LKB
New Member
Q for the collective:
Thermostat went out on my Northland fridge (separate cooling module). Fortunately, the cold control unit / thermostat is a pretty standard model, like this:
Dead simple to replace, but kinda finicky to get the low temp and hysteresis screws adjusted just right.
After quite a bit of fiddling, I got it where it should be (with the dial set in the middle, cuts out at about 33F and cuts on at about 39F), such that it is not short cycling and the defrost cycle (completely separate timer circuit) can run.
Anyway, while I was doing all the trial and error adjustment (which required me to unplug the fridge module before messing with the screws), I removed the decorative cover that screens the cooling modules from view. (With the cover off, airflow to the units is marginally better, but the unit had run fine for 12 years with it in place before.) After all the adjustment, it ran perfectly for a week with the cover off.
Here’s the issue — when I reinstalled the decorative cover, the unit froze up in hours (fan clipping ice buildup and not holding temp). Removed the cover, unplugged the unit, let it defrost, plugged it back in — runs perfectly for several days. But when I reinstall the cover — it freezes up again.
i’ve done it several times and it’s repeatable. Cover on / off is the only variable. And again, prior to the old cold control failing, unit ran fine for over a decade with the cover on.
So, any ideas? Do I need to decrease the hysteresis?
Thermostat went out on my Northland fridge (separate cooling module). Fortunately, the cold control unit / thermostat is a pretty standard model, like this:
Dead simple to replace, but kinda finicky to get the low temp and hysteresis screws adjusted just right.
After quite a bit of fiddling, I got it where it should be (with the dial set in the middle, cuts out at about 33F and cuts on at about 39F), such that it is not short cycling and the defrost cycle (completely separate timer circuit) can run.
Anyway, while I was doing all the trial and error adjustment (which required me to unplug the fridge module before messing with the screws), I removed the decorative cover that screens the cooling modules from view. (With the cover off, airflow to the units is marginally better, but the unit had run fine for 12 years with it in place before.) After all the adjustment, it ran perfectly for a week with the cover off.
Here’s the issue — when I reinstalled the decorative cover, the unit froze up in hours (fan clipping ice buildup and not holding temp). Removed the cover, unplugged the unit, let it defrost, plugged it back in — runs perfectly for several days. But when I reinstall the cover — it freezes up again.
i’ve done it several times and it’s repeatable. Cover on / off is the only variable. And again, prior to the old cold control failing, unit ran fine for over a decade with the cover on.
So, any ideas? Do I need to decrease the hysteresis?