Checking defrost on Electronic refrigerators

We have a number of refrigerators with electronic boards.

This p
presentation is to simplify
p y the different boards and to
understand how: To activate (Forced Defrost)
They are identified as style A, B, C, D, E & F
A B C

D E F

Revised April15,2011
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Style A: Models with the electronic boards located at the back of the
fridge or on top if a Monogram. Service letter 08-RE-08

Style B: Bottom mount 20 cu. Ft.

Models: GBSCO,GBSC3,MBRC0
Electronic control board located in the fresh food control housing
with a temperature dial. Service letter 09-RE-03

Style C: Top mount 16,17 & 18 cu. Ft.

Models: GTH16BBC, GTH16BBX, GTH16IBX, GTH16ISX & HTH17CBC
Electronic control board located in the fresh food control housing with
a temperature
t t dial
di l & a mechanical
h i l control.
t l Service
S i letter
l tt 10-RE-06
10 RE 06

Style D: Top mount 20 cu. Ft.

Models: GTRC0HBZ,GTRL0HBZ,GTRS0HBZ,GTRC0KBZ,GTRS0KBZ,GTRS0KBZ.
Electronic control board located in the fresh food control housing with
a temperature dial. Service letter 11-RE-03

Style E: Top mount 9 & 12 cu. Ft

Models: MTR09U & MTR12Y
Electronic control board located in the fresh food control housing.
See Service Letter 11-RE-04

y F: Combi 12 cu. Ft.

Style
Model: GBC12GA
Electronic control board located on top of the fridge under the fridge cover.
See Manual 09-MAN-RE-02 2
Style A: Found on Side X Sides, Bottom mount &
Monogram
g Refrigerators.
g

3
Tools needed for proper diagnostic
Toolsneededforproperdiagnostic

4
ThermistorresistancetoactualtemperatureChart

5
Style A continued
DefrostProblem
1. Verify that you have a full frost pattern and a No Defrost condition.

2. Unplug unit and remove main board cover from rear of unit.

3. With unit unplugged,

p gg , use an ohmmeter to check resistance between the J9
defrost pin and J7 neutral input. A
good circuit should read approximately 27 ohms.

4. You can also check the defrost element for amperage:

Put an amp probe on the wire going to the J9 defrost pinpin.
With the unit plugged in use a screwdriver with a good insulated handle and
short out between the J9 defrost pin and J11 line input pin.
Note: This can also be done with compressor running.
A
Approximately
i t l 3 amps iindicates
di t a good d series
i circuit
i it which
hi h consists
i t off a
defrost element and a overload thermostat. (Safety Overload 140 F)

5. If amperage is present the next component to check is the defrost sensor on

the J1 connector between Pin 4 & 5.
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Style A continued
DefrostProblem(cont.)
Please Note:

On these electronic models the thermostat on the evaporator is

not a defrost thermostat.
It is a safety device. (Safety Overload 140 F)

The defrost is controlled by the defrost sensor or thermistor

that is fastened to the evaporator .
(part # WR55X10025)

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Style A continued
DefrostProblem(cont.)
If element resistance is good or heater draws amperage
amperage, check the
evaporator thermistor. (this is the device that terminates defrost) Measure the
resistance of the evaporator thermistor before defrosting the refrigerator. An
evaporator thermistor that is out of calibration can prevent the main board
from turning the defrost heaters on. To initiate a defrost cycle the main
control board must read at least 30 to 40 K Ohms from the defrost thermistor
located on the evaporator. Main control board will terminate the defrost cycle
when thermistor read a temperature of at least 60F
60 F or 7K Ohms.
With the J1 plug disconnected, measure the resistance at the plug between
pin 4 and common pin 5.
Use the ((temperature
p to resistance chart)) to verify
y the correct resistance.

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Style B: Top Mount with control inside the fresh food compartment.
Models: GBSC0, GRSC3 & MBRC0
See service letter 09-RE-03

Also visit our technical web site to find Manual 31-9179

Non adaptive Electronic Board with a temperature dial.

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Style B continued

To activate (Forced Defrost)

1. Unplug the refrigerator from the main power.
2. Use a jumper and connect it to J1
J1 AND J2
J2
3. Plug in the refrigerator (WITH THE JUMPER ON).
4. When the defrost test is finished remove the jumper
to return to normal operation.

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Style C: Top Mount 16,17 & 18 cu. Ft.
Models: GTH16BBC, GTH16BBX, GTH16IBX, GTH16ISX & HTH17CBC
See service letter 10-RE-06
10 RE 06 on how to force defrost
defrost.
Notice:MechanicalTemperatureControl
Electronic Board

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Style C continued

To activate (Forced Defrost)

Open the fresh food door and within 5 seconds:

Actuate the light switch 3 times & close the door.

