Fix your Consumer Appliance Icemaker –How it works

The water supply that is controlled by a water inlet valve enters the mold cavity of the compact icemaker. The water then freezes in the icemaker mold. An electric heater thaws the frozen ice crescents so that they can be ejected from the mold. An electric motor then drives an ejector blade through a cam assembly, which frees the released crescents. The crescents revolve in a clockwise rotation and tumble into the ice storage bin.

Compact Icemaker Components

The electrical components of a typical refrigerator compact icemaker are described below:

Water Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve is a solenoid-operated switch located at the bottom of the refrigerator. When it is energized by electrical power, water is released from the supply line through the water valve and into the compact icemaker mold.

Ice Mold

The ice mold is made of an aluminum or plastic material with separations that mold either six, eight, or twelve ice crescents.

Mold Heater

The mold heater is an electrical device that thaws the ice quickly so it can be released from the icemaker mold.

Cycling Thermostat

The cycling thermostat is a bi-metal device that controls the activation of the icemaker ejec tion cycle.

Shut-Off Arm

The shut-off arm is a component that operates a switch to control icemaker ON/OFF.

Ice Ejector Blade

The ice ejector is a molded plastic component. The blade sweeps the ice from the mold cavities during the ejection cycle.

Water Supply Valve

The water supply valve supplies water from the supply line to the inlet valve.

Timing Switches

Two or three switches are most commonly used in refrigerator compact icemakers. Their functions are listed below:

• The HOLDING SWITCH assures the completion of a cycle once the icemaker has started ejecting the ice.
• The WATER VALVE SWITCH opens the water inlet valve during the icemaker fill cycle.
• The SHUT-OF SWITCH stops ice maker operation when the storage bin is full.

Timing Cam Assembly

In the compact icemaker there are separate cams that are molded as one part to control the timing sequences of the icemaker

Icemaker Drive Motor

The drive motor is a single-shaft, low-wattage type motor, that powers the refrigerator ice- maker. This motor turns the timing cams and the ejector blade.

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