Electronic Refrigeration Diagnostics

Training and Technical Support Team 07-PPT-RE-01 (Revised Jan 2009)

1
 Lets start with the non adaptive boards
(GE models: GBSC0,GBSC3,GBRC0,)
& (Moffat models MBRC0) MANUAL 31-9179

CON1 and CON2 – Thermistor

Con3

Pin 1 Neutral

Pin 3 EMI Filter, Lights, Icemaker

Pin 4 Defrost Heater, Return Duct

Heaters

Pin 5 Compressor & Fans

2
 Non adaptive Main control board

z The main board is located in the fresh food area.

z These models only have one thermistor connected to the

board.

z The resistance values of the thermistor has the same values as

our other thermistors.

z See resistance value chart on slide 17.

3
 Non adaptive Main control board cont.

z Element connected in series with a 55f defrost thermostat.

z Defrost every 18 hours.. 40 min just like a mechanical timer.

z Non adaptive meaning it only monitors the compressor running

time.

z The damper is controlled mechanical by the consumer.

4
 Non adaptive Main control board cont.

Fresh Food Thermistor Model GBSC0

The fresh food thermistor is located in the control housing in the
fresh food compartment. It is necessary to remove the control
housing to access the fresh food thermistor.

5
 Non adaptive Main control board cont.

The mechanical damper is located at the back of the control housing

6
 Non adaptive Main control board cont.
How to force defrost.

z UNPLUG THE REFRIGERATOR

FROM MAIN POWER

z USE A JUMPER AND

CONNECT “J1” AND “J2”

z PLUG THE REFRIGERATOR

BACK (WITH JUMPER ON)

z ONCE THE DEFROST IS

FINISHED, JUMPER NEEDS TO
BE REMOVED

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 Adaptive defrost

• Testing Sensors Page 13 to 16

• Thermistor values Page 17
• Testing Fans Page 18 to 21
• Testing Dampers Page 22 to 23
• Inverter compressor Page 30 to 35
• Testing Defrost Page 36 to 37
• Diagnostic Page 38 to 40

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 Adaptive Defrost with the main board
located at the back if the fridge.

9
 1
The connectors are identified by numbers starting with 1 on top 2
Except J7 on the left that starts with 9 on top. 3
GE Electronic Refrigeration 4
5
Diagnostics 6
7
8
J4 Connector
Comp. J8 Page 15
9
Defrost J9
Line J11
J12
Connections J15 Invertor Connector
Page 20 Page 21,22

J3 Connector Dampers
Page 13,14
BPO encoder diagnostics
J7 Connector
Page 18,19
J1 (Sensors) Connector
Page 4 to 8

J2 (Fans) Connector
Page 9, to 12
J5 Connector
Page 16,17 Min. 30k ohms to
Defrost operation page 15 & 16 active defrost
Inverter compressor page 17,18,19
Between pin 5 & 4
Training and Technical Support Team 07-PPT-RE-01 (Revised Jan 2009)
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 Adaptive Defrost Operation

z The main board looks to door opening and

compressor run times to determine when a
defrost can take place.
z This could be as often as every 8 hours, or
as long as a week of operation before
defrosting.
z The defrost cycle consists of 4 phases:

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 Adaptive Defrost Operation (cont)

1. Prechill: The main board locks on the compressor

for 2 hours to lower the temperature in the freezer
by as much as 20 degrees F. (-20 F )
2. Defrost: element on
3. 5 Minute Dwell time: The main board turns off the
defrost element but does not turn fans or
compressor on. To allow moisture to drop from the
evaporator .
4. Post Dwell: The main board turns back on the fans
and compressor.

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 J1 Connector Thermistor and Model Select
Connector (Overview)

¾Pin 1 through 5 are the thermistor connections. Pin 5 is the common lead for
the thermistors.

¾The refrigerator thermistors have a negative temperature coefficient. As the

temperature inside the refrigerator becomes colder, the resistance values of the
thermistor increases.

