New Evaporator Defrost for 1964 Frigidaire Imperial 19

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carmine

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Joined
Oct 15, 2010
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211
Location
Detroit
Hello all, many years since I have been able to post here.

I made a bunch of repairs to my 1964 Frigidaire Imperial 19 last summer in anticipation of using it with my completely new kitchen, featuring my 40" Frigidaire Flair double-oven/range. Repairs like new gaskets, dent removal and a very deep cleaning. Imagine my disappointment when I realized it would only run for a few days before icing over the evaporator :(

(It had been in storage for about a year while I moved and had never had problems beforehand.)

Diagnostics eventually lead me to the defroster coil. Open circuit. So I carefully removed the coil from the evaporator. The evaporator is different than anything else in the Frigidaire line, so I'm sure the defroster coil is as well.

I took a stab at using Home Depot-sourced gutter defroster tape, which is of similar diameter to the metal defroster coil...I was even able to wrap it in the original pattern. (That is why you see the outlet box... It is powered by the 110v defroster timer circuit an meant I didn't have to cut up the defroster tape for trial runs.) Unfortunately the tape is about 1/3 the wattage (130ish watts) of the OEM coil (400 watts). This meant it would work a few extra days, but ultimately the icing would overcome the evaporator.

The challenge is now "what can I substitute?" There are similar coils (wattage/length) but they would require me to "re-bend" them and I'm not sure that would work. I think I've seen "generic" lengths of coil which are made to be bent, probably for servicing legacy-type built in freezers at restaurants, etc. Problem there is they won't sell to the general public. I can probably get around that eventually, but rather than reinvent the wheel, I figured I'd see if anyone here has solved the same problem?

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Defrost heater for a Frigidaire bottom freezer 1964

This is a hard part two substitute. Your best bet is to look up the part number and check for eBay to see if somebody still has one of these heaters. If you've given me a model number I could've looked it up for you.

It would be very tough to substitute something if it were in my shop I would probably substitute a couple of the calrod type heaters, but you'd have to wire them in series, etc. to keep the temperature from being too hot because they generally get red hot.

I've written about this problem before it's very hard to keep a frost free refrigerator from the 60s running because of problems like this the only ones we've had the good luck with or the hot gas defrost GEs they seem to be a little more durable, but even they won't last forever.

John
 
If your model number is FPI 19 B – 64. The part number of the defrost heater is 7516391

Good luck I don't see any on eBay, it's usually not easy to remove these heaters and reinstalling them without damage.

According to my sources, it looks like this heater is more like 600 W which seems about right to me. If you look at the old heater carefully not too far from one of the ends where the wires attach the wattage will be stamped into it.

John
 
John, you are correct about the model number. I haven't touched this project in quite a while, so you are likely correct on the wattage as well. I'm pretty sure I could search for years and never find a NOS defroster coil. In this case, failure is not an option.

I'm much too far into this to just give up. Pretend I'm in Cuba with a '55 Desoto and a taxi business I have to keep rolling. If necessary I'll adapt something, even if that's just doubling up the gutter defrost tape, or raiding a scrap fridge.
 
"This listing sold on Tue, Dec 24 at 6:08 AM."

Well I sure appreciate the effort, but it wasn't sold to me. Looks like I refreshed this thread about 3 hours too late.
 
Looks like I'll be trying something like this. Since I know of some commercial refrigeration shops, after Christmas I might try bringing the old one into a brick & mortar before I necessarily order online.

everwellparts.com

FDH-105 - 850W 240V 3.6A 105" Flexible Bend-to-Fit Defrost Heater - Everwell Parts, Inc.

Part No. FDH-105For Evaporator coils and condensate drain pans in commercial refrigeration.Features:Bend and shape easily with hands at job siteTo replace a coil heater, measure the old heater length and bend our heater to match the configuration of the old heater and installThe encapsulated...
everwellparts.com everwellparts.com
 
I can't believe that defrost heater on eBay sold, I sold it about 5:30 AM this morning on the 24th. I got up unusually early, I almost ordered it for you, but I wasn't absolutely sure of your model number since it wasn't posted.

It looks like the adaptablebendable Commercial heaters you're finding may work. I've never used them, but it should work.

If you get this to defrost, I would recommend putting a 24 hour timer in it so it doesn't defrost so often, I would also replace all the fan motors with electronic ones to reduce the running time and electrical usage, I had this exact same refrigerator and sunny yellow, gave it to a friend in Alexandria, Virginia, who still using it. These two use an enormous amount of electricity probably $20-$30 a month easily.

By reducing the defrost frequency, you reduce the stress on the refrigerator and reduce the running time replacing the inside fan motors also reduces the running time because the current ones draw about 25 W each and put off quite a bit of Heat. You could also replace all the lightbulbs inside with LEDs that helps a little bit.

Let us know how it works out.

John
 
Defrost heater for a 64 Frigidaire refrigerator

Sorry I was typing too fast. That was not my auction. I don't live in Ohio, I meant to say I saw it on eBay at 5:30 AM and apparently it auto corrected to. I sold it.

I went on to say that I almost ordered it for you, but wasn't absolutely sure it was what you needed. Also didn't think there was a very high chance that such a rare part would sell. I wonder how long it was listed before it sold.

John
 
eBay Items Listed in Posts

I've noticed this happening quite a few times over the past year. Someone starts a post needing help with a repair and/or obtaining a part, someone is nice enough to help out and replies with the part number and/or with either a link to the available item on eBay (or indication that one is available) and then the original poster goes to purchase it shortly afterwards and its already sold.

I believe this just happened to someone else needing a Frigidaire defrost timer and I recall it also happening to someone restoring the yellow GE washer & dryer set awhile back. I think there were others as well too.

It might just be a coincidence but it looks like this listing in question was originally posted June 2022. I guess there is still lots of demand for NOS appliance parts.

I hope you can find another one Carmine or your workaround is successful!
 
I've said this before....

There is a vast number of lurkers on AW who do nothing but troll this site for information and nothing else. There are also persons who can't be bothered looking for things on their own, but happily will follow when posts link directly to something.

In all cases if someone spies something another member needs or wants listed for sale it's really best to contact said member directly. Otherwise, well you see what happens.

This isn't first nor likely to be last time a member listed something for someone who in turn was beaten to the post.
 

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