Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

I got SIRIUS satellite car kit which plugs into the electrical outlets
in my Honda Accord (2004) and the first one died after less than a
week, then I exchanged it for a new charger and that one died in 5
minutes. I was then thrilled to find that a charger I have for another
device matches the specifications of the Sirius charger, so was using
that and now this morning that charger is dead. I'm starting to wonder
if maybe a power surge is causing this? Should I always unplug these
chargers when I turn off the car, and not plug them in again until the
car has been started? I took the one charger apart...can I repair it
by just replacing the little cylinder fuse inside? Are they easy to
find? Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

If you are referring to a glass cylinder with metal caps and a thin (but
broken) wire between them, yes. Go to any auto parts store, and they will
have a fuse of the proper length and amperage. Don't be tempted to replace
it with a higher amperage fuse though, it's a good way to have other, more
serious problems, including a fire.

If you are burning out chargers at that rate, you should entertain the
possibility that your radio is drawing more than it's designed amperage,
which could indicate an internal short, or possibly a bad ground, which is
less likely . I would go back to the dealer where I bought the radio and
have them check it for abnormally high amperage draw. I'd bet on this being
a radio problem rather than a charger or car power outlet problem.

Good luck
<jeffy3@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1144673298.154080.87140@g10g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
>I got SIRIUS satellite car kit which plugs into the electrical outlets
> in my Honda Accord (2004) and the first one died after less than a
> week, then I exchanged it for a new charger and that one died in 5
> minutes. I was then thrilled to find that a charger I have for another
> device matches the specifications of the Sirius charger, so was using
> that and now this morning that charger is dead. I'm starting to wonder
> if maybe a power surge is causing this? Should I always unplug these
> chargers when I turn off the car, and not plug them in again until the
> car has been started? I took the one charger apart...can I repair it
> by just replacing the little cylinder fuse inside? Are they easy to
> find? Any help would be appreciated.
>

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

If you are referring to a glass cylinder with metal caps and a thin (but
broken) wire between them, yes. Go to any auto parts store, and they will
have a fuse of the proper length and amperage. Don't be tempted to replace
it with a higher amperage fuse though, it's a good way to have other, more
serious problems, including a fire.

If you are burning out chargers at that rate, you should entertain the
possibility that your radio is drawing more than it's designed amperage,
which could indicate an internal short, or possibly a bad ground, which is
less likely . I would go back to the dealer where I bought the radio and
have them check it for abnormally high amperage draw. I'd bet on this being
a radio problem rather than a charger or car power outlet problem.

Good luck
<jeffy3@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1144673298.154080.87140@g10g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
>I got SIRIUS satellite car kit which plugs into the electrical outlets
> in my Honda Accord (2004) and the first one died after less than a
> week, then I exchanged it for a new charger and that one died in 5
> minutes. I was then thrilled to find that a charger I have for another
> device matches the specifications of the Sirius charger, so was using
> that and now this morning that charger is dead. I'm starting to wonder
> if maybe a power surge is causing this? Should I always unplug these
> chargers when I turn off the car, and not plug them in again until the
> car has been started? I took the one charger apart...can I repair it
> by just replacing the little cylinder fuse inside? Are they easy to
> find? Any help would be appreciated.
>

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

Thanks very much for the reply. It's a portable Sirius radio unit.
If it helps to narrow down the problem, this is the second radio too.
When I went to exchange the car charger, I had to also exchange the
radio itself (for inventory/returns purposes). So if it's the radio
causing the problem if it's happened with two different units, does
that change your opinion in any way? Thanks much.

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

Thanks very much for the reply. It's a portable Sirius radio unit.
If it helps to narrow down the problem, this is the second radio too.
When I went to exchange the car charger, I had to also exchange the
radio itself (for inventory/returns purposes). So if it's the radio
causing the problem if it's happened with two different units, does
that change your opinion in any way? Thanks much.

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

On 10 Apr 2006 05:48:18 -0700, jeffy3@hotmail.com wrote:

>I got SIRIUS satellite car kit which plugs into the electrical outlets
>in my Honda Accord (2004) and the first one died after less than a
>week, then I exchanged it for a new charger and that one died in 5
>minutes.

If the fuses are burning out, it is due to more current flowing
through the fuse than it was designed to handle. There are at least
four reasons why this could happen:

1. Your alternator is operating at too high a voltage. If your car
regularly burns out other fuses in other circuits, this would be the
most likely culprit. But, have it checked anyway if you think this
might be the problem.

2. The radio is drawing excessive current due to some internal flaw.
This is less likely, since you have gone through two radios with the
same problem. But maybe it is a bad design.

3. The charger design is faulty. The fact that a different charger
also blew a fuse is not compelling evidence to me, because I do not
know that the specifications on the other chjarger really exceeded the
specifications on the charger that came with the unit.

4. There is a fault (intermittent open) in the power outlet or its
circuit. If the radio has its own internal rechargeable batteries, it
might run off of internal power when the external power was off, so
you might not notice it. The intermittent open causes excessive
thermal shock to the fusible wire, causing it to fail.

