Do-it-yourself refrigerator thermostat check

From a technological point of view, the design of the refrigerator is a combination of such components as a thermoregulation system, a start relay and a blower compressor.

All nodes may be faulty, while different causes may have the same symptoms. Very often, when a starting relay is suspected during repair, the reason is a breakdown of the thermostat. To understand how to check the standard thermostat of a conventional refrigerator, we will consider further.

If the thermostat fails, this does not mean that the refrigerator will immediately stop working. However, incorrect information about the current temperature will adversely affect his work. If the part is broken, it is not necessary to buy a new device. There are malfunctions that can be eliminated and repaired even on your own at home.

The most basic, and where to start work, is to check the thermostat. A sign of a malfunction or impending breakdown is excessive freezing of the refrigerator, or, conversely, the device has completely stopped heating. This means that the regulator "does not understand" the temperature well, i.e. it can work, but the range in which it detects temperature has changed. You set the fridge to 4 degrees and it turns off at +15? This means that the thermostat "thinks" that +15 is 4 degrees and therefore a false signal appears on the refrigerator. There are several ways to check:

The first way is directly

Leave the thermostat inside the refrigerator. Finding the two wires that go into it, disconnect them carefully (so that you can easily put them back in place later) and connect them together. Be careful! The wires carry high voltage. All operations with wires should be done only with the engine off.

This method is good if the refrigerator does not turn on. He fully checks the thermostat, since all temperature limits are no longer relevant.

The second way is to check the bellows

This method allows you to check the regulator without resorting to its removal and disassembly. However, some basic knowledge of component design is required. Near the small axis on which the adjustment knob itself is attached, you should find a plate, you need to move and click it.

If the plate is fixed “tightly” and cannot be shifted (there are no clicks), then the regulator is disabled.

The third way is to check with a tester

Regardless of where the thermostat is located in refrigerators, repairing it looks about the same. Experts consider checking the relay with a multimeter the most reliable way.

The part is removed, the switch of the device is set to the position of measuring small resistances. The arrow with the wheel on the left side with the probes closed is set to "0". On the multimeter, the switch is set to "200". The end of the bellows tube is immersed in ice water for 2 minutes and the resistance is measured between the terminals. If “1” is displayed on the digital multimeter, and the analog arrow goes off scale, then the thermostat is not suitable for operation.

The fourth way is cold water

Check with cold water. It happens that the temperature sensor works normally after removal, after installation in the refrigerator, the part starts to function incorrectly. This is explained by a rare breakdown, in which the regulator cannot close and open the contacts. At high temperatures, the element works normally. To check the item is placed in a glass of cold water. After a few minutes, the relay needs to ring with a multimeter switched to circuit test mode. The appearance of the number 1 on the tester screen indicates a breakdown.

Safety rules to follow when checking

A refrigerator is a large household appliance that requires high voltage to operate. There are three main threats that potentially exist if you decide to repair your refrigerator:

electric shock (high voltage is on the contacts of the relay, thermostat, on the compressor windings);
electric shock (short circuit inside the electrical wiring of the refrigeration device, as a result of contact with open parts of the wiring on the metal case);
frostbite due to skin contact with refrigerant.
Anyone who decides to repair the thermostat (or any other component of the refrigerator) must take serious precautions. Work should not be carried out while the refrigerator is plugged in: be sure to turn off the power to the device.

All tools (screwdrivers, pliers, multimeter terminals) must have insulated handles.