[casadeagua]

I have a GE refrigerator GSS22SGMCBS the defrost cycle was not working (evap coils icing up refrigerator getting warm etc...). When I first found the problem I noticed the defrost heater was black and did not give an ohm reading so I replaced the heater and the thermostat. A couple weeks later the problem resurfaced – apparently when the defrost cycle kicked on it burned out the element in the glass heater. The coil was broken in the middle. Thinking I had a short in the thermistor I replaced the thermistor attached to the coil and put in a new heater. I jumped the defrost cycle (J9 and J11) and the element turned on and glowed for 1 minute then it burned out. What would cause the heater to keep blowing?

[abadfish66]

What is the part# of the heater your using?

[denman]

Could find very little info on this site but did see that the defrost element is now a dual element. I believe it comes in a kit and you have to splice it in. They run two elements so it supposedly last longer. You may want to give the parts side of this site a call.

The heater should be able to take 120 volts for a lot longer than what you described so I am at a loss as to what would cause it to blow so quickly.
There was nothing touching the glass so perhaps a fault, direct from the factory.

The glass type heaters are crap and always will be so instead of replacing it with a decent ceramic type GE in their wisdom put in two of them. Oh well I guess that it is better than nothing.

[casadeagua]

The heater element I used is:
Model number: CST20KABEAD
Part description in this model: HEATER & BRACKET ASM
Part location: #230

This part did contain the duel heaters. However, I figured one heater has worked for 5 or so years so I removed one heater from the set and placed it in the single heater bracket. It seems like 2 heaters may be more efficient but whether I used one or two it should still last longer then a minute? I'm wondering if the motherboard could cause a short?

[abadfish66]

You have to use both heaters and follow the instructions in the kit, That's your problem. By removing one of the heaters, you are changing the resistance value and burning out the heater, so you need to order the heater again, and install correctly!!!

[abadfish66]

I'm assuming the heater part# you are using is WR51x10101 correct?

[casadeagua]

Thanks for your help - I don't disagree with you at all. I went on the assumption that each of the heaters supplied with the dual system would function individually and be equivalent to the single heater that came with the frig? You believe the heaters supplied with the dual system are different from the original.

[abadfish66]

Yes, they are different, and will burn out the first time it comes on, so to save yourself money and a headache, just follow the instructions

[denman]

They did not put 2 in to make it more efficient.
They put 2 in and wired them in series so you get the required heat output but each element does not get as hot.
Each new element has approximately half the resistance as the original so when you plugged in only one you got twice the rated current and poof.

[tjmcguire]

Originally Posted by abadfish66

I'm assuming the heater part# you are using is WR51x10101 correct?

This is the part I ordered, and I did not get instructions. I am trying to replace a single defrost heater with this. Do I plug the blue and pink plugs into one end of this dual unit, or do I have to splice in something as was mentioned earlier in this thread? I am not a repair person. I watched the repairman replace the heater before with another single unit. I was trying to do it myself because I cannot afford a repairman to come out.