Often as techs, we need to dive deeper into a problem than just what seems to be wrong on a surface level.
This entails knowing how to read a schematic and knowing which electrical measurements will give you the right information.
Take this video for example. The Samurai was working on an Amana refrigerator. The FF compartment was warm and the freezer wasn’t defrosting. Turns out The freezer fan wasn’t running, either, so the beer compartment wasn’t getting any cold air. But why wasn’t the freezer fan running? Watch the video to find out:
As you saw, picking the right voltage measurement is often crucial to getting the right info. The real tech knows which ones to pick to deftly avoid the trap of ghost voltage. Getting head-faked could lead to a wrong diagnosis and a wasted service call.
In general, avoid using VAC to measure power voltage and instead rely on wiggies and the LoZ function on your meter.
In the end, because the bimetal was in series, it’s good the Samurai didn’t jump to conclusions and blame the fan motor for the no defrost complaint. Further investigation and testing revealed the true culprit, the failed bimetal.
With proper testing at the right place and with the right instrument, we avoid getting headfaked and find the real problem.
Learn how to troubleshoot by the Samurai’s Ten Step Tango troubleshooting system. We teach you that and much more in our world-famous Core Appliance Repair Training course. Enroll today!