¾The encoder board or temperature setting interface sends a signal to the main
board stating the temperatures the consumer has selected.The processor on the
main board converts the selected temperatures to resistance values.The main
board then monitors the thermistor’s resistance values. Based on these resistance
values, the processor on the main board determines what actions it has to
perform.

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 J1 Connector Thermistor and Model Select
Connector (Overview) (cont.)

¾Measure thermistor resistance with the wires disconnected from the board.
Measure voltages with the wires connected to the board. Compare the
resistance found to the temperature-resistance chart. (page 6)

¾If the refrigerator is not defrosting, 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 60°F or 7K Ohms.

¾Pin 6 thru 9 are the model select connections.

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 J1 Connector Thermistors

Pin 1 «FF1» Thermistor. Not used on all models. If used, measure

thermistor resistance by reading the wire connected to this pin and the wire
connected to Pin 5. Measure this thermistor voltage by reading between
Pin 1 and Pin 5. Voltage should be between 2.8 and 3.5 V DC with a good
thermistor.

Pin 2 «FF2» Thermistor. Not used on all models. Measure the thermistor
resistance by reading between the wire connected to this Pin and the wire
connected tp Pin 5. Measure this thermistor voltage by reading between
Pin 2 and Pin 5 Voltage should be between 2.8 and 3.5 V DC with a good
thermistor.

Note:
a. A bad thermistor will read below 1 or
above 4 VDC
b. A reading above 4 VDC is normal for freezer
thermistor pin 3 to 5, if temperature in
freezer is extremely cold (EX: -29°f).
15
 J1 Connector Thermistors (cont.)

Pin 3 «FZ» Thermistor. Based on the resistance of this thermistor, the

processor on the main board determines when to turn the compressor on
or off. Measure thermistor resistance by reading between the wire
connected to this pin and the wire connected to Pin 5. Measure this
thermistor voltage by reading between Pim 3 and Pin 5. Voltage should
be between 2.8 and 3.5 V DC with a good thermistor.

Pin 4 Evaporator Thermistor based on resistance of this thermistor, the

processor on the main board determines if the heater will come on for
defrost and when to terminate defrost Measure thermistor resistance by
reading between the wire connected to this Pin and the wire connected
to Pin 5. Measure this thermistor voltage by reading between Pin 4 and
Pin 5. Voltage should be between 2.8 and 3.5 V DC with a good
thermistor.
Pin 5. Common connection for thermistors and model select. (+5 V DC)
Measure supply voltage for thermistors by reading between this Pin and
Pin 3 on connector J4.

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 Thermistor Values

Temperature in Resistance in k ohms Temperature in Resistance in k ohms

Degrees F degrees F

50 10 K
-40 166.8 K
59 7.8 K
-31 120.5 K
68 6.2 K
-22 88 K
77 5K
-13 65 K
88 4K
-4 48.4 K
95 3.2 K
5 36.4 K
104 2.6 K
14 27.6 K
113 2.2 K
23 21 K
122 1.8 K
32 16.3 K
131 1.5 K
41 12.7 K
140 1.2 K

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 J2 Connector Fan Motor Connections

¾ The J2 connector is for all of the fan motors.

¾ Some pins might not have a wire connected to them depending upon model features.

¾ If evaporator fan is not operating, check the resistor located by this connector. If it is
burnt, replace the evaporator fan motor and the main board.

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 J2 Connector Fan Motor Connections (cont.)

¾ If you measure no voltage at this connector, disconnect wiring and recheck

voltages. If you now measure the correct voltage, check condenser fan and
wiring to condenser fan for short to ground.
¾ To physically test fan motors, you may use a 9 volt DC battery. Connect white
wire to the negative terminal, jump red and yellow together and connect to
postive terminal. A good motor will run slowly.

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 J2 Connector Fan Motor Connections

Pin 1. Evaporator Fan Tachometer provides feed back from fan

motor. This feedback tells the processor what speed the fan motor
is running. Check for voltage between Pin 1 and Pin 3. The voltage
should be 6.3 V DC.

