Fuses for Engel MT40F Eclipse
Submitted: Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 19:19
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135139
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6
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Member - WBS
I'd like to pose a technical question about Engel fridge cables and fuses if thats ok?
I have dedicated cable from the auxiliary battery to my fridge. Rather than terminate the fridge end of that cable with a female cigarette lighter plug I would prefer to fit an Anderson plug to provide a much more efficient and positive connection and then cut the lighter plug off my fridge cable and fit an Anderson plug to that too. The cable from the battery to the Anderson plug has a 10 amp fuse at the battery end and the fridge has a 10 amp fuse in it as
well. Does anyone think it unwise to dispense with the cigarette plug from the fridge and its associated fuse?
Oh and as an added extra, I will be fitting an anderson plug to the cut bit of cable that has the cigarette lighter plug attached so in reality, apart from having a couple of anderson plugs at one end of the Engel cable it it could be used as originally intended.
I'm thinking of doing this because I don't like the cigarette style plugs as they can work themselves loose from my experience. I'm of the opinion that Anderson plugs are more reliable.
Thanks
WBS
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 20:12
Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 20:12
Hi WBS
First of all, do not cut your genuine Engel JCord, they are too expensive to do that and there is a far superior way of running your dedicated wire direst from the battery.
First of all use a high grade and heavy cable direct from the battery, and install an inline fuse close to the positive side of the cable close to the battery.
To give your cable extra protection,menu it through you door sills and have it encased it protective split cable cover.
Purchase a genuine Engel power adaptor, as there are a number available, eg ASPAN, NPAN etc and these will give the best possible way of connecting your fridge lead and they will never undo on the roughest of roads.
You unscrew your cig tip off of your lead and this will expose 2 bar metal lugs that will push into the ASPAN etc and then the threaded collar then screws down on your adaptor to give you a 100% positive fit that is completly secure.
This is by far the best way to connect your fridge and is 100% reliable without the need to cut your fridge power lead.
Cheers
Stephen
AnswerID:
612074
Follow Up By: Shaker - Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 22:24
Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 22:24
I'll second that, Anderson plugs are ridiculous overkill for a fridge. The Engel plug a socket are adequate & will never become disconnected.
FollowupID:
882133
Follow Up By: Member - WBS - Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 23:10
Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 23:10
Thanks for the input.I will look into that approach as an alternative approach to my original idea. That's why I asked the question.
FollowupID:
882135
Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 20:26
Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 20:26
The fuse in the cig plug is a thermal fuse. It's to stop the cig plug from melting. Anderson plug is a better way to go The other way is fiddly and more expensive. Pretty much every fridge we have through our
shop we fit anderson plugs to. Rugged and dont come apart
AnswerID:
612078
Follow Up By: Member - WBS - Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 23:14
Friday, Jun 23, 2017 at 23:14
Thanks for your response.
FollowupID:
882136
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 00:06
Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 00:06
I agree with Ivan. Use an anderson plug, do away with the thermal fuse. Amp draw on an Engel is only 2.8A when cycling anyway.
FollowupID:
882138
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 09:24
Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 09:24
Hi Phil
Are you aware that you can unscrew the cig plug at the end on the lead and thus do away with the thermal fuse?
Why ruin a good $60 lead and what happens if you transfer the fridge to a vehicle that does not have an Anderson plug?
The ASPAN and NPAN type fittings do the very same thing as the Anderson plug, but better, and when the collar is screwed up into the fitting, it is impossible for them to part, not unless you unscrew the collar.
Change to a vehicle that does not have that fitting, just simply screw back the cig fitting and you can use your fridge in the standard socket......something that you can not do with an Anderson plug.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
882146
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 20:57
Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 20:57
Hi Stephen,
Sorry I should have explained it better.
I don't ruin the lead. I cut it at whatever length is suitable for the fridge installation, then fit an anderson plug to both cut ends.
I then have the anderson plug lead plus an adaptor lead for cig sockets. I take the adaptor lead "just in case".
Anderson plug adaptor lead for engel
Cheers
Phil
FollowupID:
882184
Reply By: rumpig - Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 08:39
Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 08:39
Why bother with an anderson plug when the Engel lead already has a screw in fitting on it?...all you have to do is unscrew the ciggie lighter connection off of it. You just need to install the other connection onto you power lead from the battery (assuming it is fused and of the required size), no altering off the fridge power lead required.
ENGEL PLUG
I have been running one of these plugs in my vehicles for 11 years now and never once had an issue with them. If you are planning on removing the fridge from your vehicle to run off a battery elsewhere then there may be an advantage in having an anderson plug connection on it, but if just running it full time n the vehicle i'd use the plug it comes with
AnswerID:
612101
Follow Up By: Member - WBS - Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 09:09
Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 09:09
I'll confess that I only realised you could unscrew the cigar plug bit after the responses to my original post. Its not that I'm slow on the uptake or anything, I've only owned an Engel for 10 years or more and lived in blissful ignorance for all that time.
I just bought myself another Engel yesterday after having got thoroughly cheesed of with my Waeco CF50. The Waeco is a good fridge and does exactly what its supposed to but being a fridge/freezer I assumed that I could use it as a fridge or a freezer but I was wrong, it works best when used as both with the plastic partitions in place. It doesn't cope as a full freezer and if I remove the plastic partition to use it as just a fridge then one half has to be freezing for the other half to be cool enough. That will be the last time I buy a fridge/freezer combo where there are not separate thermostats for the fridge and the freezer parts. Lesson learnt.
Thanks for all the contributions. I'm a wiser man because of them. I'll be getting the Engel female end asap.
WBS
FollowupID:
882144
Follow Up By: Member - Blue M - Sunday, Jun 25, 2017 at 00:09
Sunday, Jun 25, 2017 at 00:09
WBS, you are not alone in there. I tried to explain this to a mate of mine and he thought I was mad. I actually had to show him how the plug unscrewed. He had been an Engel owner for many years as
well.
Cheers
FollowupID:
882190
Reply By: aussiedingo (River Rina) - Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 10:15
Saturday, Jun 24, 2017 at 10:15
Jacar have replacement Engel leads for $20, I bought one for my caravan & cut the cig plug off to connect direct to my van's busbar .
AnswerID:
612105
Reply By: nickb - Sunday, Jun 25, 2017 at 03:20
Sunday, Jun 25, 2017 at 03:20
I did exactly as you describe with no issues, going strong for 10 years now. Also have the Anderson plugs in other vehicles so the fridge can reliably be plugged in anywhere I need. Same could be done with the dedicated Engel socket I suppose, the Anderson plug is my preferred method as any of my 12v items can be used in any of my vehicles/camper.
The Engel also has a fuse in the actual fridge near the power lead sockets.
I can't see an issue with cutting an "expensive" lead, are you going to sell it and are worried about resale??
AnswerID:
612127
Reply By: Member -Dodger - Thursday, Jun 29, 2017 at 16:24
Thursday, Jun 29, 2017 at 16:24
Whilst most here will not agree.
I have used Marine cigar fittings and they have a facility so that once the engel plug is inserted or any other male cigar plug you give that plug a slight turn which makes it hard to come out.
They have been in my last 3 vehicles without problems. And yes I have done most of the so called difficult roads and tracks.
AnswerID:
612227