Fault with Fridge Light
Submitted: Friday, Oct 01, 2010 at 03:06
ThreadID:
126921
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3
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Toga The Mist
Hi.
I have a fridge light not working,have identified it is not the bulb.Pulled out the wires from bottom outside vent and noticed that one of the wires within the heat sink had become unattached , I presume from corrugations. I followed a post from Neil in the Bible,but on completion all worked ok for test and then high amp disconnect kicked in .
I have tripped the circuit breaker to reset the system, until I sort it.
Has anyone got any ideas.I did put in a 7812 semiconductor and 2 more small capacitors but i must have something about face. John
Reply By: Noosa Fox - Saturday, Oct 02, 2010 at 03:43
Saturday, Oct 02, 2010 at 03:43
John,
When I broke the wires off in mine I bought a new set up from WAECO and it wasn't that expensive. It was just a case of changing a few wires over.
I did however make a modification to the new one and that was to fill the tube with silicon so that the wires would not fatigue on corrugations, and that has worked well for several years now.
Also if you have a resistor going to the power terminal could I suggest that you put a piece of cable tie alongside it and heat shrink the cable tie to the resistor and wires. After breaking a wire off of 3 resistors I made that modification and haven't had a problem since.
I did suggest these 2 modifications to BTi several years ago but I don't think they thought much of the idea.
Brian
AnswerID:
581279
Follow Up By: Toga The Mist - Saturday, Oct 02, 2010 at 04:30
Saturday, Oct 02, 2010 at 04:30
HI Brian and Freewheelers,
Thanks for the prompt response .
I have contacted Waeco on the coast and ordered the replacement parts as you suggested,Part no 444160017 thanks again.
In the meantime I have Joined the two power wires and terminated the negative wire and Bingo, all works well and fridge light glows in the dark as it should.I am led to believe that the semiconductor and the small capacitors are only there to protect the circuit from 24v and thus save the bulb. I will fit the standard parts when they arrive but have trouble understanding why they are necessary when my system is 12v only.
I sense my trouble was created by two trips up to Kalumburu this dry season.
Brian I will also adopt the silicon solution as well.
Regards John
FollowupID:
852919
Follow Up By: Noosa Fox - Saturday, Oct 02, 2010 at 05:39
Saturday, Oct 02, 2010 at 05:39
John,
As you said the device is only there to protect the 12 volt globe from over voltage as the fridge can run on both 12 or 24 volts.
If you had a 240 volt Waeco MPS50 transformer fitted then that would give the fridge 27 volts.
In your case with just 12 volt power, then the way you have fixed it would really be all that would be required.
Brian
FollowupID:
852920
Reply By: Freewheelers - Saturday, Oct 02, 2010 at 03:53
Saturday, Oct 02, 2010 at 03:53
hi john
hi brian
we had a replacement harness for the light including the heat sink fitted in perth a couple of years ago from memory it cost about $30 plus the waeco guy fitted it for about the same we had him fill the heat sink with silicon thus stabilising the wires plus we then siliconed the wires further along to the frame so no movement
has worked so far the waeco guy was impressed & thought it a good simple remedy
cheers
AnswerID:
581280
Reply By: Spirit Gypsys - Friday, Oct 08, 2010 at 10:05
Friday, Oct 08, 2010 at 10:05
Brian, you mentioned the Blue resistor on the power wire.
Ours played up in Port Hedland last feb. and the mobile fridge bloke thru it away altogether. now our fridge (190L F/F) pulls only 3.7amps max and we've had no probs even in 3 weeks of over 50 last year at Nullagine.
I asked the waeco tech about it and he said there wouldn't be a problem except the compressor may not be running at the max for real hot weather, But..........
We'll settle for half power consumption. It's been quite obvious.
AnswerID:
581281
