Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (June 2000, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Sat, 24 Jun 2000 23:10:07 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ibm.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ibm.net>
Subject:      Re: fridge relay actuator circuit:
Comments: To: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@thegrid.net>
In-Reply-To:  <000b01bfde4c$e659f880$b29fe0d8@wd1000086onem>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 22:27 6/24/2000, Bill Davidson wrote: >So, my question is: >Is it normal for the stock fridge relay actuator wires to get hot while the >starter is working and drawing from the starter batter?

No.

>If not, what are the likely reasons that mine is doing so?

Lessee -- relay's wired like this: D+-----86()()()()()()()()()()()85-------Ign Sw 50-------Starter 50()()()()Gnd

B+-----87--------/ *--------30-------B2+ (used to be fridge)

When engine is not running, D+ is ground. When engine is being started, D+ might conceivably go pos, but the relay is grounded through the starter solenoid, which is being pulled high by the starter switch. I don't know how the D+ terminal is wired inside the alternator, but the plain intent of grounding through the starter solenoid is to prevent the relay closing while cranking.

The wires feeding the fridge relay are .5mm/20 ga -- no way they could get hot with the relay coil in circuit even if the relay draws an amp, which I'm sure it doesn't. Whatever is heating those wires up is not passing through the relay coil. I'd look for a short btw -- er -- I dunno. I'm probably being stupid, but I don't see a plausible way of miswiring or shorting that arrangement that wouldn't give some strange results while the engine was running.

So I'd likely chase around with an ohmmeter and/or trouble light with the relay in and out of the socket, then if needed pull the distributor connector and rig a remote start button, and start tracing current.

That's a headscratcher david David Beierl - Providence, RI http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/ '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage" '85 GL "Poor Relation"


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.