ozzie
Well-Known Member
I was in Torquay marina happily hooked up to shore power battery charger turned on, beer cooling nicely in the fridge ready for the following day. Got up that morning and SWMBO informed me the fridge wasnt working. Had a quick fiddle and decided it must be the fridge, so proceeded to take it out and "test it". I made up a tester with some old cable and a bulb and worked out that there was power at the fridge and fan but not the compressor. My heart sank at the thought of spending more money on yet more repairs so took all the info I could off the fridge with a view to looking for spares, and re-fitted the fridge and waited for the better half to return from another shopping spree.
We decided to set off at luch time, went to start the engine and the batteries were flat! Impossible, we have been on shorepower all night with the battery charger on. Lifted the engine hatch, re-deployed my make shift tester and found the battery charger had also given up the ghost. Not impressed - more money. By switching to emergency start we just managed to start the engine and set off. I wonder, could the fridge have been running on batteries only?? the answer was yes. With the engine running the fridge was happily chilling the Stella again! There was not enough juice in the batteries to run the fridge but could illuminate a bulb. At least I could tick a new fridge of the shopping list,and a battery charger cant be to hard to replace. Back on the mooring took it off and contacted Waeco to get details of a local repair agent."No sir, unrepairable, throw it away. Would you like to order a new one?" No I flippin dont! I made some enquiries and found a company in Marsh Barton, Exeter called Bradley Electronics. I took it in and for £25 he would have a look. The same day he phoned me back with the verdict. The main transformer was blown probably by a power surge, Waeco couldnt supply parts so he had sourced an alternative that he could make fit and would also fit a filter to stop it happening again. the total bill would be £65 including the initial £25 so I told him to carry on. It was all done within a week, I just have to re-fit it. After my recent problems (see barnacles and bellows) it was refreshing to have good service at a reasonable cost by a fellow boater. His main trade is repairing stereos, but he will happily give advice and assist if he can. I have his number if anyone is interested.
We decided to set off at luch time, went to start the engine and the batteries were flat! Impossible, we have been on shorepower all night with the battery charger on. Lifted the engine hatch, re-deployed my make shift tester and found the battery charger had also given up the ghost. Not impressed - more money. By switching to emergency start we just managed to start the engine and set off. I wonder, could the fridge have been running on batteries only?? the answer was yes. With the engine running the fridge was happily chilling the Stella again! There was not enough juice in the batteries to run the fridge but could illuminate a bulb. At least I could tick a new fridge of the shopping list,and a battery charger cant be to hard to replace. Back on the mooring took it off and contacted Waeco to get details of a local repair agent."No sir, unrepairable, throw it away. Would you like to order a new one?" No I flippin dont! I made some enquiries and found a company in Marsh Barton, Exeter called Bradley Electronics. I took it in and for £25 he would have a look. The same day he phoned me back with the verdict. The main transformer was blown probably by a power surge, Waeco couldnt supply parts so he had sourced an alternative that he could make fit and would also fit a filter to stop it happening again. the total bill would be £65 including the initial £25 so I told him to carry on. It was all done within a week, I just have to re-fit it. After my recent problems (see barnacles and bellows) it was refreshing to have good service at a reasonable cost by a fellow boater. His main trade is repairing stereos, but he will happily give advice and assist if he can. I have his number if anyone is interested.
