Guide to Easily and Thoroughly Check Your Refrigerator Timer

The timer is a vital component of a refrigerator, controlling the cooling cycle and preventing excessive freezing, ensuring stable operation. Regularly checking and maintaining the timer can help you avoid unexpected issues and save on repair costs. Let's explore how to check the timer through the information in this article from Mytour Supermarket.

Guide to Easily and Thoroughly Check Your Refrigerator Timer

The fridge timer, also known as the ice defrost timer, is a crucial component of the refrigerator. It has the responsibility of managing and controlling the heating, cooling, defrosting, and thawing cycles. The primary function of the timer is to ensure that the fridge maintains the necessary temperature and operates steadily without causing excessive frost on the evaporator coil.

Fridge Timer

The timer operates based on time cycles or specific schedules to control the activation/deactivation of the compressor and other devices in the refrigerator. Malfunctions or damage to the timer can lead to the fridge not maintaining the cold temperature or causing excessive frost on the evaporator coil, resulting in undesired operational issues.

The refrigerator timer is commonly placed behind the fridge in the electrical box near the compressor or in the vegetable compartment, with the specific location varying based on the model and design of each product.

The refrigerator timer comprises essential components, including:

• Single-phase AC motor (M): Functions similarly to the compressor motor
• Motor shaft
• Reducer gear for transmission
• Cam wheel with a speed of 1 revolution/24 hours

Structure of the refrigerator timer

When the refrigerator is powered, contacts 1-4 of the timer close, and motor M rotates for the necessary time for the defrosting process. Simultaneously, the camshaft acts to open contacts 1-4 of the timer and close contacts 1-2.

Electricity passes through relay -7, then through fuse 70, and continues through the resistor wire to heat the evaporator coil, activating the ice defrosting process. If the temperature of the evaporator coil exceeds -7 °C, relay -7 will continue to keep the contacts open, preventing power supply to the heating resistor wire. During this time, the timer continues to rotate.

After approximately 15 minutes, contacts 1-2 of the timer open, and contacts 1-4 close, allowing power supply to the compressor, initiating the refrigeration process of the refrigerator.

In this way, the refrigerator timer operates in cycles, controlling functions such as cooling, ice defrosting, and heating to ensure efficient operation and maintain the ideal temperature of the refrigerator.

The refrigerator timer operates in cycles to maintain the ideal temperature

The refrigerator timer serves crucial purposes, including:

• Start and stop the compressor: The timer controls the process of stopping and starting the refrigerator compressor. When the temperature inside the refrigerator reaches the set level, the timer turns off the compressor to save energy. As the temperature rises, the timer will restart the compressor to cool the refrigerator
• Ice defrosting and thawing: The timer makes the refrigerator perform the periodic ice defrosting and thawing process. The timer turns off the compressor and activates the defrosting resistor system to melt the frost on the evaporator coil. Depending on the design, each timer may have different ice defrosting times, such as 6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours (typically around 8 hours)
• Maintain stable temperature: The timer ensures that the refrigerator operates steadily and maintains the ideal temperature inside, preventing significant temperature fluctuations
• Energy efficiency: The timer helps save energy by stopping the compressor when the temperature is low enough and only restarting it when necessary, thereby reducing power consumption

The timer makes the refrigerator perform the periodic ice defrosting and thawing process

To check the refrigerator Timer, follow these steps:

Step 1: Power off

Firstly, ensure your refrigerator is powered off. Unplug it from the electrical socket for safety.

Step 2: Check resistance

Use an analog multimeter to check the resistance of the timer. Measure the resistance between the pins on the timer as follows:

Measure between pin 1 and pin 3 of the timer. If the needle jumps halfway on the multimeter, the Timer is functioning well. If the needle doesn't move or jumps 100% to the right, the Timer is faulty.

Use an analog multimeter to check the resistance of the timer

Step 3: Rotate the rotary shaft

Rotate the timer shaft and listen for the 'click' sound. Measure the resistance at the power supply contacts for the ice defrosting system, which are pins 2 and 3.

When the resistance is a few Ohms, gently continue rotating until you hear the 'click' sound.

Step 4: Check the power supply contacts for the compressor

Measure the resistance between pin 3 and pin 4 of the Timer. These are the contacts that supply power to the compressor.

Important Note: Checking and repairing your refrigerator timer should be carried out by an experienced individual or contacting a reputable refrigerator maintenance center to ensure safety and effectiveness.

We hope this article has provided you with valuable information on how to check your refrigerator timer. Understanding the timer and how to test it can help you maintain the operational efficiency of your refrigerator and ensure that food is always stored at the appropriate temperature.