Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Overnight my ARB compressor decided to turn itself on even though the switch was in the off position. Thought at first might have been a dodgy switch (had compressor for 3 years). Then I checked the fuse. The fuse wasn't blown but the glass was a little burnt, so I put a new fuse in. This seems to have fixed the problem but I'm totally confused why it happened.

Anyone got any thoughts?

Dave.

A wizard did it

maybe it was the little green monkeys

DX80 wrote:Anyone got any thoughts?

Dave.

Yep - but none that will help you...

Scott

(who shouldn't drink before coming online...)

Check the relay
I had mine near the back seat and when seat moved it squashed it and on it went...

A bunch of comedians. Relay is under bonnet and out of harms way. I'm freaking mystefied.

any time something like that happens, a wizard did it.

I've heard that UFO's can induce electrical surges. So as it passed over your 4WD it could have caused a voltage increase of sufficient magnitude that the electrons arced across the open relay contacts....

On a more serious note: Is it wired so the ignition doesn't have to be on for it to operate, and via a relay controlled by the above mentioned switch?

hey Dave are you using the ARB wiring harness? I have heard of this happening before from other people but I'm stuffed if I can remember what the cause was! I'd start by tracing the wires and making sure no insulation is worn through anywhere. Also if your fuse is getting a bit melty I'd current test the compressor to make sure it's not drawing too much current, it may have caused some melty wires elsewhere in the loom.

cheers

Brian

Those early looms often get hot around the fuse when it gets a bit cruddy, best to keep it real clean or replace with the later type spade fuse holder that wipes the contacts.

If its permanently wired to a power source, air leak will make it cycle, if not its probably a relay with loose contacts. IMO

Bazzle

Been off air for the last few days. I think I'll pull it over the weekend and try to suss out what's happening. Yeh, it's wired so it comes on when accesories are on if that helps Will also change fuse to a spade fuse. Also, compressor does leak air out of rear locker O rings but can't see how that would cause this to happen.

Dave.

the relay might have burnt contacts and have melted the plastic a bit so the contacts are closer together and it arced across.
i would replace the relay as they are cheap.

Got hold of a new relay today, put it in, and touch wood seems to have fixed the prob.


Dave.

My ARB compressor used to do this with the factory harness. It was the relay but the factory harness is dodgy at the best of time anyway.

mine started doin some weird shit the other weekend

the compe woodnt work until i hit it wif a hammer then it was fine, and while drivin it wood cut in and out and take out the lockers with it.

i just gunna redo the harness

Yeh I've still got the factory harness. See how it goes I guess. No fun when your lockers turn on doing 100 km/h on your way to work though.

Dave.

DX80 wrote:Yeh I've still got the factory harness. See how it goes I guess. No fun when your lockers turn on doing 100 km/h on your way to work though.

Dave.

is that wot yours did ??

mine doesnt just turn on itself. it likes 2 turn off tho normally while tryin 2 drive something

RUFF wrote:My ARB compressor used to do this with the factory harness. It was the relay but the factory harness is dodgy at the best of time anyway.

dodgy how? I agree it 's not perfect but I've found the ARB harness to be pretty good except for wanting fatter wire for the high current bits (esp when using to drive bigger compressors like twin tongue - with these replaced and using a 40A relay I have no dramas. The arb compressor on the other hand is a whole world of pain and is, in my opinion, an embarrassment to ARB's otherwise excellent engineering.

Nah my lockers haven't turned on at 100km\h but can imagine IF it did happen it would cause a few probs.

Dave.