There are probably other possibilities that I have not thought of.
Somebody else will.

Hope this helps





Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

On 10 Apr 2006 05:48:18 -0700, jeffy3@hotmail.com wrote:

>I got SIRIUS satellite car kit which plugs into the electrical outlets
>in my Honda Accord (2004) and the first one died after less than a
>week, then I exchanged it for a new charger and that one died in 5
>minutes.

If the fuses are burning out, it is due to more current flowing
through the fuse than it was designed to handle. There are at least
four reasons why this could happen:

1. Your alternator is operating at too high a voltage. If your car
regularly burns out other fuses in other circuits, this would be the
most likely culprit. But, have it checked anyway if you think this
might be the problem.

2. The radio is drawing excessive current due to some internal flaw.
This is less likely, since you have gone through two radios with the
same problem. But maybe it is a bad design.

3. The charger design is faulty. The fact that a different charger
also blew a fuse is not compelling evidence to me, because I do not
know that the specifications on the other chjarger really exceeded the
specifications on the charger that came with the unit.

4. There is a fault (intermittent open) in the power outlet or its
circuit. If the radio has its own internal rechargeable batteries, it
might run off of internal power when the external power was off, so
you might not notice it. The intermittent open causes excessive
thermal shock to the fusible wire, causing it to fail.

There are probably other possibilities that I have not thought of.
Somebody else will.

Hope this helps





Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

Thanks very much. THis does help. How do i determine if it even is a
blown fuse? Is it visible to the naked eye?

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

Thanks very much. THis does help. How do i determine if it even is a
blown fuse? Is it visible to the naked eye?

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

On 10 Apr 2006 08:52:28 -0700, jeffy3@hotmail.com wrote:

>Thanks very much. THis does help. How do i determine if it even is a
>blown fuse? Is it visible to the naked eye?

Yes. You say you have taken one of the chargers apart and you saw
something that looked like a fuse (small glass cylinder with metal cap
on each end). You should be able to see a small wire running through
the cylinder between the metal caps.



Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

On 10 Apr 2006 08:52:28 -0700, jeffy3@hotmail.com wrote:

>Thanks very much. THis does help. How do i determine if it even is a
>blown fuse? Is it visible to the naked eye?

Yes. You say you have taken one of the chargers apart and you saw
something that looked like a fuse (small glass cylinder with metal cap
on each end). You should be able to see a small wire running through
the cylinder between the metal caps.



Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

I would be less inclined to blame the radio knowing that it had been changed
as well, and would look at the wiring more closely for a short or a poor
ground. The first thing I would want to do is to find out how much current
(amperage) draw the unit has while running. For instance, if it was
protected by a 14 amp fuse and drawing 10 amps regularly, (just as an
example) this might be enough to blow the fuse after a few days but not
right as soon as it is plugged in.

Maybe Tegger or some of the other guys here might give you a more current
(ouch!) answer. I'm 35 years away from twisting wrenches for a living.


<jeffy3@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1144680546.111905.15320@e56g2000cwe.googlegro ups.com...
> Thanks very much for the reply. It's a portable Sirius radio unit.
> If it helps to narrow down the problem, this is the second radio too.
> When I went to exchange the car charger, I had to also exchange the
> radio itself (for inventory/returns purposes). So if it's the radio
> causing the problem if it's happened with two different units, does
> that change your opinion in any way? Thanks much.
>

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

I would be less inclined to blame the radio knowing that it had been changed
as well, and would look at the wiring more closely for a short or a poor
ground. The first thing I would want to do is to find out how much current
(amperage) draw the unit has while running. For instance, if it was
protected by a 14 amp fuse and drawing 10 amps regularly, (just as an
example) this might be enough to blow the fuse after a few days but not
right as soon as it is plugged in.

Maybe Tegger or some of the other guys here might give you a more current
(ouch!) answer. I'm 35 years away from twisting wrenches for a living.


<jeffy3@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1144680546.111905.15320@e56g2000cwe.googlegro ups.com...
> Thanks very much for the reply. It's a portable Sirius radio unit.
> If it helps to narrow down the problem, this is the second radio too.
> When I went to exchange the car charger, I had to also exchange the
> radio itself (for inventory/returns purposes). So if it's the radio
> causing the problem if it's happened with two different units, does
> that change your opinion in any way? Thanks much.
>

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

Thanks much. Went to Radio Shack to get a replacement fuse (which were
naturally out of stock) and the manager guy there told me in general
it's not a good idea to have any charger plugged in until the car has
been started because it may not handle the power surge. Seems like a
lame answer to me.

Re: Car Chargers Keep Blowing Out
 

Thanks much. Went to Radio Shack to get a replacement fuse (which were
naturally out of stock) and the manager guy there told me in general
it's not a good idea to have any charger plugged in until the car has
been started because it may not handle the power surge. Seems like a
lame answer to me.