Replacing a Deep Freezer Thermostat

[@ColeSloth]

For future testing/diagnosis ease, all you have to do to check if you have a bad thermostat is unplug the deep freeze, pull off the two power wires going to the thermostat and directly connect them together, then plug the deep freeze back in. If the freezer starts to run, then the thermostat was the issue. Easy, quick, and don't even need a volt meter.

[@waynebuchholz5789]

I have 3 wires coming from my thermostat. How can I tell which two are the power wires?

[@ColeSloth]

@@waynebuchholz5789 two wires should be lined up right next to each other. Should be those two and the other is ground. Wire colors are likely red and black, with ground as green, which you can leave where it is.

[@waynebuchholz5789]

​@@ColeSloththank you, that is exactly what it looks like.

[@NDUGOD]

💯👌Genius idea. Thanks

[@Boki9]

Genius, that was exactly how I diagnosed mine. Thank you

[@fredericp64]

So I just changed my thermostat without a problem thanks to this video. I suck at this stuff so anyone should be able to pull it off. As for feeding the wire into the freezer wall. My Danby (2012) makes it a no brainer thanks to a tiny hole in the rubber plug. Cheers!

[@vincegreco9970]

Just wanted to say thank you for the video. Not only did you diagnose the problem but more importantly you SHOWED the diagnosis. This helped a ton understanding the different parts of

[@crysmeserve5395]

Thank you so much for your video! I cannot thank you enough. You were clear & easy to understand. You made it much easier for me to fix mine. Again, thank you.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Ballin'! Love to hear comments like this.

[@alexflores2612]

Thanks a lot, very helpful. I have a dodgy thermostat...sometimes works, sometimes does not. Will try replacing it.

[@scrubbed4770]

My Danby just quit too, I don't have a voltmeter so I disconnected the black and red wire from the thermostat and ran a scrap wire to the female connectors. The compressor start right up! Now I know I need a thermostat. You make me want to invest in a voltmeter though. I hope my new thermostat wire goes in easily, appreciate the heads up.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Yeah I didn't think I'd use a volt meter much, but it's surprised me how much I've used it for all sorts of projects. But if your thermostat is is still in there you shouldn't have a problem, but I would move the old one back and forth just to open the path up a little, once you get the new one in.

[@bryanm1498]

Thanks for the video! My issue is that the thermometer I placed in my Igloo freezer registers less than -25 degrees F. I have incrementally adjusted the thermostat so it is at the warmest level and still no change in temp. I suspect it is the thermostat as otherwise, the unit is functioning. Thanks for the tip on inserting the thermostat line. Hopefully mine will be a little easier because of the info you provided.

[@jackzhu1659]

Thanks for the video. It helped me to fix my Danby freezer.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Awesome! Love to hear that it helped.

[@ewong7492]

Depending on the amount of thermal mass in the freezer, it can take several days for it to warm up enough for spoilage. Sounds like maybe you threw out that food when you didn’t need to.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

When we discovered it, we took food temps and found them to be at temp where bacteria forms

[@pradeepmahendrasemage4043]

Nice episode, Thanks.

[@gdfrick122]

Thanks for sharing this video. Mine has a bad thermostat as well.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Sure thing, were you able to find a replacement?

[@aristzam4308]

Best Greetings 🇬🇷! Nice DIY video for beginners 😅

[@aristzam4308]

This video gave me the incentive to unscrew parts in order to familiarize myself with fridge component since I had no clue. As a beginner but with some practical DIY device experience, it should work out fine whatsoever 👍

[@UnconventionalThinker]

@aristzam4308 good deal! That's the goal is to inspire

[@chriscarlisle9126]

Magic Chef looks similar. Issue, it stays 30 degrees below zero at lowest point on thermostat. Runs continuous.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Sounds like a bad thermostat

[@amoadios1025]

That was helpful, I have the same freezer my don't freez if you turn off 3 time will start working again so I guess is the thermostat problem? The motor works

[@michaelross7696]

Before taking all 3 items apart, can you just test each one in line?