Pin 2. Personality input to the board on some models with a FF fan

motor.

Pin 3. Common lead to all fan motors. Pin 3 to Pin 8, 13.7 V DC.
Pin 4. Evaporator Fan. Pin 4 to Pin 3. Between 4 V DC and 12.4 V
DC, +/- 10 %, depending on fan speed.

To test Evaporator fan motor look for 12 volts dc between pin 3 and pin 8
AND 4,8,or 12 volts dc between pin 3 and pin 4.

To test Condenser fan motor look for 12 volts dc between pin 3 and pin 8
and 8 or 12 volts dc between pin 3 and pin 5.
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 J2 Connector Fan Motor Connections (cont.)

Pin 5. Condenser Fan.(Side by Side and top mount freezer

models) Pin 5 to Pin 3. Between 4 V DC and 12.4 V DC, +/- 10
%, depending on fan speed on inverter models, 12.4V DC on
non-inverter models.
For Bottom Mount refrigerators. Pin 5 to Pin 3. Between 4 V
DC and 12.4 V DC, +/- 10 %, depending on fan speed on inverter
models
For single speed fan motors a reading between 7.5 V DC and 8.5 V
DC is normal.

Pin 6. Fresh Food Fan (when used) Pin 6 to Pin 3. Between 4 V

DC and 12.4 V DC, +/- 10 %, depending on fan speed.

Pin 7. Quick ChillMC Fan (when used). Pin 7 to Pin 3. 13.7 V DC,
+/- 10%.

Pin 8. Fan power supply. +13.7 V DC. Pin 3 to Pin 8.

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 J3 Connector Damper motor and Encoder
Connections
Pins 1 thru 4 are the damper stepper motor connections.
Pins 5 thru 10 are the Encoder board connection.

1
J3 Pin 1 to J4 Pin 3, 6 V DC Traveling Voltage or 2.3 V DC 2
standing voltage. 3
4
J3 Pin 2 to J4 Pin 3, 6 V DC Traveling Voltage or 2.3 VDC
5
standing voltage.
J3 Pin 3 to J4 Pin 3, 6 V DC Traveling Voltage or 2.3 V DC 1

standing voltage. 2
3
J3 Pin 4 to J4 Pin 3, 6 V DC Traveling voltage or 2.3 V DC
4
standing voltage.

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 J3 Connector Damper motor and Encoder
Connections (cont.)

J3 Pin 5. Encoder Connection. Not used on all models.

J3 Pin 6. Encoder Connection. Not used on all models.
J3 Pin 7. Encoder Connection. Not used on all models.
J3 Pin 8. Encoder Connection. Not used on all models.
J3 Pin 9. Encoder Connection . Not used on all models.
See Encoder table on how to diagnose the encoder.

J3 Pin 10. Double Function Pin Encoder Connection Not on all

models or on inverter compressor models used to transmit speed
data to compressor inverter module on some models. 1.5 to 3 V
DC measured between J3 Pin 10 and J4 Pin 3.

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 J4 Connector
FF,FZ, Dispenser, and Quick Chill
Drawer Serial Data
Communications Connections
Some pins might not have a wire connected to them depending upon
model features.

Pin 1 Dispenser, FF, FZ, And Quick Chill Drawer Data

Communications on some models.
Pin 2 Dispenser Board, FF,FZ, And Quick Chill Drawer +13V DC
Power supply.
Pin 3 Board DC Common Ground.
Pin 4 Dispenser Board Input 1. (Input from the Dispenser
Board on some models)
Pin 5 Dispenser Board Input 2 (Input from the Dispenser
Board on some models)

To test power supply measure voltage between pin

2 power supply and pin 3 board DC common
ground should read +13VDC

24
 J5 Connector Quick Chill Drawer
Connections – Not used on all models

Measure thermistor resistance with the wires disconnected from the board.
Measure voltages with the wires connected to the board

Pin 1. Chiller Drawer Damper Motor Connection 13.7 V DC

Pin 1to Pin 2.
Pin 2. Chiller Drawer Damper Motor Connection 13.7 V DC
Pin 1 to Pin 2.
Pin 3. Chiller Drawer Damper Motor Connection 13.7 V DC
Pin 3 to Pin 4 Not used on all models.

