. So the 50 F number makes sense if your ice-water test works.
Hey Bill, your lesson is short and sweet... there are lots of helpful people on TH-cam and something I have found is they tend to talk way more than they need to. You just said what needed to be said in general language. Thanks for your help.
Hey Bill first off thanks for the excellent vids you provide people. Yesterday I was in a bad mood when my new defrost thermostat tested the same as my original one. It measured 56,000 ohms at room temperature AND after 10-20 minutes of ice water.
Hitting the internet i found ablog that made total sense. My model of defrost thermostat has a high resistance rather than open to allow a low level of heat on the heater for the rest of the defrost cycle to prevent water drops freezing on the way to the drain trough. After I defrosted the freezer totally which allowed air passage through the previously frost filled coils thus freezing could then function again I placed BOTH new and old thermostat into the freezer for an hour. Presto bad mood gone......the original one still measured 56 k ohms (56,000 ohms) and the new one measured 0 ohms. Today the freezer will have the new one installed with issue fixed.
I checked my fridge and noticed that the defrost thermostat was bulging at the top (just as you described) so I replaced it and it's working perfectly now!!! The part was just $21 plus shipping.
Thx again for all your help.
Plain english explanation and straight forward. Thanks for not rambling about the refrigerators finish or how long it took you to set up your camera (no way do others do that). Great vid.
Just wanted to thank you for mentioning how to spot a faulty popped out thermostat, that's what my thermostat looked like. Saved me from buying a $149 ADT vs a $16 Defrost Thermostat.
Derek Kano Awesome!
Bill, after a week it started frosting up again. I also forced a defrost cycle after this and I hear two quick relay clicks in succession? Looks like I still need to change the adaptive defrost control board. Do you think it damaged the defrost thermostat as well?
Derek Kano
Changed the ADT Control Board, seems to have resolved the issue. Looks like two parts were bad.
Clear and to the point. I wish you were still making videos.
2018 and your video is still very relevant. Thank you for this short tutorial.
Bill: Massive thanks for posting the video. Our side-by-side maytag was showing classic symptoms of a bad defrost thermostat. The freezer side was frozen solid with ice all over the evaporator while the refrigerator part was warm. I was able to replace the defective defrost thermostat last week. Found out also that the freezer door was opening back a crack every time the refrigerator door was closed. Your other video about smearing thin layer of vaseline on the rubber gaskets around the freezer door, came in handy. The freezer door is now tight and remaining shut even when i slam the refrigerator door. Once again thanks for the excellent DIY guides.
I turned the defrost timer to turn off the fridge with screw driver after watching your defrost timer video, heater fires up, but then after a few mins the unit turns back on, but still a lot of ice all around the thermostat / built up in top of fridge. its a side by side type ? Is it possible for the thermostat to reach say 70 WITH ALL that ice around it ??
Keep up the good work Bill, YOU ROCK Brother!! :)
Hi Bill. This video was a big help. Thanks to you and everyone else who posts "how-to" videos.
had ice build up on my whirlpool refrigerator. i saw the thermostat pushed out at the bottom so i ordered one today. cant wait til it arrives hopefully this is the issue. thanks for the video.
Great video. I replaced the sensor 2 years ago and it worked great for two years. Now the thermal fuse has blown. After watching your video I’m thinking maybe the heater stayed on two long so I’m going to replace the sensor and the fuse. Fuse is £20. Sensor £6.50. Makes sense to change both.
hey bill, I watched your video and fixed my fridge came back to say thanks, it was the defrost timer.
THE CUP OF ICE WATER TEST IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE. I tested my suspect thermostat using this method and it showed no continuity, so I ordered a new one. When it arrived I decided to test it before installing, and it showed no continuity. Assuming it to be defective, I asked for a replacement. I decided to test the replacement, and it also showed no continuity. I thought it was strange that both were defective, even testing at 3 minutes, 10 min. and 15 min. in ice water with 2 different multi-testers. Then I put them both in a working freezer overnight. The next day they both showed continuity, meaning they both were working correctly. It seems the cup of ice water test is not the best test. Try using a working freezer instead.
Cup of ice water will only get down to 32 degrees. Maybe less if you add salt.
Depending on switch design limits.. a freezer stat will be set to 10 degrees or much less.
thanks Bill, very useful! I knew their operation, but did not know how to get the range of operation. Now I know, Thanks!
Straight to the point .love that
Bro your channel is top notch please keep making these videos
Great videos. They have been very helpful in my recent diagnosis of my fridge. Thanks!
straight to the point...easy to understand...very helpful.
