[AT] Off topic but need advice.. refrigerator defrost timer.

[szabelski at wildblue.net]

Brad is right in assuming heat as a possible reason. Most refrigerators and freezes specify about 3 inches of space on the sides and the back for air flow. Dust/dirt on the coils also causes additional problems because of a loss of heat transfer. When we used to test hardware for “end of life” we would simply put it in an autoclave or oven, and raise the temperature to a specified value for a specified period of time to age it. The temperature and time were specified by the weakest part/material. We could put hardware in a forty year “end of life” condition in a matter of a couple of weeks. We would monitor the hardware during the test and determine how long something could be expected to last before any issues showed up. Sometimes we found that an item would last forty years with no problems expected, and sometimes we determined it would require periodic maintenance every so often in order to last forty years. Besides the thermal aging we also did testing of the item at extreme cold conditions, extreme humidities, various vibrations scenarios, and ballistic shock. Doing the ballistic shook was always our favorite test because we got to use high explosive rounds and explosive devices to determine an items probable survivability rate under battle conditions.

Carl


----- Original Message -----
From: Brad Loomis <brad.loomis at gmail.com>
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Mon, 07 Jun 2021 16:49:42 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: [AT] Off topic but need advice.. refrigerator defrost timer.

Heat is probably the culprit. And they aren't a high level of precision. A
cheap clock motor, plastic gears and levers opening and closing contacts.
And some manufacturers are better than others. I have a sheet of plastic
made for moving appliances to save the flooring, but if you put some dish
soap on the floor that will help things slide and not rip the floor. On
mine I can take a 1/4" ratcheting box and jack up the front, raise the
levelers so the wheels actually work. That saves the floor. KitchenAid,
i.e. Whirlpool. I'm underwhelmed with Korean refrigeration. Lots of doo
dads and buzzers, but the guts...And parts? Whereas a Whirlpool product,
many name brands, are all over the place.

On Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 11:48 AM Cecil Bearden <crbearden at copper.net> wrote:

> Brad, this one is just like the last one that I gave up on.   It is behind
> the toe kick, but at the very back of the cabinet.  Where I have to pull
> the cabinet out to get to.  The last time with the other one, I ended up
> with a tear in the linoleum.  This is in a recess next to the main walkway
> in the kitchen.  When it is pulled out, I have to go outside to the other
> door to get to the front of the cabinet..   I will be so glad when I finish
> remodeling my house so I can get back in it full time and let someone else
> have this thing....   Why would 3 refrigerators have the defrost go bad in
> the same place????
> Cecil
> On 6/7/2021 9:13 AM, Brad Loomis wrote:
>
> As a refrigeration mechanic, not much domestic stuff, I can tell you
> defrost timers are relatively cheap and easy to replace. Usually a 1/4" nut
> driver and maybe needle nose to pull the terminals. Behind the toe kick on
> most. They are in a dusty environment and not totally sealed so...
> If you like any other pointers let me know. Could be the limit, element,
> or the drain heater.
> Brad
>
> On Mon, Jun 7, 2021, 6:58 AM Cecil Bearden <crbearden at copper.net> wrote:
>
>> We have replaced 3 refrigerators in the last 8 years.  They keep freezing
>> up on the coils.  This is in my dad's old Double wide, a really dificult
>> place to pull the refrig out of.  First one just quit cooling and we
>> replaced it with one we had from 15 years prior.  within a year it froze up
>> and the defrost timer had burned out.  We just took the bottom of the
>> freezer out and thawed it and put back together.  Did this for 2 years,
>> then bought another refrigerator from Home Depot a year ago and it is now
>> freezing up.  Looks like defrost timer is burned up again...    WTH???
>>
>> Cecil
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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