GE Arctica PSS 23 Series, Arctica PSS 25 Series, Arctica PSS 27 Series, Arctica PSS 29 Series Technical Service Manual

C

GE Consumer Home Services Training

TECHNICAL SERVICE GUIDE

“CustomCoolTM”

MODEL SERIES:
Arctica Side by Side
PSS 23, 25, 27,
29 Cu. Ft.

PUB # 31-9075 06/01

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE

The information in this service guide is intended for use by
individuals possessing adequate backgrounds of electrical,
electronic, and mechanical experience. Any attempt to repair a
major appliance may result in personal injury and property
damage. The manufacturer or seller cannot be responsible for the
interpretation of this information, nor can it assume any liability in
connection with its use.

WARNING

To avoid personal injury, disconnect power before servicing this
product. If electrical power is required for diagnosis or test
purposes, disconnect the power immediately after performing the
necessary checks.

RECONNECT ALL GROUNDING DEVICES

If grounding wires, screws, straps, clips, nuts, or washers used
to complete a path to ground are removed for service, they must
be returned to their original position and properly fastened.

All rights reserved. This service guide may not be reproduced in whole or in part
in any form without written permission from the General Electric Company.

GE Consumer Home Services Training

Technical Service Guide

Copyright © 2001

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Use and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6

Mechanical Disassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

Diagnosis Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10

Temperature Resistance Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Strip Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Control Board Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Schematic Wiring Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15

Illustrated Parts/Exploded Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-20

– 1 –

Introduction

2001 Arctica SxS models are being introduced in
response to the requirement for more energy-efficient
refrigerators by mid year 2001, along with having
feature and operation enhancements.

One of the innovative features is the “CustomCool

TM

bin. The system will provide optimum rapid cooling,
(ExpressChillTM) , and safely thaw frozen foods
(ExpressThawTM).

The main system components consist of two air
dampers, a DC exhaust fan, reed switch, control
board with buzzer, 3 color light diodes, a heater, and
a thermistor. These components provide feedback
to the main refrigerator processor board, and control
the temperature and air flow in the “CustomCool

TM

pan at the bottom of the fresh food compartment. A
tray, which has a metal surface on one side is
provided to place the foods on for chill or thaw.

The consumer sets the temperature from the
touchpad controls at the top of the fresh food
compartment, and selects mode of operation, and
length of cycle. Air circulates from the freezer and is
heated or maintained by the thermistor and control
settings.

The CustomCool

TM

pan is tightly sealed and has a
tray which when placed in the metal plate facing
down position, helps provide the chill, and in the metal
plate up position helps to provide thaw. It also
provides a method of catching liquid when thawing

”

and defrosting. The seals in their orginal position are
extremely important in maintaining fresh food and
feature temperatures.

”

Three selection choices are provided for the
consumer:

• ExpressThaw

(maintains 41

TM

Selection in lbs.

0

)

.5 lbs.(4 hours)

1.5 lbs.(8 hours)

3.0 lbs.(12 hours)

• ExpressChill

TM

Selection in 15 minute

increments

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

TM

• SelectTemp

Selection in preset

temperatures

Citrus (43

0

43

)

Produce (34

0

F) (Heater/Fan on to maintain

0

F)(Double damper open, no

fan)

Meat (30

0

F) (Double damper open, no fan)

– 2 –

Customer Use and Care

– 3 –

– 4 –

Operation

Operation is initated by the consumer when the
selection is made using the touch control at the top
of the fresh food section. The user will have placed
the chill/thaw tray in the proper position, metal
plate facing down for chill, and up for thaw, and
pan closed. A reed switch is mounted on the right
side of the pan to provide a completed circuit when
the pan is tightly closed. Open reed switch
initiates a “beep” from the processor located in the
CustomCool

TM

pan assembly.

The warmed air is circulated through the pan to
satisfy the temperature setting. Response to drastic
temperature change is limited between two and ten
minutes. The main control board located in the rear
of the refrigerator will only respond to 8 degrees of
temperature change per minute as determined by
the resistance of the thermistor.

NOTE: DO NOT MANUALLY FORCE DAMPER
DOORS OPEN, IT WILL DAMAGE THE ASSEM­BLY

Based on users input one of the three selections is
selected, with multiple inputs indexing to provide
TIME, WEIGHT, or TEMPERATURE and
countdown LED. One of three leds will light the
selection portion of the touchpad to provide
feedback and selection information to the user.
The signal is then sent to the main processor and
uses preset software parameters to provide DC
inputs to the CustomCoolTM processor board
mounted in the cover assembly.

When the selection is made a thermistor located in
the side of the lower cover sends temperature
information (resistance) to the main processor. The
processor software determines what combination
of dampers or heater need to be used to achieve
the desired setting. (See thermistor temp chart on
page 8).

A double door damper 12VDC operates in the

TM

ExpressChill

mode, and both sides open to allow
cold air to be drawn in and circulated within the lower
cover. The single damper door is also closed to
prevent loss of cold air and it is returned through the
other side of the diverter back to the freezer
compartment. The double door is cycled open and
shut to maintain the temperature selection selected
by the user, based on thermistor resistance
feedback to the main processor board.

TM

Airflow is directed from a diverter in the freezer
side wall to provide cold air or drawn from fresh
food compartment, and is circulated by a 12VDC
fan in the front of the lower cover. When the
thermistor is calling for warmer air the single
damper motor is energized (12VDC) to open and
the 30 watt strip heater is turned on.

– 5 –