Hi all, I have one of the older Waeco CF50 fridges, its the model with seven illuminated bars and no digital display for temperature setting.
The fridge works as it should with the exception that the temperature selection button has started playing up. Its sticking and on the odd occasion when it does work it jumps a number of bars in one go. The fridge still works but I'm pretty much stuck with a temperature in the middle of the scale.
I've take the cover off to expose the circuit board and every thing is clean and in good condition with no visible signs of corrosion etc. What is apparent is that the push button temp selection switch is temperamental.
I was wondering if any one had tried replacing the switch and where I might source a replacement?
I was also wondering if would be possible to incorporate a digital read out for the temperature selection and current operating temperature?
Olly
DeBe said
06:59 PM Nov 14, 2017
Jaycar have several types of those tactile switches. But if you want a thermostat that will show the set temperature, these are available on Ebay for around $13 to $20. People have used them fitted to Waeco fridges. There will be some wiring alterations.
Based on your experience is it likely that it just needs a straight forward switch replacement or would you suspect some other fault?
I was doing some research last night and came across an earlier post of yours that referred to that particular thermostat
Its certainly an economical solution but I was hoping for some thing that looked a lot neater and easier on the eye.
Is there anything else that you could recommend?
Up to now I've been making do with a fridge thermometer suspended from the basket, the shortcomings of this are clear.
I'd really like to upgrade to having an external digital readout of the fridges internal temperature.
Being able to set the fridge's temperature using a digital display would be very nice to have but far less important to me.
DeBe said
09:22 AM Nov 15, 2017
You could try that switch. Another alternative is use one of these quite small thermostats. They are around $3 on Ebay & work quite well, ive used several & they might be able to be fitted in the display area of the Waeco. The only problem is the conectors & relay need to be removed & fitted on to the back of the board to flush mount it. Ive used several of these units as they are so cheap. The picture of one fitted to a blue box I made up & fitted to my daughters yacht fridge.
Do you have links for the compact digital thermometer & the thermostat that you used in the boat?
DeBe wrote: You could try that switch. Another alternative is use one of these quite small thermostats.
Does the mod using this thermostat completely take over the other functions of the CF50, those functions being On/Off, Power indicator, Turbo & Error?
Or does it just control the temperature display, set the operating temperature for the refer compartment and control the cycling of the compressor?
I think I'm going to approach this in two parts.
For part one I'm going to fit a new tactile switch and the same compact digital thermometer that you've used. Doing this quickly returns the fridge to being fully functional My first question is, when you fitted the compact digital thermometer where did you mount the display and the sensor. My second question is how did you route the cable through to the inside of the refer compartment?
For part two I'm going to fit one of thermostats that used on the boat. Thanks to your terrific photos that show the required mods I think my modest soldering skills are just about up to it.
What did you have in mind for viewing the display, mounting the pcb and protecting both from the elements? Same question for access & operation of the the switches? My first thought went to flush mounting three waterproof push button switches for the set, up and down functions and wiring them back to the switches on the pcb. I have no clue about how to mount and protect the display
-- Edited by DeBe on Wednesday 15th of November 2017 10:47:10 PM
Ooops said
10:51 PM Nov 15, 2017
DeBe wrote:
It only controls the the compressor cycling. The error led & power are left connected. You need a switch to select turbo & economy compressor speeds. I haven't actualy used that thermostat on the Waeco in the picture as it is still working properly (but I will if it does ever fail). It was just a size comparison with the panel. The wiring from the top panel down to the control board is through a tube in the foam insulation.
Understood, many thanks.
My question about how to route the wiring was aimed at the compact digital thermostat that you showed. I'm particularly interested in how you got the sensor into the refer compartment and how you and where you attached the sensor so that it was effective whilst being out of harms way
Hi Ooops
I had the same thing with my CF60 (erratic lights when selecting temp). I dismantled the switch panel and found that the switch under the button was sticking, so I applied a drop of WD40 to all the switches and bingo, good as new again.
That was about 3 years ago and still good.
Might be worth a try before you change thermostats etc.
Graeme
Ooops said
09:46 PM Nov 16, 2017
hoffy wrote:
Hi Ooops ........ I applied a drop of WD40 to all the switches and bingo, good as new again. Graeme
Graeme
You star! It worked as you described I would never have thought of applying WD40 to an electronics switch
I think mine's a bit further gone than yours as I had to work the switch a fair bit and after a while apply another drop and work it some more.
Its not fixed, it still occasionally fails at a rate of one fail for every twenty pushes where as before it was forty nine fails for every fifty pushes or worse. I'll apply a bit more tomorrow and give it some more exercise but unless it proves to be 100% I'll still order a replacement switch
All of which is beside the point, the important thing here is that you've restored decent functionality and every day use to me.
Hi all, I have one of the older Waeco CF50 fridges, its the model with seven illuminated bars and no digital display for temperature setting.
The fridge works as it should with the exception that the temperature selection button has started playing up. Its sticking and on the odd occasion when it does work it jumps a number of bars in one go. The fridge still works but I'm pretty much stuck with a temperature in the middle of the scale.
