How to test the defrost board?

[tcape]

I had a fridge today, ED2VHEXTB01 4 years old, coil was frozen, thawed it manually with a heat gun then applied 115 to the Heater directly, and the heater works. The Defrost Board is located in the control cabinet and actually looks like it was designed to use a conventional control because of the  screws that hold the board in place.

Is there anyway to force a defrost?
Is it common for the defrost termination temp switch to fail?

Under these circumstances can we assume a defrost board failure?

Thanks for any replies

Tony

[jumptrout51]

You should check the defrost thermostat in the freezer first.
This unit has a standard defrost timer that can be turned clockwise to initiate defrost.

[AJ]

This unit has a standard defrost timer that can be turned clockwise to initiate defrost.

Some of these models I believe have the old mechanical timer and some have the defrost control board.

What I would have done is to ohm out the heater and the defrost thermostat before defrosting everything. You know the heater works by the way you tested it.

The defrost thermostat should test 'closed' or shorted with a meter when it was covered in frost/ice if it was working.

If both the defrost heater and defrost thermostat tested ok with a meter I would go ahead and replace the defrost board.

[JWWebster]

If you have high humidity like we have here in the swamp you can spin that timer around several times and it will go another year or more before having to be replaced. My GE freezer timer hung up 8 times in 7 years. Never did replace the timer. Compressor took a dump after Katrina.

[tcape]

This unit has the control board not the mechanical timer.

I ordered a defrost board and thermostat and I will just stock whichever one I don't need...

[JWWebster]

Whirlpool adaptive defrost manual


How to force defrost begins on page 9