Thank you!
You're Welcome! Thanks for the great comment and Thanks for Watching!
Absolutely perfect explanation!
I wish I would have watched this video before I replaced my defrost timer... :-)
thanks' for all your videos Bill, those are helpful. you are with God now, thanks for everything and blessings for for all your family. thanks, thanks thanks thanks,,,,
Thank You Mr. Newberry! Awesome info !
Kenny Lang, Dubuque, Iowa
With your help I've traced the problem
got the part. so far,so good.
I will check it like you say. Thanks man.
Thanks for the tip, changed mine and there was gel sticking out of the old one. Hopefully that's all that was wrong :) Thanks!
Could you make a video on how to test the ADC defrost board! Thanks
Hi bill, my Frigidaire refrig. Up in the freezer compartment my evaporator is a block of ice. I checked the defrost timer and thermostat both check out good, I thawed out the evaporator with a hair dryer, the defrost circuit is working fine. Heater working just fine. Refrig. Is cycling just fine. Could my problem have been to much items in both compartments ,interfered with circulation,so ice kept building up on evaporator,insulating it co compressor kept running, more ice built up. Never ending circle?
Hi Bill! Do you have a video on a top freezer defrost timer?
Awesome video. Thanks a lot.
Thank you so much. I was wondering why my fridge is not automatically defrosting.
Probably that stuff you can buy to freeze off warts. Not sure. My video wasn't that fancy though, lol
Thanks for Watching!
Thank you so much for your explanation.
Really Helpful thanks
this was helpful, thanks.
Bill, great videos. I have a whirlpool side by side where the time and the thermostat seems to work for a week, then the heater won't stop heating. i replaced the timer and when it happens again i manually turn the timer until the heater cuts out and the defrost fan starts again. any ideas. (i put in a new defrost thermostat but the entire fridge stopped working so i put the old one back in ). thanks Jeff
Thanks for all you help , on my KitchenAid side by side refrigerator the fan motor inside the freezer compartment is impulsing on and off and is not blowing cold air to the other side can you do a video on that ?
I have a GE fridge and I believe I need a new defrost thermostat. There is one within two degrees of the on & off temperature of the original. Essentially, isn't this just a switch that opens and closes with temperature changes? Thanks
Bill, thanks for all your videos. With your help I've traced the problem with my warm fridge/cold freezer to a failed defrost thermostat. The problem I now have is that I can't get this part until next Tuesday (5 days). Would I run into problems if I cut the wires on the defrost thermostat and splice them together (closing the circuit) and allowing the fan to run that sends cold air to my fridge until I'm able to get the part I need?
Yes you will run into problems!!! The heater element will get red hot, your fridge will warm up way too much. It could melt the plastic near the evaporator coil and start a fire. The defrost timer typically spends 20 minutes in defrost. It typically doesn't take near that long for defrost. That's the purpose of the defrost thermostat (aka defrost termination thermostat, or limit thermostat)
How long do I have to wait to here the click after the thermostat is in ice water?
Awesome video. Thanks a lot.
Very good video thank you I tested my defrost sensor while it was everything was still iced up and it checked out okay my problem was the heater itself broke in half and I seen the crumbs from the element laying in the drain pan and have ordered another heater element for my defrost. In your opinion how long should a refrigerator last and when should you start looking to replace the one you have?
you the best
I have an Amana fridge and the only way to replace this is to buy the whole harness which is sold out everywhere. I dont need the whole harness, just the thermostat. I was wondering if there is specific number on the defrost thermostat that help me buy a replacement.
Is this Defrost Thermostat located in the freezer near the evaporator fan? (Behind the rear panel in the freezer?
My defroster does not want to shut off and the frig portion is warm. The freezer right now is more like what the frig temp would be.
I wanted to confirm where it is located asI am guessing this is not the thermostat the you adjust your frig temperature with (in the frig compartment) , but a different thermostat in the freezer location. Thanks in advance. I could use the clarification.
Phil
Would that keep the water from dispensing
The lower thermostat will tell the evaporator fan to come on when the evaporator is frozen. The upper most thermostat is the defrost thermostat. I'm 99 percent sure. Sounds like you may have a whirlpool or the whirlpool made kenmore. Send me a model number, I'll be able to look it up for you.
Thanks for watching!
Great video.
very clear
Thanks!
ice water is only like 32F. U said it will close the circiut at 20F. Is ice water enough to activate it? Thanks.
Nice informative video, thanks bud
If the label says L140-30F, what is the closing temp? I mean what temperature will it activate?
