DSM defrost during high demand

1. A method comprising:

providing a standard supply of electrical power to a defrost heater during a standard defrost cycle for a refrigeration system of an appliance;

detecting a high energy demand period during the standard defrost cycle; and

enabling a reduced consumption of electrical power by the defrost heater in a low power defrost cycle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling a reduced consumption of electrical power by the defrost heater in a low power defrost cycle comprises reducing the standard supply of electrical power to the defrost heater by approximately 50%.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling a reduced consumption of electrical power by the defrost heater in a low power defrost cycle comprises:

automatically switching the standard supply of electrical power to the defrost heater to a reduced power input circuit in the low power defrost cycle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the reduced power input circuit comprises a power reduction device coupled between the standard supply of electrical power and the defrost heater.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the power reduction device comprises a diode or TRIAC device between the standard supply of electrical power and the defrost heater.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the power reduction device comprises a defrost heater sheath having a high power terminal and a low power terminal, and enabling a reduced consumption of electrical power defrost by the defrost heater in a low power defrost cycle further comprises switching the standard supply of electrical power from the high power terminal to the low power terminal.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling a reduced consumption of electrical power by the defrost heater in a low power defrost cycle comprises switching a power input to the defrost heater from a high power input to a one-half power input.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the defrost heater comprises a primary defrost heater and a secondary defrost heater, and enabling a reduced consumption of electrical power by the defrost heater in a low power defrost cycle comprises energizing only one of the primary defrost heater and the secondary defrost heater.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling a reduced consumption of electrical power by the defrost heater in a low power defrost cycle comprises increasing a defrost cycle time period by a pre-determined time factor.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein increasing a defrost cycle time period comprises:

determining a remaining time period in the standard defrost cycle from a time the reduced consumption of electrical power by the defrost heater is enabled; and

determining a new time period for the low power defrost cycle based on the time period remaining in the standard defrost cycle and a heat output power of the defrost heater in the low power defrost cycle.

11. A control system for a defrost heater in a refrigeration system, comprising:

a power supply connection;

a controller configured to determine a demand side management state signal; and

a power switching unit coupled between the power supply connection and the defrost heater, the power switching unit being configured to switch a power consumption state of the defrost heater in a defrost cycle from a standard power consumption mode to a reduced power consumption mode when the demand side management state signal is detected during the standard power consumption mode.

12. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the power switching unit comprises a power reduction device configured to reduce a supply of power from the power supply connection to the defrost heater in the reduced power consumption mode.

13. The control system of claim 12 , wherein the power reduction device comprises a diode or a TRIAC between the power supply connection and the defrost heater.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the power reduction device comprises a defrost heater sheath having a high power terminal and a low power terminal, and the power switching unit is further configured to switch the power supply connection from the high power terminal to the low power terminal in the reduced power consumption mode.

15. The control system of claim 12 , wherein the defrost heater comprises a primary defrost heater and a secondary defrost heater, and the power switching unit is configured to couple only one of the primary defrost heater and secondary defrost heater to the power supply connection in the reduced power consumption mode.

16. The control system of claim 12 , further comprising a defrost cycle timing device, the defrost cycle timing device being configured to increase a defrost cycle time period by a pre-determined factor in the reduced power consumption mode.

17. A refrigerator comprising:

a compartment;

an evaporator in heat transfer association with the compartment;

a defrost heater associated with the evaporator; and

a controller configured to switch an energy consumption state of the defrost heater from a standard energy consumption state to a reduced energy consumption state when a peak power demand state is detected.

18. The refrigerator of claim 17 , further comprising:

a source of electrical power for powering the defrost heater; and

a power reduction device coupled to the controller, the power reduction device being configured to switch the source of electrical power from a standard power level to a reduced power level when the peak power demand state is detected.

19. The refrigerator of claim 18 , wherein the power reduction device comprises a diode or TRIAC device, the power reduction device being configured to connect the diode or TRIAC device between the source of electrical power and the defrost heater when the peak power demand state is detected.

20. The refrigerator of claim 17 , further comprising a defrost cycle timing device coupled to the controller, the defrost cycle timing device being configured to increase a defrost cycle time period by a pre-determined factor in the reduced power consumption mode.