If the unit was in the defrost mode,, it will change

g it to the run mode.

If it was in the run mode, it will change it to the defrost mode.

To alternate between run mode and defrost mode,

repeat actuating the light switch 3 times.

If that does not change modes, then the ADC is defective.

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Style D: Top Mount 20 cu. ft.
Models: GTRC0HBZ, GTRL0HBZ, GTRS0HBZ, GTRC0KBZ,
GTRS0KBZ GTRS0KBZ.
GTRS0KBZ, GTRS0KBZ

See service letter 11-RE-03 on how to force defrost.

Note: Same resistance chart used on our Side by Sides & Bottom Mounts.

Electronic Board & temperature dial

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Style D continued

To activate (Forced Defrost)

Note: Run
N R the h system ffor about
b 15 minutes
i
before this procedure to make sure the defrost
termination
i i thermostat
h connectedd in
i series
i
with the defrost element is closed.

This thermostat opens

p at 64F and closes when
the evaporator temperature decreases to 23F.

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Style D continued To activate (Forced Defrost)

Unplug the fridge. Get access to the electronic board located in the control
h i Fig.
housing. Fi 1
Install a jumper wire (Fig. 2) between P1 and VCC on the board. (see Fig 3)
Re-connect the fridge. Once plugged in the fridge will run for a few seconds
then turn off.
off The defrost relay will then turn on for 20 seconds and turn off
for 20 seconds. This will continue as long as the jumper is connected to P1 &
VCC on the board.
With an amp probe on the blue wire from CON 1 pin 2) you should read
approximately 2.5
2 5 to 3 amps indicating that the defrost element & the
overload thermostat are good.
After the defrost test, unplug the fridge and remove the jumper wire.
Note: Once p power is applied
pp to the fridge
g it can take up
p to 15 minutes for the
compressor to come back on. This is normal.

Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3 15

Style E: Top Mount 09 & 12 cu. ft
Models: MTR09U & MTR12Y
See service letter 11-RE-04 on how to force defrost.

These electronic boards operate almost the same way as a mechanical timer
except that they have a 10 minute dwell time at the end off the defrost
f cycle.

The 10 minute dwell time is to allow defrost water to drain out. During the dwell
time the compressor and the evaporator fan are not running.

The defrost is controlled by the board accumulating compressor run time only.

The defrost
Th d f t will
ill llastt ffor 30 minutes
i t unless
l tterminated
i t db by th
the d
defrost
f t ththermostat
t t
connected in series with the element.

The fresh food and freezer temperature

p are controlled by
y a single
g thermistor.

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Style E continued
To activate (Forced Defrost)
Make sure the fridge has been cooling for at least 15 minutes to ensure the defrost
termination thermostat (DTS) is closed.
closed
Unplug the fridge as a safety precaution.
To gain access to the control board remove two screws from the control housing
to the ceiling.
ceiling
Apply an amp probe to the blue wire from the connector to the board. (Fig. 1)
With an alligator clip jumper wire, (Fig. 2) connect between J1 and J2. (Fig. 3)

Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3

Reconnect the fridge to power.

Note: Check for 120 volts AC between the orange & the blue wire. wire (Fig.
(Fig 1)
A reading of approximately 2 amps indicates that the element & defrost
thermostat are good.
Note: Don
Dontt forget to remove your alligator clip jumper wire when finished
finished.

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Style
S y e F:: Combi
Co b Bt.. Mt.. 12 ct.
c . ft..

Models
GBC12GAXWW

GBC12GAXBB

GBC12GAXSS

GBC12GAXLSS

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Style F continued

Manual295659
Customerinterfaceboardontopofthefridge

Themainelectronicboardislocatedunderthetopcoverunderametalelectricboxcover.

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Style F continued
Thermistor resistance to actual temperature chart
For Combi Fridges
g only y
Note: Different values from our other electronic fridges.

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Style F continued To activate (Forced Defrost)

Unplug the fridge for a few seconds & plug it back in.

Press & hold the 2nd (Super Freeze) & the 3rd (On/Off) buttons of the
freezer control for 3 seconds.

The compressor will stop & 3 beeps will be heard.

The defrost element will be energized for 99 seconds if the sensor is cold
enough.

The
Th display
di l will
ill count down
d from
f 99 to 0 sec.

Press Freezer ON/OFF switch to turn fridge back to pre-selected settings.

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Style F continued

SENSORS
This fridge has 4 sensors:

One for top section air flow.

One in the bottom section air flow.

One connected on the bottom section evaporator. (defrost)

One connected on the non serviceable top section

evaporator. (defrost)

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