Help, Smoking fridge!

AlexInSweden · Jul 19, 2021

Hi everyone, hope you are all out having a fine summer!

I’m hoping someone can help me here. We had smoke coming from the kitchen area at the weekend. I unplugged the hookup and turned off the fridge (which still seemed to be working) and the smoke died down. It was hot under fridge by the water tank stopcock.

Now the van smells of burnt plastic and there seems to be some black soot on that box thing under the fridge. Though that could just be dust / grime.

it was a very hot day and the fridge was full and set to 4 so it was working very hard. Also the bench seat was back so maybe ventilation was a problem. The batteries seem fine I think. I’ve disconnected them.

firstly what IS that box, and does anyone have any tips where I should start looking or doing?

any help would be wonderful!!
/Alex

mrcheesbrough · Jul 19, 2021

Sounds like your charger has fried.

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AlexInSweden · Jul 19, 2021

Thanks, is that what the black box thing in the photo is?

I just noticed there is a soot stain on the rear of the panel which aligns with it.

bxl_lad · Jul 19, 2021

Yup, that's your charger fried...
Search the forum for 'fraron' this is a replacement. I had mine blow a few years ago whilst camping. Fraron delivered to the campsite and I swapped it out...
Good luck!

AlexInSweden · Jul 19, 2021

Well that would be just great. I’ve had a quick look, so fraron is a replacement charger, right? Is it a case of just unplugging the old burnt one and plugging in the fraron?

sidepod · Jul 19, 2021

Not quite but it’s simple enough. The original replacement is also an option. I’ve not checked in a while but they were/are expensive.

AlexInSweden · Jul 19, 2021

Alright but I think I will get a specialist to do it. I don’t want any stupid mistakeAt least I have an idea where the problem lay and that it should be fixable.

As ever you guys have been a great help to a novice…. The learning curve continues!!

Any tips on getting rid of the smell other than pack it with air fresheners ??

/Alex

bxl_lad · Jul 19, 2021

sidepod said:
Not quite but it’s simple enough. The original replacement is also an option. I’ve not checked in a while but they were/are expensive.

Also the original ones will be tricky to find. It's also possible (in some cases) to have the fried one fixed, but then this won't happen quickly.
If you order from fraron and you want delivered somewhere quickly, maybe call them first to be sure what's possible. They got me one to a campsite in France in 2 days.
With a few basic tools it's possible to do in the field.

sidepod · Jul 19, 2021

Does Günzl not stock them anymore?

sidepod · Jul 19, 2021

Ah they do. And, I see, the displays are available. I thought they were obsolete.

Guenzl Classic Parts

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AlexInSweden · Jul 19, 2021

That looks like a different shape, but the photo in the scanned document looks the same as mine.
It mentions ‘suitable for gel batteries’. I replaced my batteries recently but not with gel. Did I mess up?