[jo5hm4n]

Pure Freedom standard flow controller.  Sporadically and randomly goes off for us once every few months.  As in we notice it goes off.  Try to turn it on and wont power back up.  Other controller connected to same battery working fine, so assume battery is fine at present.

Its very hit and miss.  Happened again this morning.

Typically what are the main things that could cause this?

Would it be first port of call to check the inline fuse from controller to battery/replace as needed.  Check wiring isnt loose etc.

Its just strange.  Its a re occurent issue we get a couple times a year, but can never quite pinpoint what causes it.

What things would you check and in what order just to keep it simple and a good protocol to go through things one at a time etc.

Thanks

[Simon Trapani]

Check all wiring connections. Could be loose or corroded. Certainly the first think to check anyway.

[Spruce]

Check all wiring connections. Could be loose or corroded. Certainly the first think to check anyway.

Agree. We had this last week with one of our Varistreams. When I investigated, the plastic on the fuse had melted, but the fuse hadn't blown. I replaced the fuse, but it switched off once on Thursday. No problem on Friday. Didn't work today, Monday. I suspect that I need to replace the fuse holder, which I will do. I have a packet of fuse holders somewhere. I have a feeling that there was a contact issue in the fuse holder itself which caused the heat to melt the plastic.

[NBwcs]

Check all wiring connections. Could be loose or corroded. Certainly the first think to check anyway.

Agree. We had this last week with one of our Varistreams. When I investigated, the plastic on the fuse had melted, but the fuse hadn't blown. I replaced the fuse, but it switched off once on Thursday. No problem on Friday. Didn't work today, Monday. I suspect that I need to replace the fuse holder, which I will do. I have a packet of fuse holders somewhere. I have a feeling that there was a contact issue in the fuse holder itself which caused the heat to melt the plastic.

Happens to me too now and again , i just fiddle with the fuse holder and it comes back on.

[CleanClear]

Pure Freedom standard flow controller.  Sporadically and randomly goes off for us once every few months.  As in we notice it goes off.  Try to turn it on and wont power back up.  Other controller connected to same battery working fine, so assume battery is fine at present.

Its very hit and miss.  Happened again this morning.

Typically what are the main things that could cause this?

Would it be first port of call to check the inline fuse from controller to battery/replace as needed.  Check wiring isnt loose etc.

Its just strange.  Its a re occurent issue we get a couple times a year, but can never quite pinpoint what causes it.

What things would you check and in what order just to keep it simple and a good protocol to go through things one at a time etc.

Thanks

This is one of the maddest questions i've ever seen on here. Its a reocurrent issue, that resolves itself, and yet ... you don't know how ?
 I'll entertain the question though. Its a very simple one really. If your controller aint lighting up its got no power. Its literally that simple. The suggestion to check the fuse (by you) gives me reason to believe you know electricity flows through one, and if its blown, i.e dead no electricity will pass through. You've said as much in your OP.
 A simple 12v circuit tester will show you if you have power going to your controller:

[Perfect Windows]

Pure Freedom standard flow controller.  Sporadically and randomly goes off for us once every few months.  As in we notice it goes off.  Try to turn it on and wont power back up.  Other controller connected to same battery working fine, so assume battery is fine at present.

Its very hit and miss.  Happened again this morning.

Typically what are the main things that could cause this?

Would it be first port of call to check the inline fuse from controller to battery/replace as needed.  Check wiring isnt loose etc.

Its just strange.  Its a re occurent issue we get a couple times a year, but can never quite pinpoint what causes it.

What things would you check and in what order just to keep it simple and a good protocol to go through things one at a time etc.

Thanks

One of our franchisees has the same. Maybe once every couple or three months. He's chosen to live with it, though he point out that sod's law says it never happens when he's near the van.

Vin

[Spruce]

Our second Varistream hasn't switched off this week so far for us, I'm 99.9% sure it was an issue in the fuse holder.
I did check all the other connections and I also opened the controller to make sure the cable connector onto the pcb board was ok. I did inspect the capacitors on the board as well but other than that everything was clean and dry and no water ingress marks .

[Simon Trapani]

Only you would inspect the capitors on the board Spruce! 🤣 The rest of us wouldn’t have a clue!🤣🤣

[jo5hm4n]

Update.

When van came back to office went to check to try and fix it and by then it was working again.  Controller just turned on fine no problem.  It seemed to just go off for a few hours then it was ok again.

Such a strange issue.  Checked the fuse but naturally it was never going to be blown given the power came back on.  All the wiring looked fine no lose connections.  I just dont get it.  such a strange random intermittent issue to happen.

[jo5hm4n]

Pure Freedom standard flow controller.  Sporadically and randomly goes off for us once every few months.  As in we notice it goes off.  Try to turn it on and wont power back up.  Other controller connected to same battery working fine, so assume battery is fine at present.

Its very hit and miss.  Happened again this morning.

Typically what are the main things that could cause this?

Would it be first port of call to check the inline fuse from controller to battery/replace as needed.  Check wiring isnt loose etc.

Its just strange.  Its a re occurent issue we get a couple times a year, but can never quite pinpoint what causes it.

What things would you check and in what order just to keep it simple and a good protocol to go through things one at a time etc.

Thanks

This is one of the maddest questions i've ever seen on here. Its a reocurrent issue, that resolves itself, and yet ... you don't know how ?
 I'll entertain the question though. Its a very simple one really. If your controller aint lighting up its got no power. Its literally that simple. The suggestion to check the fuse (by you) gives me reason to believe you know electricity flows through one, and if its blown, i.e dead no electricity will pass through. You've said as much in your OP.
 A simple 12v circuit tester will show you if you have power going to your controller:

Curious.  If it goes off next time, where exactly would you test the 12v circuit tester.  Like at which point would give you possibly where the power is going off or cutting out from battery > controller.

