[C320-list] Alder Barbour Cold Machine

[Jeff Church]

FYI

Despite the fact that it didn't generate much response, I'll answer my own question so the info is archived.  

According to a couple of reliable sources, the Waeco/Alder Barbour Cold Machine compressor is fairly bullet proof. On the other hand, the older electronic control units are very prone to failure. Mine was dated 1997. After running through several fuses in rapid succession, I took the controller apart and found a portion of the foil on the PC board was burnt and looked to have been shorted to one of the fan terminals. I ordered a new controller for $200 dollars. The local Catalina dealer said that up until 4 years ago he was replacing controllers at a rate of 2 to 3 a year.

JeffC
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jeff Church 
  To: C320 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 10:08 PM
  Subject: Alder Barbour Cold Machine


  My refrigerator stopped working! The compressor is silent and the fan doesn't run. I'm getting 12 volts at the electronic control module on the compressor and the thermostat checks out, so I suspect the module is bad. One last hope would be that there is a blown fuse on the module. The diagram of the module in my copy of the instructions is a blurry, useless mess, but I did find a gray rectangular piece on the bottom of the module that could be covering a fuse. It didn't come off easily and I don't want to force it without knowing what it is. If someone knows what it is or can check their copy of the instructions I would appreciate the help before I pry (break) off the gray piece.
    
  Thanks in advance.

  JeffC