[@samtheelf7]

So my freezer issnt the same model but itll run fine for a while and then shut off and not turn on again. Im guessing thats a thermostat issue?

[@fredricksproulls2665]

Good work

[@fergferguson7370]

Good job billy..big help

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Yessir, glad it helped!

[@keresturec]

Hello. I do have the same freezer. It works but always freezes up to -25C only , I tried adjusting the temperature setting on the dial but doesn't make any difference. When I turn the dial to the minimum I hear the click and freezer stops, so that means that switch-off function works but the temperature setting doesn't work for sure. I tested it for a few days with the thermometer In it just make sure that i am getting the proper temperature readings/control. Would you agree that the thermostat unit/part is faulty or could be something else? Thank you

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Yes, it sounds like a faulty thermostat. I think they had issues with the thermostats that were originally on these freezers because recently the ones you get off the danby website are different from what the originals were.

[@wildhorsemusic1111]

My compressor turns on but its not getting cold. My compress is very hot!

[@KeoboneJubileeKehositse-gp6ci]

What could be a problem if a freezer runs but not cooling nor freezing?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

It could be the compressor or the thermostat. The thermostat is much cheaper to replace, but the compressor tends to be the cost of a new freezer

[@dav200]

Nope, I don"t have the thermostat yet. I actually couldn't locate the exact part as shown on the existing one. I can see from your video the new part you got is the correct one. Do you still have the link to the ordering? That would be a big help . Thanks.

[@Nyla-u4x]

I have a danby sticker is off in how much refrigerant and what kind thank you 🙂

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Not sure I follow

[@Nyla-u4x]

Looks like your freezer has specs on it?​@@UnconventionalThinker

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Do you want to know the model number?

[@Nyla-u4x]

Yes please if you still have it 🙂​@@UnconventionalThinker

[@abdulzaid2946]

Sir mera d freezer cut hojata hai 4 se 5 gante me kya problem hai batadigia

[@case580c]

Danby site sez Thermostat not available , Where did you get yours ? Thanks Bill T

[@UnconventionalThinker]

I got mine from Danby. The one on this one got replaced by a different part number. When I ordered it I had to wait a couple months until they got a new shipment from China

[@wheeldealrepeat3698]

My Danby stopped working all the sudden. I tested all 4 parts with a multimeter including compressor and I get continuity on everything. My green light does illuminate at the thermostat. Turning the thermostat knob doesn't make any noise when rotated. It is plugged into a working wall plug. Any ideas? Trying to keep from having to haul this thing up a flight of stairs and to the dump.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Do all your electrical lines look okay? I.e is power getting to your compressor?

[@wheeldealrepeat3698]

Yes, everything else appears normal.

[@yourfriendma74]

Hi. Where can I get wpf29a-103-122-ex chest freezer thermostat?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Not sure, the thermostat part number for mine was WPF29R-103-022

[@yourfriendma74]

@@UnconventionalThinker where you get yours?

[@yourfriendma74]

@@UnconventionalThinker where you got yours?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Link in the description of the video takes you to Danby Parts website

[@TippyPuddles]

My deep freezer stop freezing. I get a continuity reading on the thermostat. I don't have any noise alert on my multi meter. What should the thermostat read? I'm no expert, just use videos to learn and have done a lot of repairs on my washer, dryer and lawn mower. This is my first time troubleshooting my freezer. I don't know where you got the other parts pulled from.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

You can also do an ohm check. I pulled the other parts off the front of the compressor. My compressor had three prongs on the front and that's what the OLP and starer connect to. But I would check those and your compressor to make sure there is no break in your circuit.

