Advice/Help required, please can anyone tell me what this is?

[ambulancekidd]

Renewed the 230v element on our Kon-Tiki fridge, a job which I've done may times on caravan fridges but, alas never on a motorhome.
The first thing I noticed was this small black box titled "Volton Combi" & its not something I'm familiar with.
I strongly suspect that its an auto changeover relay to 12v etc for travelling.
Up until now there had been no noise whatsoever from the fridge on 230v & while the gas side worked perfectly the 230v side didn't work.
Now with the 230v element replaced there is a pronounced click from this unit as the 230v side is switched on & is working well.

 

[tonyidle]

I agree. It looks like a voltage-dependant relay to switch the 12v feed to the fridge when it sees the start battery voltage rise when the engine starts.

 

[Just smiffy]

Was the element totally broke.. if so the relay now has an element to turn on...? So it seems it’s now all working....?

 

[Misterg]

Voltage sensitive relay seconded (thirded?):

Volton Combi Relay (Type Approved)

www.pctautomotive.com

Destructions:

https://www.roughtrax4x4.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/PDF/ZR1220_PCT_Volton_Combi_Relay.pdf

(such as they are...)

Is the vehicle battery being charged by the 230V? Could be that the voltage is rising enough to switch the relay on?

 

[mitzimad]

No connection with the 240 element that I can think of should switch to 12 when engine runs

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[HandyAndy]

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[HandyAndy]

"The PCT Volton Combi Relay has been designed to switch a live 12 volt input feed to supply the supplementary socket on the vehicle’s caravan. This unit stops the drain of the vehicles battery when the ignition is turned off as the relay senses the voltage of the vehicle and switches off. It also switches itself on when the vehicle starts up and reaches the required voltage.

 

[pappajohn]

Is the vehicle battery being charged by the 230V? Could be that the voltage is rising enough to switch the relay on?

Only one way to find out.... On hookup, charger on, listen/check for relay operation.
If it does switch I'd be charging it for a regular ign switched 30amp automotive relay.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Voltage sensitive relay seconded (thirded?):

Volton Combi Relay (Type Approved)

www.pctautomotive.com

Destructions:

https://www.roughtrax4x4.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/PDF/ZR1220_PCT_Volton_Combi_Relay.pdf

(such as they are...)

Is the vehicle battery being charged by the 230V? Could be that the voltage is rising enough to switch the relay on?

Thanks for links & info.
The battery charger is faulty & just doesn't work, I have a new one but not got round to fitting it yet.

 

[TheBig1]

ambulancekidd I have seen one fitted before as a bodge because the 240v element failed. then when on hookup they could run the fridge on 12v off the charger. the charger then failed as I recall

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[ambulancekidd]

ambulancekidd I have seen one fitted before as a bodge because the 240v element failed. then when on hookup they could run the fridge on 12v off the charger. the charger then failed as I recall

Now that makes a lot of sense, I couldn't fathom the wiring out on this thing & the way it clearly clicked when the 230v element was switched on would explain this perfectly.

I'm in your debt mate, thanks.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Thanks to everyone that have helped with this gadget, I wasn't entirely happy with things & haven't put anything back into the space yet as I felt uneasy.

This forum is a wonderful resource.