Thread: Engel problem

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

the older ones will eat your battery.
Ive got one that will still refrigerate at down to 7v.

Engles last forever. the one dad took on the cape trip is older than I am.

So Dave, do you think there is an easy fix here..I am 99% sure my 4yo 40 litre unit has stuffed 12V equipment? I would like it to outlast you.

the power supplies are repairable and the older ones that they no longer make parts from run from a coke can inverter for less current draw than the original 12v power supply,

most of the earlier (I think 07 was the change out date to the newest type) power supplies are repairable and its usually one of about 5 things that stop them.

a corroded or bad internal connection
a transistor type component thats gone to lunch (theres 2 big ones
a capacitor that has gone
a dry joint
track corrosion

I realise that doesnt help you at this point....

Originally Posted by Linds

So Dave, do you think there is an easy fix here..I am 99% sure my 4yo 40 litre unit has stuffed 12V equipment? I would like it to outlast you.

well, anythings fixable with enough time money and effort, sometimes its easy and cheap others not so.. Unfortunately its not like an engine, I cant just ask you to describe it and work it from there. BUT

If the compressor is running on 240V and you're getting some signs of life from it on 12V then you may get lucky and a decent elec tech will be able to nut it out. (I get dad to do all my serious smart elec tech work)

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

well, anythings fixable with enough time money and effort, sometimes its easy and cheap others not so.. Unfortunately its not like an engine, I cant just ask you to describe it and work it from there. BUT

If the compressor is running on 240V and you're getting some signs of life from it on 12V then you may get lucky and a decent elec tech will be able to nut it out. (I get dad to do all my serious smart elec tech work)

Problem is it will cost half the amount of a new power supply to get it fixed. Min $50 just to take the cover off and look and depending on repairer $50-$90 per hr to repair. I suppose at least with the new power supply it should run for another 10 years.
I have checked all I can without actually pulling the whole board apart. The Engel agent works on the hill with us so will ask him.
Fitting the power supply is not really an issue 2 main wires and a thermister wire and an earth.

Agreed, I know enough to be able to fault find them to the module that requires changing and then I send that off to get fixed, I have access to a couple of good spark wranglers and generally get simple stuff for free or in trade for grease monkey work.

Ocassionaly the modules turn up on ebay.

well I dont know..

I put the new battery in this morning and hooked it all up and sure enough no compressor. No time to drop it off to the local service agent b4 midday so just on the off chance ( not really..... I was just stuffing around) I hooked the fridge up via the normal 12V outlet rather than the engel plug outlet. To do that I had to obviously unscrew the engel plug and put on the other one.

FMD if it didnt start working! I couldnt believe it. I jiggled the plug around and no intermittent supply at all..just working normally. So I had a close look at the engel lead fitting..looks fine but is a looser fit than the other one, gave it a bit of a clean up and refitted it very tightly. Bugger me if thats not working now too.

I dont really get it though..I had 12.8 volts at the plug there before and no compressor..now same voltage(albeit with new battery) but the compressor IS working. it works even with the plug very lightly fitted to the fridge.

Not sure what I have discovered here but sure hope that it is a fix. Will keep and eye on it over the next few days.

Originally Posted by Linds

well I dont know..

I put the new battery in this morning and hooked it all up and sure enough no compressor. No time to drop it off to the local service agent b4 midday so just on the off chance ( not really..... I was just stuffing around) I hooked the fridge up via the normal 12V outlet rather than the engel plug outlet. To do that I had to obviously unscrew the engel plug and put on the other one.

FMD if it didnt start working! I couldnt believe it. I jiggled the plug around and no intermittent supply at all..just working normally. So I had a close look at the engel lead fitting..looks fine but is a looser fit than the other one, gave it a bit of a clean up and refitted it very tightly. Bugger me if thats not working now too.

I dont really get it though..I had 12.8 volts at the plug there before and no compressor..now same voltage(albeit with new battery) but the compressor IS working. it works even with the plug very lightly fitted to the fridge.

Not sure what I have discovered here but sure hope that it is a fix. Will keep and eye on it over the next few days.

Maybe I should send you mine.

youve found a damaged connection.

possibly the pins in the cable/socket itself possibly the pin in the socket itself.

its easy enough to get 12v to show up in a plug that wont do any work, I call it a phantom voltage and its typically caused by a bad earth or dodgy connection. if you think you might have a phantom voltage plug in a 60-70w light bulb and then measure the voltage again.