Electrical issue - internal lights & fridge
Posted: 16 Jun 2009, 13:40
Let me start by saying that I am not technically minded so any answers should be phrased as if talking to a child.
I have a 1983 Devon Moonraker. I have two internal strip lights, one of which is over the sink and looks as though it is original. There is another further back in the van that looks as though it has been there for many years. I also have an Electrolux two way fridge that has just been serviced and now works on gas. Although I am sure the lights were Ok when I first got the van last summer, they seem to be duller now and after brief use they will suddenly fade to a faint glow. I have obtained a further strip light that plugs into the cig lighter and that is really bright.
I tracked down that the lights and fridge are not fused by the box under the parcel shelf but a unit behind the driver.
There is a white plastic front to the box and a cover that I now realise is made from bits of a plastic milk bottle.
My attention was raised when I realised that if I switched on the electric switch for the fridge, the little black unit below starts making a strangled buzzing noise so I have left it switched off and just use gas.
The white fuse is 8A and controls both circuits. I know this as if the fuse is removed, neither the lights or the fridge will work.
The blue fuse is 25A and I have no idea what it does.
I suspect water has got into the unit at some point. You can see traces of rusty brown at the corners of the unit where the screws go and the terminal that attaches to the blue cable also looks a little corroded at the base.
I have sandpapered the various connections, including the fuse connections and the ends of the fuses.
I have a multimeter that I bought a few years ago but have never really used as I have never had a use for it. I am getting about 7 1/2 volts across the white fuse terminals. By comparison, I get 12 volts from the cig lighter.
I can therefore see roughly where my problem lies but as I know diddly sqat about car electrics, I am now at a loss what to do next.
I have a 1983 Devon Moonraker. I have two internal strip lights, one of which is over the sink and looks as though it is original. There is another further back in the van that looks as though it has been there for many years. I also have an Electrolux two way fridge that has just been serviced and now works on gas. Although I am sure the lights were Ok when I first got the van last summer, they seem to be duller now and after brief use they will suddenly fade to a faint glow. I have obtained a further strip light that plugs into the cig lighter and that is really bright.
I tracked down that the lights and fridge are not fused by the box under the parcel shelf but a unit behind the driver.
There is a white plastic front to the box and a cover that I now realise is made from bits of a plastic milk bottle.
My attention was raised when I realised that if I switched on the electric switch for the fridge, the little black unit below starts making a strangled buzzing noise so I have left it switched off and just use gas.
The white fuse is 8A and controls both circuits. I know this as if the fuse is removed, neither the lights or the fridge will work.
The blue fuse is 25A and I have no idea what it does.
I suspect water has got into the unit at some point. You can see traces of rusty brown at the corners of the unit where the screws go and the terminal that attaches to the blue cable also looks a little corroded at the base.
I have sandpapered the various connections, including the fuse connections and the ends of the fuses.
I have a multimeter that I bought a few years ago but have never really used as I have never had a use for it. I am getting about 7 1/2 volts across the white fuse terminals. By comparison, I get 12 volts from the cig lighter.
I can therefore see roughly where my problem lies but as I know diddly sqat about car electrics, I am now at a loss what to do next.
