A positive temperature coefficeint relay, also known as a PTC or a start relay, starts the compressor inside of your fridge. The compressor is what creates the cold air that keeps your refrigerator cold. So, if your fridge stops making cold air, there could be a problem with the PTC relay.
What does the PTC relay do on a whirlpool refrigerator? The PTC relay starts the compressor inside the fridge to make cold air so your food stays cool. Luckily, the PTC relay is something you can easily check and replace yourself if you need to. After you access the relay and compressor on your fridge, use a multimeter to test the ports to make sure it has a low resistance.
What is a refrigerator start relay? The refrigerator start relay is the device that jump-starts your fridge’s compressor. The compressor is one of the most crucial components for keeping your refrigerator working effectively and can go bad for many reasons. The compressor compresses the refrigerant, which turns into a liquid, running through the condenser coils.
How do you test a PTC relay on a compressor? You can buy a multimeter from a hardware store or online. Put the probes in the M and S slots on the relay to check for open resistance. Locate the ports on the side of your PTC relay that have the letters M and S above them, which are usually the ports that connect to the compressor.
How do you remove a thermostat relay from a compressor? Remove the relay by pulling it off of the prongs. Grab the relay on the side you just took the wires off of and carefully pull it out from the prongs on the compressor. The relay should easily slide off of the prongs and disconnect from the compressor so you can test it.
ptc relay wiring diagram
How do you test a PTC relay with a multimeter? Set up your multimeter to read resistance. Set your multimeter to read resistance in ohms (Ω) so you can easily test the PTC relay. Plug the end of the red probe into the positive (+) terminal and the black probe into the negative (-) terminal on the bottom of the multimeter so you can use them.
How do you test a thermostat relay? The relay should easily slide off of the prongs and disconnect from the compressor so you can test it. If you aren’t able to pull the relay easily, place a screwdriver between it and the compressor and push it off of the prongs. Be careful not to pull the relay so it bends or breaks the prongs on the compressor.
How do I know if my AC relay is shorted? Checking the Relay with a Multimeter. Look for burnt marks around the ports on the relay to see if it’s shorted. Inspect the relay to see if it has any charred markings around the ports where it plugged into the compressor. If you see any burnt parts on the relay, then it most likely shorted and needs to be replaced.
What does the PTC relay do on a whirlpool refrigerator?
What does a PTC relay do on a refrigerator? A PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) relay is a starting device for fridge compressors. It is responsible for powering the start winding for a brief moment to help start up the fridge compressor motor. If your fridge cannot start there is a high probability that the PTC relay is defective.
How do you test a PTC relay on a compressor? You can buy a multimeter from a hardware store or online. Put the probes in the M and S slots on the relay to check for open resistance. Locate the ports on the side of your PTC relay that have the letters M and S above them, which are usually the ports that connect to the compressor.
How do I know if my Refrigerator start relay is bad? If you see signs that this start relay is bad, such as your refrigerator not cooling, you’ll need to replace it. The most obvious sign that your start relay isn’t working is the lack of cooling caused when the compressor never starts up. You can usually hear the intermittent humming of the compressor throughout the day.
How do you remove a thermostat relay from a compressor? Remove the relay by pulling it off of the prongs. Grab the relay on the side you just took the wires off of and carefully pull it out from the prongs on the compressor. The relay should easily slide off of the prongs and disconnect from the compressor so you can test it.