Wiring schematic symbols explained video

Common symbols found in a wiring diagram

Reading a schematic can feel overwhelming—like a foreign language. But once you learn the basics, you’ll understand how schematics work. Let’s take a look at some of the most common symbols you’ll find in a refrigerator schematic and what they mean. The lines are wires. They connect the symbols, which represent components of the appliance. Following the lines will help you determine, the cause of a failure and buy the right part to fix the problem. Many appliances have at least one light. Here’s what that symbol looks like. You’ll often see a switch that controls the light.

So let’s say your refrigerator light doesn’t work, even after you changed the bulb. The wiring schematic helps you figure out which part to replace: the light socket or the switch.

If your refrigerator is too warm, but the freezer section is cold, you’ll want to look for this symbol: the defrost heater. It’s connected to a thermostat. That symbol looks like this. It’s also connected to a timer. Look for this symbol. You may need to check the evaporator fan motor. Motors look like this. If your refrigerator isn’t cooling at all, you’ll likely want to hunt down this symbol for the cold control adjustable thermostat.

If the ice maker doesn’t fill with water, you may need to check the water valve. Understanding the symbols and layout of a wiring schematic will help you test each component so that you can buy the right part to fix the problem. For more DIY help, head to SearsPartsDirect.com.