The Defrost Sensor (also known as a Defrost Thermistor) is a critical electronic component in modern frost-free refrigerators that monitors the temperature of the evaporator coils. Unlike a mechanical timer, it uses electrical resistance to tell the control board exactly when the ice has melted so the heater can be turned off
Function & Mechanism
- Precision Monitoring: It continuously measures the thermal state of the coils. As the temperature rises or falls, the sensor's resistance changes.
- Heater Control: When it senses that the coils have reached a safe temperature (meaning all frost is gone), it signals the control board to stop the defrost heater.
- Protection: Many sensors act as a safety fuse; if the heater stays on too long, the sensor will blow its internal fuse to prevent damage to the plastic