[@kevinrea7820]

I have the same model freezer, would you happen to have a model number for the thermostat that you got and maybe a link to where you purchased it? Kevin Rea Lancaster California

[@UnconventionalThinker]

www.danbyapplianceparts.com/product/dcfm-tstat-wpf29r-103-022/

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Looks like it's currently on backorder. I emailed Danby back in the day to see if they had better fidelity as to when the part would be available after I ordered it on backorder and they were pretty good at their estimate

[@dav200]

Hi , I do have the same problem of the thermostat which need to be replaced. What i face is the difficulty of pulling out the sensor feed. seems to be impossible. Any help? Thanks.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Do you have the new thermostat? So the long probe end of the thermostat is stuck? If that's the case and you can't pull it out, you might be able to cut it off and then try to run your new line beside it.

[@dav200]

Its the old one I couldn't pull out the wire sensor. Its not even moving. Seems I may need to pull at an angle instead of from the front.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

@@dav200 yes, at least on mine it came in at an angle.

[@dav200]

@@UnconventionalThinker David Chan David Chan 2 days ago Hi , I do have the same problem of the thermostat which need to be replaced. What i face is the difficulty of pulling out the sensor feed. seems to be impossible. Any help? Thanks.

[@MikeSmith-gm5xo]

​@@dav200 I was never able to insert the new probe cable in. I got fed up and ended up drilling a new hole that goes inside the freezer. I used metal duct tape to stick the probe on the freezer inside wall. I suspect it may get too cold and shut down quickly but we'll see...

[@123nlc]

I turn my thermostat on and the freezer runs for about 15 seconds. Then shuts off. Is it something other than the thermostat?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

It could possibly be the compressor but if you have to replace that you might as well buy a new freezer. Is the freezer not freezing at all?

[@123nlc]

@@UnconventionalThinker It turns on for about 15 seconds. Then it's dead. The freezer is a Black and Decker I bought from Walmart. Not even 10 years old.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

@@123nlc yeah so if it were me I'd figure out what I'm willing to spend to try to fix it on my own even if it doesn't work and start from there. Which for me was trying to replace all the other components that weren't the compressor. For me I think I spent a total of $30 trying to replace the overload protector, the relay, and the thermostat. For me it was worth trying to spend $30 to fix it versus having to go by another $200 freezer.

[@123nlc]

@@UnconventionalThinker Thanks for your help.

[@charlesb2589]

@@UnconventionalThinker you probably have a bad 4.7 compressor relay

[@123nlc]

Where is the Overload Protection Switch located? Thanks...

[@UnconventionalThinker]

It's mounted on the front of the compressor. It connects to the 3 prongs on the compressor. It's shown in the video when I'm reassembling it.

[@MatteusClement]

For those looking for QUICK a temp fix, you can connect the two wire from the thermostat and then plug the freezer into a timer. 1/2hr on 1hr off if you are not going into it alot

[@kevinpalmer4137]

What a brilliant idea, imprecise, but it would surely suffice I think

[@ibrahimkheir3436]

to insert the thermostat into the hole can we use grease on the top of the wire?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

That I'm not sure of, if you were going to use a grease it would probably have to be dielectric so that it conducts properly. Are you struggling to get the wire in?

[@ts0ngk0]

Where to buy thermostat sir? Home Depot?

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Bought it from Danby, the maker of this freezer.

[@ts0ngk0]

@@UnconventionalThinker tank u sir

[@kevinrea7820]

I found a thermostat. but getting the tube back in with the sensor bulb is impossible. even with a stiff same diameter probe, cannot find a path for the thing to go into. beware do it your selfers... I am thinking of ordering a 12" x 1/8" drill bit to make a hole following the initial path, which goes in about 4 inches.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Yeah the hardest part for me was pushing the probe to the area it needed to be

[@terrikasik5131]

Hi, watched your video. My similar freezer is still keeping cold, but the motor is not shutting off. I have defrosted and restarted, but still not shutting off. I have turned down as low as possible without turning off. I am thinking this may be the thermostat. I just ordered one from Sears parts direct. At least food is still freezing, hopefully until I get the parts.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

I have heard these stay on 80-90% of the time. We keep ours in the garage so it's not exposed to inside cooling. I have noticed with ours that it mostly stays on, but I have noticed it does shut off from time to time. But you definitely could have a damaged thermostat if you've noticed it doesn't shut off it's the only instrument on these freezers that monitors the temp. Just make sure when you insert the wire probe back in through the insulation that it gets close to surface walls of the freezer and breaks through the insulation so that it can get an accurate internal temp.

