Sometimes after working on ADC, mainboards, jazz boards, genesis boards, utah boards, and beta boards, it's a relief to repair a fridge where the defrost is controlled by a good old standard timer. That is until you have to use the Whirlpool universal timer and have to re-read those "encoded" instructions. Over a year ago, when I had some time (and this timer) on my hands, I decided to break that code. Recently, I discussed this info but forgot what I came up with and it took some time to find my post.

So to have it at my fingertips and hopefully help one or two folks down the road, I decided to save it here, in my blog... hope you find it useful

When I cannot find the wiring diagram for a Whirlpool manufactured fridge, the following has worked for me when installing the whirlpool universal timer (the one with the innocuous looking dangling black wire)

A)According to the timer manual, For whirlpools If your timer connector has a white wire it is continuous (or possible a cumulative version 2, but hook up is the same) use procedure 1 (black wire to terminal MARKED #1...which does not mean the first pin)

B)If there is a red wire use procedure 2 (black wire to terminal MARKED #2) .

C) Cumulative version 2 uses procedure 3 which is the same as procedure 1(blackwire to terminal MARKED #1)...but usually there is a red and a white wire....but since you already determined there was a white wire you should have used procedure 1 anyway(terminal MARKED #1).

Also remember, if the timer runs when the fridge is plugged in regardless of whether the cold control is off...it is continuous ie procedure 1

***So in essence, if there is a white wire use procedure 1

**if there is a red wire and no white, wire use procedure 2.

***Ignore procedure 3 as it is the same as procedure 1.

Again, this is for wire colors used by Whirlpool.

For further reading....http://appliantology.org/files/file/51-whirlpool-kitchenaid-maytag-amana-and-jenn-air-refrigerators-adc-defrost-systems-service-manual/ give a good explanation of standard timers as well as adc

also this thread http://appliantology.org/topic/38196-puzzle-with-replacing-defrost-timer-in-kenmore-1068559280/?hl=puzzle