Help please...electrical/electronic gurus

[wardy1]

Yesterday I disconneceted my Projecta 15,000mA 3 stage charger from the battery in my camper because I needed the lead for something else. Once finished, I reconnected the battery to the charger and bang... a big spark and no more activity from the charger. I DID NOT reverse polarity!
Now logic tells me there should be a fuse, or something similar but dammit, I can't even get the thing apart to get a decent look. There certainly isn't a fuse accessible from outside the unit through the casing.
Since this nice bit of kit cost me about $200 only about 6 weeks ago, is there anyone who might be able to take a look and tell me if I've fried it or not?
Happy to pay someone to fix it rather than send it away for 6 weeks and then get a bill anyway.

[Blknight.aus]

assuming you mean you just pulled he mains cord out of it and left it plugged onto the batteries you might be lucky and it will be the main power fuse that spiked.

Hardest thing about it will be pulling the case apart to get to the bugger.

have you tried a different power lead into the case (assuming that it uses one of the DIN computer type leads) or a different power out let just incase youve tripped the circut in the house wiring?

[wardy1]

I used the lead again for something else afterthe spark..... no probs there.

[waynep]

Just take it back under warranty-it's not unreasonable that it was a fault with the unit and not something you have done - if you bought it from a big chain they'll normally replace it no questions asked.

A unit that price should have self protection against things like reverse polarity, high currents etc.

If that fails, I could take a look at it for you. There must be a way you can get it apart.
You say there was a spark where did it come from, the battery clips or inside the unit itself ? Any burning smells from the unit ? ( which normally is not good )

[wardy1]

The spark was at the clips, no burning smell :). I called Autobarn and they send them away...min 6 weeks and i need it back before that. Would really appreciate it if you coud take a look wayne.

[Blknight.aus]

ahh from the clips......

I thought he ment from the 240v plug...

my money says it will be an output transistor. (assuming its switch mode and not a transformer with a rectifier and choke)

[V8Ian]

The spark was at the clips, no burning smell :). I called Autobarn and they send them away...min 6 weeks and i need it back before that. Would really appreciate it if you coud take a look wayne.
Go back to Autobarn and demand an exchange; 6weeks is not good enough.:mad:

[bblaze]

Wont help you but
For a couple of days my wifes computer has been a pain to start, suspecting the power supply I pulled it today and fitted a newy. Within 30 seconds of starting it blew in a puff of smoke (well the smoke nearly filled the room and set off the smoke alarm), took it back to the supply and he tried to blame the computer (might be green but I aint cabbage looking), I told him what I thought and he reluctantly replaced it, refitted another newy and all works well. Moral of the story is even new can fail, I suspect by the smoke it had a faulty transformer winding.
cheers
blaze

[DeanoH]

It'll have an internal fuse. You just have to figure out how to get to it. Is it in one of those extruded type aluminium cases with a front and rear panel ? if so look for little screws on the side or underneath, undo em and the insides slide out. Did the same thing to mine, not a Projecta, and that all it was. What the point is of having a consumable part like a fuse sealed inside the unit beats me, but its not unusual

Deano

[waynep]

The spark was at the clips, no burning smell :). I called Autobarn and they send them away...min 6 weeks and i need it back before that. Would really appreciate it if you coud take a look wayne.

Best anyone could do is help you get it apart and see if it's a fuse. If it's another component it'll almost certainly have to go back to the manufacturer. ( probably made in China with obscure part numbers etc ). Maybe post a couple of pics at diffrent angles and we can work out how it's put together. Only thing is once you pull it apart you might void any warranty claim. Maybe ring Projecta direct see what they say. Can you find/borrow another charger to tide you over ?

[wardy1]

I've found the screws that hold it all together but 2 of them won't come out, I can see the nuts turning. No way I can get anything down there to hold them :mad:

[wardy1]

Thanks everyone for your help but I got onto the importer today and guess what...... they'll repace it with the later model (which is $80 dearer) at the store and......
I called Autobarn as I couldn't find proof of purchase:eek: so they looked up their system and found the original order for me......

AM DEAD......... AM I IN HEAVEN???????????

Is this the new age of SERVICE??

I hope so. anyway congrats to these guys for being sooo dam helpful.