Engel Trouble

I would assume (always a bit of a dangerous thing to do, I know) that it would be the 240v > 12v transformer.

Suggest you seek professional repairer as mucking around with 240v is illegal and very dangerous.

Having said that (to cover my backside), if it was mine, I would remove the cover off the back and tinker around to find the component that looks/smells like it's been having a little internal BBQ and see if it appears to be a "plug'n'play type of component that could be unplugged and then plug a new one in.....but I didn't say that, okay!! hahaha

Roachie

Peter, if it runs ok on 12volts and no smoke escapes, not a problem.............

My admittedly imperfect understanding of an Engel's operation is that the voltage is rectified to 24 volts from either 12 or 240 in what is a plug in assembly, so I am surprised that it works on 12volts unless the problem is before the rectifier unit.

So I would have a look to see if some wires have been chafed and shorted between the unit and the plug.

If you see that it is part of the rectifier unit , AFAIK the fix is to buy a new voltage control unit which costs several hundred dollars.

Again AFAIK all the units in an Engel, such as the compressor unit, voltage unit etc are basically plug and play, so its really a waste of money to have a technician do the labour if you can ID the problem by smell or sight.
I have bought parts from a mob in Perth who were good to deal with.
Regards Philip A

Let's add to this thread by talking about ours rather than yours. It recently stopped getting cold (which is a bit of a bugger). Obviously it will be off to the repairer but curious if anyone else's has suffered the same malaise and the reason for same.

The power light comes on initially, but then fades out over time.

So - your son borrows your Engel to go fishing and when he returns you can't smell any fish. No fish smell, no fish. He takes the Engel, lets the smoke get out, and doesn't give you any fish. Sounds like someone owes you some fish if not an Engel.

BernieC

Hi Peter

Not sure where you are in WA, but give these guys a call. All they deal in is Engels sales, service and repair. They have a few shops that may make it more convenient.

ENGEL WORLD - conact details

They fixed my old rattler a few times when the fridge mechanics said it was cactus.

No affiliation blah blah blah - just a customer happy with old fashioned service and commitment to quality.

Cheers

Anthony

Thanks to all who replied. When my son gets back (hopefully with some fish) I'll have a look at the fridge. I don't make a habit of playing with something that can kill you but you can't see.

Peter

I'm a little edgy about repair agents.

Few years back my grey 40 litre started freezing; compressor running non stop.
Measured the Temp control with a multimeter & it appeared in range.

Measured the temp sensor (NTC) and it's resistance varied with temperature, didn't have specs, but it did move thru a reasonable resistance range as I varied it's temperature, so assumed it was still operating Ok.

Suspected the whole control unit/power supply had an issue & would need replacing.
After all, it was the magic box that ultimately sent power to the compressor.
Short circuited transistors, mosfets, or whatever they used seemed a logical conclusion.

So I took it to the authorised service agent & they said they could diagnose it with their "Special Engel tester".

The report was that the compressor was "Surging", something to do with pressures & current.

Required the entire compressor, condenser & evaporator assembly replacing. $650 plus labour etc....

Carted the thing home figuring at 12 years replacement might be a better option.

On the off chance it might fit, I decided I might see if I could rob the controller box from my 60 litre & confirm my power supply controller suspicions.

Can't remember if I did or didn't get to try that, but I did swap the thermistor, even though I was confident I'd ruled it out.

Problem fixed.
Obviously the NTC sensor was out of range.

A phone call to the agents in Perth, replacement sent & me now $30 poorer.

Think that was 4 years ago now.

Cheers

if it runs ok on 12 volt, why bother repairing it? Just go buy a 240-12V power supply such as one of the chargers from Supercheap, $40 odd bucks and off you go?

A Engel compressor requires 24vAC not DC
The power supply / Oscalliator unit pictured converts 12vDC to 24vAC or when 240vac is connect it converts it to 24vac as well
On the older power supply / Oscalliators when 12vdc is connected there is around 200vac at the 240vac socket that's why there is the littlte plastic slide cover..
The older Engels have 3 parts to the power supply unit - the oscillator and the transformer and thermostat
The oscillator converts 12vdc to 12vac ( metal can with a transistor either side)
The transformer has basically two inputs 1- 12vac (from oscillator) & 2 - 240vac and one output 24vac ( to compressor)
The thermostat switches the whole lot on and off

The newer old models have a two temperature sensors and the temperature set dial that connect on to the oscillator board but still has a 12vac output and much the same type of transformer.
Again this unit can also have 200vac on the 240vac connector when connected to 12vdc.
Be Carefull!
The same units are also sold under the name of NORCOLD in the USA and Canada.
Have found a very useful fault finding manual and some parts manuals and some circuit diagrams searching either Norcold or part No only or model No only. Leave out the word engel.

After all that, looks like I have to buy a complete power supply $350+postage to replace my faulty oscillator/temperature controller anyway as I can not find a replacement IC or circuit diagram for it as I have replaced all the identified parts and it still only runs for about 5sec then stops.

Hope this helps

Ps there is also a utube vid of a norcold fridge beaning pulled apart.