waeco fridge plug problem, auto elec. question
Submitted: Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 07:59
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Rock Crawler
Hi all . Firstly , happy new year to all.
Now to my problem. I have lost my 3rd waeco fridge plug to heat. Were it plugs into the cars 12 v outlet ( hella special plug ) it seams to get hot and melt the hella 12 volt connector near the fuse . Now it seams like a current issue , is it that the hella plugs are crap ? has anyone else had this issue ? On holidays in Port Stephens , does anyone know any place to buy one of these plugs ? or do I need to drive to
Newcastle ? is there a Narva better version , as there is a auto
shop here that sells Narva products
thanks in advance .
EC
Reply By: Gronk - Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 09:35
Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 09:35
Have you got a hella type socket in the rear of the 4x4 ?? If so,
check that the
little spring loaded positive clip will clamp onto the positive pin of the hella type plug ??
I used a Jaycar Hella type plug.....far better than the others...has an earth ring right round the circumference of the plug...
I have also done what others on here have reccomended.....cut off the lead as close to the fridge as possible and use bigger cable ( soldered together ) with a normal spade type fuse holder at the plug end....
You have a hot joint somewhere at the plug....but shouldn't be too hard to trace ...
AnswerID:
342675
Reply By: Mark Taylor - Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 13:45
Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 13:45
I can tell you as an auto elec that your melted plug is caused by poor connection.
Everytime!
If you are buring out the male plug from the fridge, then it sounds like the female socket is not holding the plug firmly enough.. causes all sorts of burnt connections. Replace the female socket.
If you are going to run heavier wiring to the rear, then an anderson plug is a good idea. I personally don't use them, I choose the Hella Plug and socket myself.. have been using them since the 70s in all sorts of vehicles and have had no problems.
In my last Series Land Rover (back in 1974) I actually had 3 of them in the back.. 2 running of a separate battery and wired independantly to run an Engel fridge and also lights. The other was wired to the start battery.
I have 2 of them in my new Disco 3 and they run the Waeco just fine.
Good Luck
Cheers
Mark T
AnswerID:
342717
Follow Up By: Rock Crawler - Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 18:38
Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 18:38
I think your on the money , I had the flush mounted hella type and have been talking about using a right angle for ages , will give it a go
FollowupID:
610443
Reply By: Grungle - Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 14:56
Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 14:56
I have an 80L Waeco which I have had for around 5 years now. It runs 24/7 either from a power supply under the house (hella outlet), back of the car (hella outlet) or camper trailer (cig outlet).
Mine gets warm but never melted. I have also broken one due to a sideways yank on the cable but just bought a new plug and fitted.
Check your voltages at the hella connector when fridge is connected and running as normal to see what voltage it is. If it is low (11-12V) then more current will be consumed to compensate (not much more though). This could be the cause of the melted plug.
I would say that the problem is a voltage drop in your cabling to the fridge (hella) plug.
Regards
David
AnswerID:
342724
Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 19:17
Monday, Jan 05, 2009 at 19:17
"Where it plugs into the cars 12 v outlet ( hella special plug ) it seams to get hot and melt the hella 12 volt connector near the fuse ."
If the plug is warm or hot, then the problem is in the plug, not the wiring.
All plugs depend on pressure between two bits of metal to keep contact resistance low enough. Both Cigarette Lighter and Hella plugs depend on the centre contact maintaining pressure through the plug being firmly in the socket. Unless there is some sort of lock to hold the plug in, it will come loose and get hot.
An actual Cigarette Lighter has a metal collar which holds the plug and maintain centre-spring pressure. The ONLY Cigarette-Lighter plugs worth using are those that have this collar near the front. The convertible plugs that can work as a Hella plug when a red sleeve is removed have this collar.
If you are adding a Cigarette-Lighter-style socket, make sure it has the same retaining spring that original sockets have. Otherwise you will nothing to grip the collar on the plug. Dick Smith sell an illuminated socket that has this collar.
AnswerID:
342767