I've take the cover off to expose the circuit board and every thing is clean and in good condition with no visible signs of corrosion etc. What is apparent is that the push button temp selection switch is temperamental.
I was wondering if any one had tried replacing the switch and where I might source a replacement?
I was also wondering if would be possible to incorporate a digital read out for the temperature selection and current operating temperature?
Olly
Jaycar have several types of those tactile switches. But if you want a thermostat that will show the set temperature, these are available on Ebay for around $13 to $20. People have used them fitted to Waeco fridges. There will be some wiring alterations.
Does this look like the correct part?
3.5mm SPST Micro Tactile Switch CAT.NO: SP0602
www.jaycar.com.au/3-5mm-spst-micro-tactile-switch/p/SP0602
Based on your experience is it likely that it just needs a straight forward switch replacement or would you suspect some other fault?
I was doing some research last night and came across an earlier post of yours that referred to that particular thermostat
Its certainly an economical solution but I was hoping for some thing that looked a lot neater and easier on the eye.
Is there anything else that you could recommend?
Up to now I've been making do with a fridge thermometer suspended from the basket, the shortcomings of this are clear.
I'd really like to upgrade to having an external digital readout of the fridges internal temperature.
Being able to set the fridge's temperature using a digital display would be very nice to have but far less important to me.
You could try that switch. Another alternative is use one of these quite small thermostats. They are around $3 on Ebay & work quite well, ive used several & they might be able to be fitted in the display area of the Waeco. The only problem is the conectors & relay need to be removed & fitted on to the back of the board to flush mount it. Ive used several of these units as they are so cheap. The picture of one fitted to a blue box I made up & fitted to my daughters yacht fridge.
If you just want a compact digital thermometer, iv used plenty of these. On Ebay from a QLD seller 4 for $7.
The thermostat should fit under the display panel of a Waeco fridge.
DeBe many thanks, this is awesome information
Do you have links for the compact digital thermometer & the thermostat that you used in the boat?
DeBe wrote: You could try that switch. Another alternative is use one of these quite small thermostats.
Does the mod using this thermostat completely take over the other functions of the CF50, those functions being On/Off, Power indicator, Turbo & Error?
Or does it just control the temperature display, set the operating temperature for the refer compartment and control the cycling of the compressor?
I think I'm going to approach this in two parts.
For part one I'm going to fit a new tactile switch and the same compact digital thermometer that you've used. Doing this quickly returns the fridge to being fully functional
My first question is, when you fitted the compact digital thermometer where did you mount the display and the sensor.
My second question is how did you route the cable through to the inside of the refer compartment?
For part two I'm going to fit one of thermostats that used on the boat.
Thanks to your terrific photos that show the required mods I think my modest soldering skills are just about up to it.
What did you have in mind for viewing the display, mounting the pcb and protecting both from the elements? Same question for access & operation of the the switches?
My first thought went to flush mounting three waterproof push button switches for the set, up and down functions and wiring them back to the switches on the pcb.
I have no clue about how to mount and protect the display
It only controls the the compressor cycling. The error led & power are left connected. You need a switch to select turbo & economy compressor speeds. I haven't actualy used that thermostat on the Waeco in the picture as it is still working properly (but I will if it does ever fail). It was just a size comparison with the panel. The wiring from the top panel down to the control board is through a tube in the foam insulation. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4x-LCD-Digital-Thermometer-Fridge-Freezer-FishTank-Aquarium-Temperature-Reptile/292302746358?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3Db6736e461f5148488a142af638bc237a%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D301366689152&_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042 Hope this directs you to the digital thermometer.
-- Edited by DeBe on Wednesday 15th of November 2017 10:47:10 PM
Understood, many thanks.
My question about how to route the wiring was aimed at the compact digital thermostat that you showed.
I'm particularly interested in how you got the sensor into the refer compartment and how you and where you attached the sensor so that it was effective whilst being out of harms way
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/W1209-Digital-Thermostat-Temperature-Controller-Switch-Sensor-Module-DC-12V-20A/272893217126?hash=item3f89b40966:g:TeIAAOSwVlVZ6EAX this should be the thermostat, And theres plenty to choose from some sellers as low as $2.. Pictures of the thermometer mounted rather crudely on my fridge, stuck on with silastic.
-- Edited by DeBe on Wednesday 15th of November 2017 11:25:07 PM
I had the same thing with my CF60 (erratic lights when selecting temp). I dismantled the switch panel and found that the switch under the button was sticking, so I applied a drop of WD40 to all the switches and bingo, good as new again.
That was about 3 years ago and still good.
Might be worth a try before you change thermostats etc.
Graeme
Graeme
You star! It worked as you described
I would never have thought of applying WD40 to an electronics switch
I think mine's a bit further gone than yours as I had to work the switch a fair bit and after a while apply another drop and work it some more.
Its not fixed, it still occasionally fails at a rate of one fail for every twenty pushes where as before it was forty nine fails for every fifty pushes or worse.
I'll apply a bit more tomorrow and give it some more exercise but unless it proves to be 100% I'll still order a replacement switch
All of which is beside the point, the important thing here is that you've restored decent functionality and every day use to me.
Many, many thanks for that.