Forced defrost pins Force a defrost cycle / skip the 5-minute delay

What the display is showing

The heat pump board has a 2-pin header marked FORCED DEFROST. Shorting it for 5 seconds on a non-communicating system starts a defrost (communicating systems start it from the wall control). If the coil is at 32 F or colder and outdoor air is under 50 F a full defrost runs; otherwise only a short 30-second defrost. A quick short and release also skips the 5-minute start delay.

Applies to: Communicating *SA/*SH and *CA/*CH heat pump outdoor boards

What to do

1. Make sure the system is running a heating call.
2. Short the two FORCED DEFROST pins with a screwdriver for 5 seconds, then release.
3. To skip only the 5-minute start delay, short the pins briefly and release.
4. Quiet Shift compressor on/off delays are included in a forced defrost when enabled.

Models that show this code

11 models in KeepRite *SA/*SH Single-Stage Communicating, KeepRite *CA/*CH Two-Stage Communicating

Other codes on the same units

• Amber 3 flashes Outdoor fan delay after defrost is on (20 s)
• Amber 4 flashes Outdoor fan delay after defrost is defeated
• Amber 5 flashes Brown-out protection turned off (user setting)
• Amber 6 flashes Brown-out protection active (user setting)
• Amber LED off Standby - no call (2-wire hookup or indoor unit unpowered)
• Amber LED on solid Standby - no call (communicating)
• Brown-out defeat toggle Turn 230 V brown-out protection off or on
• Fan delay defeat toggle Switch the post-defrost outdoor fan delay off or on