Fix and Go blowing fuses

Pubbiepair
Pubbiepair Forum Participant Posts: 12
edited November 2012 in Motorhomes #1

I have a Dethleffs Esprit 2011 T7090 Euro 5 motor home which I purchased new in December 2011. It is on the Fiat Ducato chassis.The vehicle has no spare tyre but came supplied with a ‘Fix and Go’ tyre inflation/repair unit.

I have now had three recent occasions of ‘inline fuses’ blowing when carrying out tyre checks whilst  using the compressor side of the unit. For example I will have pumped two tyres then the pump stops and I find the dashboard cigarette lighter plug to which
the compressor is connected – not working. On each occasion we have had to take the vehicle to a Fiat dealer where they have found an inline fuse, located somewhere under the bonnet has blown. 

Our Dethleffs dealer has been very helpful, but even they are it seems unsure as to the cause and are now in contact with Dethleffs. In the meantime we have no ‘emergency’ tyre repair unit. 

I am wondering if anybody has come across any similar occurrences in other motor homes and if so can help?

Thank you.

Comments

  • Mercers
    Mercers Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited September 2021 #2

    Yes, I have a similar problem.  I've blown four fuzes whilst using the compressor since buying the vehicle new in 2018, three years ago (Bailey Autograph 68-2, Peugeot base).  The fault always occurs in the following manner: When starting the unit, on occasion there is a slight pause, whereas normally the motor starts straight away.  The fuze blows if the pause is more than 0.1 of a second.  If the pause is momentary, a mere click, then the unit operates normally.  My schoolboy physics reminds me that the start-up current of a motor, or a motor which fails to rotate is very high compared to when rotating normally.  I think this is why the unit blows fuzes.  It is doing so more frequently now and so I shall be remonstrating with my local Peugeot dealer shortly.

  • harry1000
    harry1000 Forum Participant Posts: 78
    edited September 2021 #3

    It is (as mentioned above) the start up current of the motor. Ciggy lighter sockets are usually fused at 10amps, often not enough for a motor.

    A potential solution is to make up a lead with croc clips on one end, a ciggy socket on the other, with an inline 20amp fuse in the middle in the +ve lead - then clip that directly onto the battery.

    If you can, have the motor start off load (rather than tyre air pressure already on the motor). Very large mains powered compressors, have an unloading valve - so that the motor can be started and got up to speed before the compressor comes under load compressing air.  

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