Refridgerator issues

[gonzo628]

When pushing the piezo igniter (or at least that is the only time I notice it), the Solar controller freaks out (similar to pressing the test button, resets then POSTs) and returns to normal display. (It does not happen every time, but seems to happen quite often (at least once in each attempt to start the fridge via gas).

[Bill]

Although it may be annoying, I don't think this is a problem since the solar controller recover correctly. The issue arises because the piezo unit generates a very high voltage, and the wire connecting the piezo pushbutton to the spark gap acts like a radio transmitter antenna, broadcasting energy into the air for an instant. The wiring in the solar system acts like a radio receive antenna, and picks up some of that burst of energy. The solar controller doesn't know what to do with this unexpected energy, so it waits until the energy burst has passed, and restarts.

To prevent this from happening, you could wrap a metallic shield around the wire from the piezo button to the spark gap, which would reduce or eliminate the amount of transmitted energy. Or you could wrap a metallic shield around the wires to the solar controller, which would reduce or eliminate the amount of received energy. Both of these would be a pain to do, in my opinion, so I would just ignore the issue. It will cause no harm.

Bill

[gonzo628]

Originally Posted by Bill

Although it may be annoying, I don't think this is a problem since the solar controller recover correctly. The issue arises because the piezo unit generates a very high voltage, and the wire connecting the piezo pushbutton to the spark gap acts like a radio transmitter antenna, broadcasting energy into the air for an instant. The wiring in the solar system acts like a radio receive antenna, and picks up some of that burst of energy. The solar controller doesn't know what to do with this unexpected energy, so it waits until the energy burst has passed, and restarts.

To prevent this from happening, you could wrap a metallic shield around the wire from the piezo button to the spark gap, which would reduce or eliminate the amount of transmitted energy. Or you could wrap a metallic shield around the wires to the solar controller, which would reduce or eliminate the amount of received energy. Both of these would be a pain to do, in my opinion, so I would just ignore the issue. It will cause no harm.

Bill

Thanks Bill. That makes sense, though I would have never thought about it as a possibility (did not know the two components could behave in such a way). I have to pull the fridge to troubleshoot the "won't stay lit on Gas" issue, so perhaps I can attempt this fix then.