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 J5 Connector Quick Chill Drawer Connections –
Not used on all models (cont.)

Pin 4. Chiller Drawer Damper Motor Connection 13.7 V DC

Pin 3 to Pin 4 Not used on all models.

Pin 5. Chiller Drawer Thermistor Connection. Measure

resistance by reading between wires connected tp Pin 5 and
Pin 6. Measure voltage by reading between Pin 5 and J 4 Pin
3 Voltage should be 5V DC.
Pin 6. Chiller Drawer Thermistor Connection. Measure
resistance by reading between wires connected to Pin 5 and
Pin 6. Measure voltage by reading between J4 Pin 3 and Pin 6.
Voltage should be between 2.8 and 3.5 V DC with a good
thermistor.

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 J7 Connector 120 V AC Outputs and Inputs

J7
Pin 9. Neutral Connection to Main Board.

Pin 8. Blank.

Pin 7. Input FZ Door 120V AC With door open between Pin 7

and Pin 9.

Pin 6. Input FF Door 120V CA With the door open between Pin
6 and Pin 9.

Pin 5. Output Quick Chill Heater 120V CA measured between

Pin 5 and Pin 9.

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 J7 Connector 120 V AC Outputs and Inputs (cont.)

Pin 4. Input for auger from FZ door interlock switch. 120V AC

between Pin 4 and Pin 9 with the FZ door closed.

Pin 3. Output to dispenser water valve solenoid. 120V AC

between Pin 3 and Pin 9 with the FZ Door closed and cradle
depressed.
Pin 2. Output to cube solenoid with Fz Door closed, cubes
selected, and cradle switch depressed, 120V AC between Pin 2
and Pin 9.

Pin 1. Output to auger motor. 120V AC between Pin 1 and Pin

9. FZ Door closed, cubes or crushed selected, and switch
depressed.

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 J8, J9, J11 and J12 Connections
120 VAC input and output connections

J8 Output to compressor 120 VAC measured between J8 and

J7, Pin 9. J8
J9 Output to Defrost Circuit 120 VAC mesured between J9
and J7, Pin 9.
J9
J11 Line in to Board. 120 VAC measured between J11 and J11
J7, Pin 9.

J12 Output to Monogram drain pan heater 120 VAC

measured between J12 et J7 Pin 9. The pan heater is on
only during defrost.

J8
J11 J9
J12
J12

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 J15 Connector Inverter compressor

The main control board will send a PWM run signal from the J15
connector of between 4-6 VDC effective voltage to the inverter (all
wires must be connected). The inverter will select compressor speed
(voltage output) based on this signal.
The main control board will only send a run signal to the inverter
when the compressor should be on.

If the J15 wiring is disconnected,

the board output will measure
between 10-12 VDC

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 J15 Connector (cont.)

™The inverter controls compressor speed by frequency variation and

by Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). Changing frequency and PWM
will cause
an effective voltage between 80 and 230 VAC to be received at the
compressor.

Frequency can be measured at the J15 connector with a proper Digital

multimeters. (available from mabe, part # AM220)
Low speed (1710 rpm) - 57 Hz
Medium speed (2100 rpm) - 70 Hz
High speed (3120 rpm) - 104 Hz

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 Inverter compressor diagnosis
WARNING: When the refrigerator is plugged in, 120 VAC is always
present at the inverter.

¾ The compressor leads must be connected to measure voltage

output. If the compressor wires are not connected, or if an open
occurs in one of the 3 lead wires or in the compressor, the inverter will
stop voltage output.
¾When checking inverter voltage output, connect the test-meter
leads to any 2 of the 3 compressor lead wires at the inverter plug
(plug should be connected). The same reading should be measured
between any 2 of the 3 wires.