[@terrikasik5131]

Hi again, I am attempting to replace the thermostat today. We should know in a few hours if we are successful. My Sears/Kenmore must have a metal tube inside to feed the thermostat wire, as it went back in pretty easily. We pushed it in as far as the red line on the metal wire. Thanks for having this video. I'll update late if we have success.

[@UnconventionalThinker]

So I made the assumption that the thermostat wire needed to be pushed all the way into the foam until it got to those red and blue pieces of tape on the wire. I think my red and blue pieces of tape or spaced about an inch apart not sure if yours has a blue piece on it as well. But you want to make sure that wire is going through the insulation to where the inner wall of the freezer is so that it can get an accurate reading of the internal temperature. If it doesn't get an accurate reading it will continuously be running maybe longer than it should. But also make sure to not to use your new thermostat wire to push through the hole or create a new hole in the installation or you could end up breaking it. I ended up using my old thermostat wire to essentially push through A New path so that I wasn't putting too much on to that wire to where it was bending and potentially breaking. Let me know if you have any other questions

[@terrikasik5131]

@@UnconventionalThinker Where my thermostat feeds into the freezer cavity, there was a rubber stopper so as to hold it in the cavity.We slid that down the old thermostat wire. There was then a metal tube sticking out about maybe 1/2". We then pulled out the old thermostat with pliers. We then inserted the new thermostat into that metal tube and it went in very smoothly. I think on my brand/model there might be a metal tube to help with feeding the thermostat in. I am thinking the tube ends somewhere in the freezer along that inner wall so as to monitor temperature. When we inserted the new thermostat, we did it to the red line, just as when we removed the old. My thermostat does not have a blue mark only the red. Hope that makes sense

[@terrikasik5131]

I think we have SUCCESS! I had the control set at "Mid" for a few hours and not shutting off. I think my thermometer was reading about minus 25-30. I turned the control down to "Min" and it shut off. I babysat by the freezer and it came on about 15 minutes later (2:44pm), it then went off at 3:20, it came on again at 3:36. If it goes off again sometime after 4pm, I think I will feel it is a complete success.

[@MiguelMartinez-fl4ni]

Did you replace all three and where did you purchase your parts

[@UnconventionalThinker]

I ended up using the old relay and starter because they were still good, but found those on Amazon. I believe they were universal parts based on the part number found on those parts. The thermostat I had to order from Danby for this specific model the thermostat was really cheap $14 plus shipping.

[@fredericp64]

Your thermostat cost you 15 bucks and mine was 68$ :O !! Thanks for the video though!!

[@kevinpalmer4137]

The thermostat should have continuity unless it is set to the off position, or reading a temp bellow what it was set to run, I think Presumably neither were true during your test so a thermostat replacement would have indeed been indicated

[@githice]

The Thermostat Makes and Breaks contact continuously during operation depending on the set temperatures, so it could just not have continuity but it is still OK

[@billporemba8368]

Hey Dude, first good video, hope your freezer is still doing well. My freezer was also 3 yrs old when it took a dump. After doing enough research I replaced the temp control part. The green light comes on in the front, but no buzzing. So do you think it might be the other two parts just wondering. Plus you paid $15 for your temp control, I paid $90, #$&&@%! Thats me swearing!

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Yeah I would do a resistance check on all those parts to find which part doesn't have continuity. Sorry to hear about the $90 part, I had to wait a bit to get it for $15 as Danby had them on backorder from China

[@billporemba8368]

Thanks for response, very cool!

[@philiphone7743]

I don’t want to hear your bloody life story 🤷‍♂️

[@UnconventionalThinker]

Must of been a bad day? Sorry mate