Frigidaire Imperial 19 Frost Proof refriderator FP1-19B-64

[Bill64]

My 1964 Frigidaire Imperial 19 Frost Proof Refrig - Freezer has some defrost issues. Believe problem is a faulty (original) defrost thermostat, which won't allow the defrost heater element, which appears to sit on bottom tray below the evaporator coil fins (correct place for a heater element), to heat up. The odd thing is that, what I think is the heater element is wrapped in a rubber coating enclosed in a long aluminum tray. How is it possible that a heater element would be wrapped in rubber? Anyone familiar with this type heater element. By the way the heater element and defrost thermostat originating points are impossible to reach without a major tear out of the freezer body compartment. There also appears to be some kind of heater element close to the refrig door between the upper frig and the bottom lower freezer - can't see this but can feel the heat it puts out. Appreciate any clues to these abnormal issues of an older frig. Thanks Bill

 

[ken]

Frigidaire defrost

Take a look at this thread by Fred from last year.

Trouble in refrigerator paradise...

As many of you know, we have a 1964 Frigidaire Deluxe bottom-freezer refrigerator in our kitchen. It's been chugging along, keeping our foodthings cool since Robert found it back about 10 years ago. It's a little noisy when it runs, but we don't fault it. It's the perfect fridge for our...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[philr]

Bill, that's a really nice fridge you have! That thing that is coated with rubber isn't the defrost heater, it's the drain heater it's a high resistance wire that heats just enough to prevent clogging the drain a bit like roof heaters that are used on the roofs and gutters on some houses here up north! It heats the water that collects below the evaporator so it can flow through the gutter and in the drain pipe so it could collect in the pan where it evaporates under the freezer and not on the freezer floor where it would ice-up again. 

 

The defrost heater itself (or the main defrost heater if you prefer) is made of aluminum and wrapped all around the evaporator (mostly on the right section and on the lower part of the left section. 

 

[philr]

Robert has uploaded the 1964 Tech Talk service manual on the Ephemera section, it's PDF copy is available for purchase and it might be helpful for you. 

 

Here it is:

 

1964 Frigidaire Refrigerator-Freezer Tech-Talk Service Manual

1964 Frigidaire Refrigerator-Freezer Tech-Talk Service Manual

www.automatice.org

 

 

 

[carmine]

Have the same fridge as you... Every year during times of high humidity, I experience the inadequate heating of that "gutter heater" which inevitably leads to an evaporator freeze up. I'm going to thaw mine soon and consider alternatives for that same heater.