Bush Boy Fridge Fault
Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009 at 16:42
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Spitster
Help needed - all you electronics wizz's out there, hopefully someone has had a similar experience or an easy fix for my fridge problem. The culprit is a 55l Bushboy fridge, about 10 yo made in Melb with Danfoss Compressor etc. Worked like a breeze for about 8 years, (great fridge by the way) then started blowing fuse in vehicle to dual battery line. Works fine on 240v inverter (240v to 12v), works fine on a 12v battery pack. Put it in a vehicle, any vehicle, I've tried half a dozen different vehicles and it will blow the fuse in the dual battery line. Ok, so I put a bigger fuse in the line, then it blows the fuse in the fridge. Took it back to the bloke in
Melbourne who builds them, tells me it is a fault in the Compressor / Electronics and would need to be replaced at a cost of about $1000. Took it to an 4x4 Service Agent, who tinkered with it for a couple of weeks, replaced some electronic gizmos, tested it for about a week running in their factory, shook it, vibrated it, basically nearly run it upside down, worked like a beauty, put it in one of their vehicles and it had blown the fuse within 5 minutes. They scratched their heads, gave me back the fridge and since then it has worked like a dream off 240v Power source. By the way I have since bought a 40l Engel, but it frustrates the hell out of me knowing it works fine on anything, but in a vehicle....
Reply By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009 at 17:01
Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009 at 17:01
Very stange!
My Bushboy I presume was identical to yours. Fitted with an inbuilt 240/12 volt power supply. Connect up to 240 and the 12volt supply plugs into a Hella outlet on the transformer unit built in to the front of the fridge cabinet.
On 12v the supply lead was pulled from the transformer, and in then plugged into a Hella outlet from the camper trailer battery which was fed by by an Andersen Plug via a Projecta isolator kit.
The only fuse I recall in my fridge unit was a 240 fuse in the transformer/power supply. I did blow that once and like a goose tried to fit a replacement whilst connected to 240. The jolt blew me across the carport where I finished up by the mains power outlet so it was a short reach to turn the power off.
Well I've had a bit of a Bushboy reminisce but been no help at all.
Ian
AnswerID:
390893
Reply By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009 at 18:44
Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009 at 18:44
From a search the Bushboy seems to have a stainless steel cabinet in which case it may be that an electrical fault has occurred between the 12volt positive and the metal case. When in the vehicle and the case is in contact with the bodywork or chassis a short circuit would occur. When operated from the mains or out of the vehicle there is no earthed bodywork so no short circuit.
When the fridge is in the vehicle does it come into contact with any bodywork or other metal, even a screw head? Maybe try putting the fridge into the vehicle on an insulating pad, even a sheet of plywood or thick cardboard. If then it works and doesn't blow the fuse you have the answer. A
test with an ohmmeter from the fridge positive to its cabinet or chassis will confirm the situation.
If that is the answer you will have to examine the fridge electrics for a short but it may be in the motor/compressor and inaccessible.
AnswerID:
390904
Follow Up By: Spitster - Thursday, Nov 12, 2009 at 08:34
Thursday, Nov 12, 2009 at 08:34
Ahh, thanks Alan, never thought of that. I do anchor the fridge down via holding down bolts attached to the metal luggage tie down points in the back of the Patrol. Will try and insulate and ensure no metal is touching and see if it makes a difference....
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