Frigoboat Refrigerator Controller - can it be hotwired ?

affinite

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My fridge has given up the ghost.
Im pretty sure its the Frigoboat E250154 controller thats caput but we are onboard, in 30 deg heat and a long way from a repair guy.
Can someone tell me if I can somehow bypass the controller to manually control the compressor and get the EFEs back to an agreeable temperature?
There are 4 wires (Black, Blue, Brown, Green/Yell) going to the compressor from the controller.
Thanks
Steve
 
Interesting question.

I dont think so, but it would be good if I was wrong, because it would be a useful emergency fix!

As I am sure you know the controller converts the 12V (or 24V) to 240V. I am guessing that if you have an AC source then the answer is yes, as I am guessing the compressors are "standard" mains power compressors - but doubtless there is a bit of a workup there, assuming it is possible. I am sure you have run the usual checks. Penguin tell me it is actually incredibly rare for the "control box" to fail and is almost something else - usually either the thermostat or a drop in the 12V / 24V voltage - the control box is very sensitive.
 
Our last two thermostats gave up the ghost and as a temp solution we connected the brown to the blue wire from the thermostat (its just a switch really). That made the compressor work and we manually switched it on and off. A cheep digital thermometer from Ebay helped.
Bill
 
I am guessing that if you have an AC source then the answer is yes, as I am guessing the compressors are "standard" mains power compressors

I'm sure I read somewhere that the supply to the normal Danfoss compressor is actually 3-phase, so without some very specialised kit the compressor control box is essential.

However, possibly this Frigoboat unit is an additional control unit that sits in front of the Danfoss controller? My Isotherm unit is like that, there's a standard "dumb" Danfoss controller but then a "smart" Isotherm box plugged onto the front of it which sends lies down the thermostat line to manipulate the Danfoss's behaviour. I can and have (for troubleshooting purposes) taken the Isotherm box out of the loop and controlled the Danfoss directly.

Afraid I'm not familiar with the OP's particular kit to give specific suggestions though.

Pete
 
Thanks Chaps
I didn't know that the control box was also a sort of mains inverter.
I have established via Google that it does drive the compressor through a sort of 3 phase arrangement so "hot wiring" is not possible.
The good news is that last night I found (and replaced) a faulty fuse holder in the controller and we are back up and running.

Rgds Steve
 
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