J15 connector
4-6 vdc output to
inverter (dictate
compressor running
speed)
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 Inverter compressor diagnosis (cont.)

z When measuring signal voltage (from the main control board J15)
at the inverter, a reading of 4-6 VDC will be measured with all
wires connected. If the inverter wiring is disconnected, the board
output will measure between 10-12 VDC.
z To test, measure 120 VAC into inverter and 4-6 VDC at J15

J15 connector
4-6 vdc output to
inverter (dictate
compressor
running speed)
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 Inverter Troubleshooting Sequence

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DIRECT-START THE COMPRESSOR. THE COMPRESSOR OPERATES ON

A 3-PHASE POWER SUPPLY. APPLYING 120 VAC TO COMPRESSOR WILL PERMANENTLY
DAMAGE THE UNIT. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO START THE COMPRESSOR WITHOUT AN
INVERTER.

1. Check for 120 volts at the inverter power connector

2. Check for 4-6 VDC at J15 on the control board when the compressor
should be running.
• Harness disconnected should have 10 to 12vdc. No voltage, replace
the main control board

3. Check for compressor vibration to see if the compressor is running.

(Disconnect power from unit and place a hand on the compressor and
reconnect power and feel for vibration).

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 Inverter Troubleshooting Sequence (cont.)

4. check for a resistance of 9 to 11 ohms between any 2 of the 3 pins

on the compressor.

• If any 2 are open or shorted, replace compressor

• When ordering a replacement compressor order both
the compressor and inverter. Replace the compressor
first. If it fails to start, replace the inverter.

5. If all checks pass, replace inverter

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 Diagnosing Defrost Operation

1. Verify that you have a full frost pattern and a No Defrost condition
2. Remove main board cover from rear of unit
3. With unit unplugged, use an ohmmeter to check resistance between
Defrost pin on J9 and neutral pin on J7 connector. A good circuit should
read aprox 27 ohms. (Alternately, with the unit plugged in you may use a
flat blade screw driver to short between defrost pin J9 and the line pin
J11.
4. With an amp probe on the defrost wire going to J9 you should read an
amperage reading of abut 4 amps if the defrost circuit is good.

Defrost
Line

Neutral

36
 Diagnosing Defrost Operation (cont.)

4. If resistance is good or heater draws amperage, check the evaporator

thermistor ( this is the device that terminates defrost) on the J1 connector
between pin 4 and pin 5. ( do this test with the connector removed from
the board, measuring at the connector) Compare resistance found to the
resistance/temperature chart on page 6. Resistance should be greater than
36,000 ohms.

5. If good, change the main board.

J1

37
 Some models with a filter reset pad can be entered
into diagnostic mode to test different components.
Examples. Defrost, Damper, Change from F/C.

Enter the diagnostic mode by pressing both the freezer temperature

(colder and warmer) pads and the refrigerator temperature (colder and
warmer) pads simultaneously.

All four pads must be held for approximately 3 seconds. Blinking "0's" in
both displays indicate the refrigerator has entered the test mode.

Filter reset pad

38
 X

X See notes on the next page for test marked with an X

39 Note: # 1 for sensors & Note # 2 for testing defrost.
 Sensor testing and forced defrost.
Note: To check the sensor resistance go to the back of
the fridge at the main board at the J1 plug.

Note 1. Display order is #1) Fresh Food 1 #2) Fresh Food 2 #3) Custom
Cool #4) Evaporator #5) Freezer
Thermistor test results are: P = Pass 0 = Fail S = Short to 5 VDC B = Bad
amplifier (replace control)

Note 2. You must enter the defrost test again to toggle the defrost heater
off at the end of the test.

Refer to Service Guide 31-9072 for additional information

The heater will not come on if the evaporator thermistor is warm.

40