[DaveG]

Hi all, my varistream 10amp  fuse has just almost melted. Any ideas?
I've had the system installed for years with no problems..

Cheers

[Spruce]

Hi all, my varistream 10amp  fuse has just almost melted. Any ideas?
I've had the system installed for years with no problems..

Cheers

Have you opened it up to have a look at the circuit board? Here is a YouTube video showing a failure at the connector plug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TId3Jn5OeIM

Water ingress is another issue.

It could also be that the fuse holder is at fault. Resistance (a bad contact) creates heat and that has caused the fuse holder to melt.

However, we have had our Varistreams since the digital models first came out (14 or 15 years ago), and we have had no issues whatsoever.

 

[DaveG]

Thanks for the reply Spruce, I'll have a look inside it tomorrow. Its been in the van for 12 years with no problems at all.

One thing I did notice is the higher I turn up the controller the hotter the fuse got!?

I've got another fuse holder so I'll change that too.

[Spruce]

Thanks for the reply Spruce, I'll have a look inside it tomorrow. Its been in the van for 12 years with no problems at all.

One thing I did notice is the higher I turn up the controller the hotter the fuse got!?

I've got another fuse holder so I'll change that too.

The fuse holder would be my first replacement. Over time in a damp atmosphere, corrosion can occur.  In my old van I had a diesel air heater and the same thing happened to the fuse holder.

[DaveG]

Well thanks Spruce, it was indeed the fuse holder, I've fitted a waterproof one now so hopefully all good .

[Ian Sheppard]

As the system has been in for some time also check all the wiring and cable connectors.  Chances are that there is a damage somewhere for example the Cable outer sleeve with the copper core exposed, Badly corroded connectors and as Spruce comments damage to the PCB.

A Fuse is designed to blow in approx 100th of a second in response to a sudden spike of Current and heat associated with a short. A corroded connector/Fuse or damaged cable would heat slowly as it has become a resistor to the current. The hotter it gets  the more current is used to heat  the cable.

The fact the fuse was slowly getting hotter is sign that there is damage somewhere in the wiring.. I would replace all the wiring as well as the Fuse/Fuse holder.

Look to use water resistant bullet or similar connectors avoid Choc block style connectors as these have exposed terminals that will get wet. Also avoid electrical tape on connections as this can pull apart over time. If possible protect cables in Conduit and keep cables runs as short as possible