I tried to make my GE side by side work with the front panel off - and just plug in the PCB that works the slider switches and light. It's a TPX24BRBA GE frig. But, when I shorted the micro-switch, the PCB board blew a fuse-link on the backside and the whole frig quit working completely - no power at all anywhere. Anyone know if there is an overall fuse link or breaker for these frig's? It's totally blown at this point.

Any help here would be appreciated.

I don't understand what switch you shorted. I do not know of any fusible link on that refrigerator. Do you have a model with a circuit board? Power comes in and goes to defrost timer and from there through t-stat to compressor and condenser fan and freezer fan. Power is supplied to water valves and switches separately. I cannot imagine what you did unless you lost power at the outlet. Why did you short this switch? DrTom4444