Hi just wondering, how can I know if the problem is with the defrost timer and not the thermostat? If they both can cause freezing up in the fridge and freezer?
Hi Bill, my freezer wont go below -15 and my fridge is around 40 degrees, I put a new capacitor, start relay, cold control, and evaporator fan and defrost timer in it. do you think it could be the defrost thermostat, the freezer keep things cold but not ice cream. do you think it safe to keep it running, it seems to run good, it is only 3 years old, the compressor gets kinda warm but sounds good and shuts off and on ok, the coils are clean and it does not look like ice build up on evaporator coils (unless I am checking them at the wrong time) I was told it might be the Freon a little low. Any thoughts on this? I am a low income senior, cannot find a reasonable service tech, Thank you, Tom
70-20°f its a window switch on/closed @70°f off/open after losing 20°f. A 70+20° would close/on @70°f and open/off at 90°f .the 2 switches combined as a wall thermostat would keep your house @70°f +-20°f .keep the temp above 70°-90°f in heat mode and 70-50°f in cooling mode
good info bill, thank you...
Fantastic. I missed a few days of school and lost info on this. I found your video I now am all caught up. So ty. A lesson in 2:56 seconds
This test does not seem to work. If the the curcuit open at 70 degrees and closes at 30 degress, ice water will only take the curcuit down to 32 degrees. This is not cold enough to close the curcuit. I verified this by comparing my old thermostat, which reads open in and out of ice water, as well as the new thermostat, which also reads open in and out of ice water. I guess I will install the new thermostat and hope this fixes the problem
very good nice thnxxx
I have a Maytag model RTW2200AAL Refrigerator. From what I tested the freezer defrost timer is OK and is not responsible for the refrigerator not defrosting. So now I have to check the defrost thermostat and also the defrost heater. I have no idea as to how to access these components. Can't find any information Online as to how to approach this problem. I have spent hours looking for a Maytag Service manual as to how to work on my model RTW2200AAL refrigerator. I see no panels that can be removed to access these components. Any guidance on this would be appreciated.
Hi;
I am trying to understand your video about how the defrost thermostat works. I purchased a thermostat that says l140 -30 f. However when I test it like you describe, it does nothing. The thermostat is in a closed circuit state and does not move from that weather it is in room temperature of in the freezer at 0 degrees F. So does this switch basically get turned on or off with temperature and will not change state unless one setting is achieved. Can you make a video to demonstrate this
L140? That's crazy . That is the wrong item. Your fridge (and house) will be in flames and melted before the thermostat does it's job.
@@MarkShapiroMusic That's not crazy, Mark. In fact, my fridge (GE side by side Ártica) uses that defrost thermostat (L140 30F). And, according to specifications, it is closed (continuity) at room temperature. Y checked it. Ice/water check is not valid for this thermostat.
(Sorry for my English)
Best regards from Venezuela.
Hi Bill. Thanks for the instructive video clips. My fridge freezer has two similar devices clipped to the evaporator. Each looks like a defrost thermostat one is marked "80011A 03/08", fed by 1 blue & 1 white wire, the other has no markings fed by brown and black. I have seen some defrost systems with one and some with two devices clipped on but I cannot find an explanation for what the second device is and how to identify each device. Can you help ?
very well said
Thanks!
Thank You that very helpful
That was a good explanation. I happened to watch a video on youtube on a guy using a spray bottle and sprayed something on the bimetal to cause it to close. Would you know anything on what he might of used. This substance literally froze on the bimetal.
what will happen if a wrong opening and closing temp is used....i have a spare but it doesnt have any marking....and also some have different wire colors...do they have polarity?
great video. can you replace a bimetal with one from different freezer ex. Frigidaire to GE? do you really need to buy the same part# ?
where are the 2 fuses on the hiseng for the heater and defrost located
Hi Bill -I have a GE side by side frig -TFX27EH- getting a display warning of "de" -when i unplug frig and replug it goes away; but returns later on-30year old frig -should I get new frig or repair??
thank you!!
Thanks good explanation
rtmoynahan2 Thanks!
I keep blowing heaters after a few months. The heater got so hot the plastic trim around the evaporator cover melted. Can this thermostat fail shorted? I just blew another heater.
Ice is forming on the exterior coils and, after a while, this ice will fall off. We hear it. Is this likely a thermostat problem?
Its have to be a specific one or its the same for all refrigerators
Bill do you have any knowledge on how to replace the ice and water dispenser on a french door Samsung refrigerator?
