Adler-Barbour Refrig - Diagnostic Light Keeps Flashing

[nknowland]

Our Adler Barbour refrig appears to be running fine except that the LED diagnostic light continually flashes. It does not flash in any of the 1-5 error codes. Just a slow, steady, continuous flashing.

About a month ago, the refrig was short-cycling, and then the LED light was clearly showing the 3 flashes to confirm the short cycle. It is not short cycling now, but that LED continues to flash.

What could be the reason? the manual only refers to the error codes; nothing about nonstop flashing.

THANKS!

[nknowland]

p.s. power is not a problem; volts are good. And the light looks more like it is ON all the time (some fading, but not distinctive flashing like I've seen before).

[familycruisers]

Any worn connections? Bad connections. Sounds like power issue to the board or a failing board that is still "working".

[nknowland]

Connections look good. What happens when the board fails? We plan to leave for the Bahamas tomorrow ......

[Richard Kollmann]

If this is an Adler Barbour with the stainless steel control box containing two fuses and troubleshooting LED there have been reports of bad electical connections inside these boxes. My advice is to disconnect the ground wire from LED and see if light remains out. It compressor fails to start at any time reconnect LED to see if codes will then work.
To deactiveate LED disconnect wire from Danfoss control module terminal D.

[familycruisers]

Originally Posted by nknowland

Connections look good. What happens when the board fails? We plan to leave for the Bahamas tomorrow ......

Connections looking good and being good are two different things, especially in the marine environment. Sounds like they are having issues on the led diagnostic circuit?? Hadn't heard, but also haven't owned an Adler/Barber, I just am designing my own system using the Danfoss compressors.
They have an excellent wiring diagram on the site. The wierd fading flash sounds like power issues, which doesn't necessarily mean supply power, it could mean failng contacts on the board, or poor grounding issues. Your meter is your friend.
To answer your question as to what happens when the board fails? Most of the time the unit doesn't run. Boards are just a bunch of connections with little relays all in a nice package with SMT (surface mount technology, ie too small for me to repair) Things can be jumped or bypassed, but only if you know the diagram, and can use a meter. If you can't do those, find a buddy that can

[Richard Kollmann]

Wild guesses from a crystal ball will not solve your problem and in this case your meter is not your best friend. Something is causing a short to ground in D module LED circuit and this should not occur if compressor is running. The troubleshooting LED is designed to be activated when module stops compressor because system amperage is too high or fan amperage exceeds 0.5 amps or when there is a low voltage spike in boats wiring.

nknowland, you are faced with a problem, is this a simple unimportant failure of LED circuit or trouble inside Adler Barbour’s relay box or a warning of a future Danfoss control module failure. Up to now failures inside AB stainless boxes are linked to poor solder joints the solution was to bypass their box and revert back to Danfoss standard wiring. I test modules every week and when they fail the compressor will not run. The only item on refrigerator that could spoil the winter in Bahamas is to have a Danfoss electronic module failure. The 101N0210 module is expensive but carrying one as a spare part is always a good idea because they are the weak link of system. And no I do not sell the module you need.

If you have time spend $3 at Radio Shack for a 12 volt correct polarity LED and install it as pictured on my web site Slide Show. Now if new LED is not giving a false signal the cause of LED problem is inside AB’s box so forget it and refer to new LED if compressor ever quits running