Im not the best at electric i hold my hand up, can just do the basics from experience with wfp over the years.

[NBwcs]

Pure Freedom standard flow controller.  Sporadically and randomly goes off for us once every few months.  As in we notice it goes off.  Try to turn it on and wont power back up.  Other controller connected to same battery working fine, so assume battery is fine at present.

Its very hit and miss.  Happened again this morning.

Typically what are the main things that could cause this?

Would it be first port of call to check the inline fuse from controller to battery/replace as needed.  Check wiring isnt loose etc.

Its just strange.  Its a re occurent issue we get a couple times a year, but can never quite pinpoint what causes it.

What things would you check and in what order just to keep it simple and a good protocol to go through things one at a time etc.

Thanks

This is one of the maddest questions i've ever seen on here. Its a reocurrent issue, that resolves itself, and yet ... you don't know how ?
 I'll entertain the question though. Its a very simple one really. If your controller aint lighting up its got no power. Its literally that simple. The suggestion to check the fuse (by you) gives me reason to believe you know electricity flows through one, and if its blown, i.e dead no electricity will pass through. You've said as much in your OP.
 A simple 12v circuit tester will show you if you have power going to your controller:

Curious.  If it goes off next time, where exactly would you test the 12v circuit tester.  Like at which point would give you possibly where the power is going off or cutting out from battery > controller.

Im not the best at electric i hold my hand up, can just do the basics from experience with wfp over the years.

I'm not the best either but before you go buying circuit testers etc just give the fuse holder a squeeze next time it does it, Good chance it's  this that's causing it.

[CleanClear]

Curious.  If it goes off next time, where exactly would you test the 12v circuit tester.  Like at which point would give you possibly where the power is going off or cutting out from battery > controller.

Im not the best at electric i hold my hand up, can just do the basics from experience with wfp over the years.

Ok, here's how to do it. Get yourself a tester/lamp like this with a sharp point on it so you can push it into a wire to test. They're not much money and they're a handy tool to have save you so much time eliminating faults.



You've got two wires going into your controller that we're interested in. The red positive one and the black negative one:




Put your test clamp on the negative battery terminal and probe the red wire as close as you can to the controller. If you get no light then you have no power, so work backwards to wards the battery and probe the red wire after the first connection you come to , carrying on until you get power. That should eliminate which joint/connector is giving a problem. If you do get power and a light that means obviously power is getting to it. So now to test the black/negative wire:

Take the fuse out so the controller is not live. Put your clamp on the positive battery terminal. Probe the black wire close to the controller. If you get no light, then your negative wire is broken somewhere along, so repeat the proccess after each connection intil you get a light and eliminate which connection is faulty. If you do get a light straightaway near the controller that means your wiring is fine and your problem lies in the controller itself.

[Spruce]

Only you would inspect the capitors on the board Spruce! 🤣 The rest of us wouldn’t have a clue!🤣🤣

[Small but perfectley formed]

Fuse Holder

[Spruce]

Fuse Holder

Yep, first place to look.

Ours hasn't switched off since I sorted the fuse holder out and put a little Vaseline on the fuse contacts. So I'm pretty sure we have sussed the problem.

Many years ago, I had my air diesel heater stop working. It was also a corroded fuse holder.

[Ian Sheppard]

Check all wiring connections. Could be loose or corroded. Certainly the first think to check anyway.

In addition to the above regarding wiring and fuses. Best advise is to use water resistant bullet connectors or Waygo connrctors  Avoid using white choc blocks or similar the have exposed terminal connections. Battery terminal connectors that are corroded or loose can also create an issue. Being un a van vibration is unavoidable and over time connections can work loose.

Another one to consider is battery condition. As batteries age they dont hold a charge so well. Floating Voltage ( Pump off ) can seem to be Ok but when the pump is on and the battery under load  the Volts will fall. As a general rule of thumb at the start of a day a Battery should be a close to 13V as possible  When the pump is running Volts drop slightly ( For example 13V to 12.8V)

If Volts fall fast ( More than 0,5V) in the first 30 minutes of work this is a sign the battery is worn

Charging regime also has an Impact. Split relay and B2B can be useful and will charge a battery up to around 70 - 80% of capacity. An occasional bench charge over night every 10 days or so can increase the batteries life

 

[jo5hm4n]

Curious.  If it goes off next time, where exactly would you test the 12v circuit tester.  Like at which point would give you possibly where the power is going off or cutting out from battery > controller.

Im not the best at electric i hold my hand up, can just do the basics from experience with wfp over the years.

Ok, here's how to do it. Get yourself a tester/lamp like this with a sharp point on it so you can push it into a wire to test. They're not much money and they're a handy tool to have save you so much time eliminating faults.



You've got two wires going into your controller that we're interested in. The red positive one and the black negative one:




Put your test clamp on the negative battery terminal and probe the red wire as close as you can to the controller. If you get no light then you have no power, so work backwards to wards the battery and probe the red wire after the first connection you come to , carrying on until you get power. That should eliminate which joint/connector is giving a problem. If you do get power and a light that means obviously power is getting to it. So now to test the black/negative wire:

Take the fuse out so the controller is not live. Put your clamp on the positive battery terminal. Probe the black wire close to the controller. If you get no light, then your negative wire is broken somewhere along, so repeat the proccess after each connection intil you get a light and eliminate which connection is faulty. If you do get a light straightaway near the controller that means your wiring is fine and your problem lies in the controller itself.

Thank you so much.  Only just seen this now.  This is very helpful and detailed.  Seriously i really really appreciate the effort you have gone in order to explain this to me.  Thanks!!