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What is a Refrigerator Timer?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 37,885
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A refrigerator timer, also known as a defrost timer, is a device which is used to regulate the amount of frost in a refrigerator. It turns on periodically to allow frost in the fridge to melt so that a frost buildup does not occur. Most modern refrigerators use a timer to keep their frost levels relatively stable. If a fridge starts to accumulate frost, doesn't cool properly, or is too cold, these can be signs that the timer is defective and needs to be replaced.

This device can be located in a number of different locations inside the fridge, including behind the control panel or grille in the freezer. It is a crude clock which switches back and forth between a defrost mode and a regular cooling mode. When the refrigerator timer turns into defrost mode, the cooling functions of the refrigerator are turned off and the defrost heater is activated to melt frost which has built up in the freezer. When the timer returns to cooling mode, the refrigerator is allowed to cool again and the defrost heater is turned off. The overall internal temperature of the fridge is kept in a safe range.

Historically, people had to defrost their refrigerators by hand. This involved emptying the refrigerator, unplugging it, and allowing all the ice inside the melt. In addition to being a time consuming process, this could also be a food safety issue, because foods might become dangerously warm while they were held outside the refrigerator. For this reason, many companies began developing so-called “frost free” refrigerators which use a refrigerator timer to regulate the defrosting process.

The refrigerator timer can eventually fail. People can test their timers with the assistance of a multitester. Power to the fridge should be cut so that the device can be removed. Then, one probe on a multitester can be applied to the common terminal (often marked “C” or “3”) on the refrigerator timer. The other probe can be applied to one of the three remaining terminals on the timer, one at a time to get a reading for each terminal. The readings for one to two of the terminals should be “zero,” while the other one or two should read “infinity.” When the refrigerator timer is manually adjusted to the other setting, these readings should be reversed. If the readings do not follow this pattern, the device needs to be replaced.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a EasyTechJunkie researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon993887 — On Dec 26, 2015

Yes, the timer is located behind the refrigerator (mine is a Samsung SR 259 model). Unplug the power and undo the screws of the timer. Note the wiring colors position and fix the new timer with the correct wiring colors. put in the screws and put the power plug.

Leave it for 12 hours and you will see the difference.

By manykitties2 — On Jul 15, 2011

If you suspect that your refrigerator timer is broken is it easy to fix yourself or should you get a repairman in to do the work?

My husband is pretty handy around the house, but it seems to me when looking at the refrigerator that getting to the timer in order to change it would be a huge task. It looks like at least part of the refrigerator timer is locked into the casing of the fridge.

Has anyone had any luck changing a refrigerator timer by himself or herself? If you did do you have any tips for those of us who want to give it a try?

By lonelygod — On Jul 14, 2011

You will know if your refrigerator timer is broken if your fridge either gets a really large build up of ice or you find excess water when you normally would haven't any leaks. For my fridge the refrigerator timer started to go after about 5 years of ownership. This wasn't too bad, as I had picked up an extended warranty for situations just like this one.

When the repairmen came to look at my refrigerator it didn't take them to long to figure out what was wrong so I just let them haul it away. I ended up getting a new one out of my company though I am not sure if it was because of just the refrigerator timer or if they found something else that was wrong as well.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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