Great thanks man.
Removed device from freezer and checked with meter (open). Placed device in second freezer overnight, it tested (closed) only momentarily. I performed test inside the cold freezer multiple times. Shouldn't there be a longer delay for the device to 'warm up'?
I did a search on "common symptoms" for my fridge and water leaking down into my refrigerator from the freezer is classified as a "Defrost Thermostat" problem. Can someone help me confirm if this is the case, it's kind of annoying that I have to wipe the water out everyday. Is it because the Defrost thermostat isnt closing properly so thats why it melts the ice from the freezer side on top? I have an old whirlpool fridge model #: GR2SHKXKT01. Thanks for the help in advance guys!
is it possible for the defrost element to run too long... but only intermittently? I have my drain pan overflowing, the condenser coils were rather dirty so I cleaned those really well and put it back together. It seemed to work a few days and The door gaskets seem good and the ice cube door does not look suspect.... the ice cube water is shut off... and I would think if it were leaking it would be continuous not a intermittent overflow. ( after drying the pan out really well, 2 days later I continued to look at pan and it had only small amount of water in the pan and later that day it had dried) So I was thinking I was home free but today it has overflowed again. I am beginning to consider it being the adaptive defrost control board.
The temps inside the fridge and freezer seem to be pretty normal. Any ideas?
Thanks guy
Hi Bill,i have a Whirlpool fridge model # ED22TEXHW03,everything seems to work ok,but lately the issue i'm having is,it goes into defrost mode but never kicks back on to cool.If i turn the fridge temp control all the way off then back on,it clicks and starts cooling again.I really don't have any way to test the parts,but does that sound like the defrost timer or the defrost thermostat ? Thanks for all your helpful videos.
What cause a defrost timer to overheat ,I am bench testing it, it's running for about an hour now and it feels hot when I touch it ,is that normal working temperature or does the timer coil has polarity ?
Hi Bill could you help me,,my refrigerator was working fine,now it switches off the circuit breaker on the house,,when i turn the circuit breaker back to (on), the frige runs for about 5 seconds then kills the circuit breaker again,,any ideas?,cheers ken
Quick question: what if I’m getting resistance from the thermostat (not the control temperature) but no continuity at all? I did the test having the thermostat into a glass of water and ice for 10 minutes. Do I need to replace it?
I have a 2010 frigidare that I just install a 3 and 1 on the compressor because the freezer was not getting cold enough. I put a thermometer in the freezer and 4 hours later, it only reads 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Prior to putting in the thermometer I removed the freezer back panel and noticed big chunk of ice on the far right of the evap coil very close to the defrost thermostat. I melted the ice with a hair drier and removed the rest but freezer still stuck at 40 degrees. What else can I do?
I think my GE refrigerator's freezer defroster remains on too long which causes everything to melt, including ice in ice bin. It then re-freezes. Ice in ice cube bin becomes one solid piece of ice completely smooth on top. Frozen foods usually spoil. This only happens when temp. in house is low. We keep house temp at 50 degrees when we are not there, since this is a second home. Freezer seems to work fine when we are there and house temp is 70 and also in summer time. What is the problem?
I have a Kitchenaid fridge KBFA20ERSS01. The temperature in the freezer and fridge keeps fluctuating. I checked both the condenser and the fan motor and they are both fine. Check the board and it looks ok (no I did not test it). I did all the diagnostic test and everything is fine, even the defrost heater and defrost circuit, as well as fresh food thermistor and Freezer thermistor. Is the Thermostat the problem?? The temp of the freezer fluctuate from 0 to 20s F. fridge fluctuate from 38 to 50's.
Hey bud good video. I have a frigidaire gallery thing worked great for two years. I recently began to have problems with freezer temp rising from zero to about 25 degrees and staying there. I called service tech he came and replaced thermistor this was about 3 months ago it is doing it again.... I dont think the new thermistor could go bad that fast. I would appreciate any advice you could give me. I know what your thinking but cant afford a new fridge right now. FRIGIDAIRE SUCKS!!!!
thank you
Hi Bill, i have samsung rt32 double door refrigerator it's getting over colling in the fridge compartment so how to fix this
i just bought a new thermostat from Amazon for my whirlpool and tested it before putting it in - its not beeping on the ohm beep setting on my voltmeter. Does that mean its bad from the vendor?
Where is it placed? On inlet of evap or outlet?
Freezer is freezing,however the refrigerator compartment is slighly chilled,defrost thermostat and heater were bad,changed,18 hours since completed,what should i do?