6 components coveredField manual · Ice Maker
Whirlpool-built modular (crescent-cube) ice maker: field service manual
Covers: The Whirlpool-style modular freezer ice maker with a plastic module cover marked with test points (T, H, N, L), a metal mold with a heater, an ejector with fingers, and a wire shutoff arm. Used in many brands' freezers. Later Whirlpool electronic ice makers without test points are not covered here.
The crescent-cube ice maker found in millions of freezers. It is a self-contained electromechanical unit. A small thermostat on the mold decides when the cubes are frozen. A motor in the module turns the ejector. A heater frees the cubes, and a timing switch opens the water valve for the refill. The module face has test points that let you start a harvest and check the heater, which makes field diagnosis quick.
Safety first
- Test points L and N are live at 120 V. Live tests are caution work; use insulated probes.
- Unplug the unit before removing the ice maker.
- Keep fingers clear of the ejector during a forced harvest.
How it works
Water from the valve fills the mold through the fill cup. When the mold gets cold enough, the mold thermostat closes. Two sources put that point around 10-15°F. The module then runs the motor and heater together. The heater loosens the cubes and the ejector fingers sweep them out of the mold into the bin.
During the turn the shutoff arm lifts and drops. If it can't drop because the bin is full, the module stops making ice. Near the end of the turn a switch in the module energizes the water valve for a short timed fill. The fill amount is set at the module, and the module warns against turning the fill adjustment to start water, as that can damage the module.
Test points: jumping T and H with an insulated jumper starts a harvest. One source says that once the motor has started (you hear a faint click within a few seconds), you pull the jumper and the cycle finishes on its own. L and N carry the line voltage, and L to H reads across the heater. Some models also need the freezer door switch held closed for the ice maker to run.
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