Burnt out Sargent EM40 unit

[Cockers]

Well our road trip has come to an unexpected halt Today travelled down through France and into Spain driving passed Albox on the E-15 A-7 heading toward Almeria and smelt the dreaded electrical burning smell and smoke started coming from the drivers side footwell, we had a very quick stop and switched everything off.
contacted Sargent and explained what had happened, explained the earth wires from the vehicle battery in side had melted and burnt out. I asked if if they could send me a new unit which I’m waiting to find out if they will send a unit to Spain. Strangely they said I would need a new EM40 unit and the repair wiring harness, i found it strange they have a repair harness to hand, which makes me feel there has been a problem with their wiring. I asked if it’s happened a lot to be told a few have had this issue.
really interested if anyone else has had the problem. And if anyone know of anywhere in Spain that may be able to assist.
by unplugging everything from the unit I can still drive the van but nothing is working in the hab area. The van is an Autotrail Dakota 2015.

 

[ija]

Sorry, feeding you duff info. It is a while since I did it so thought I would have a look.
The theory is the red plug carriers to 12v supply from the battery. Reducing the demand on this plug by removing the fridge heater supply means the RED plug is carrying a lot less current.
So I have removed the GREEN plug.
I have a red wire from the battery +ve connected to the TWO Red/Yellow wires.
I have a Black wire from the battery -ve connected top the TWO White/Black wires. These were removed from the Black plug which is still in situ but just with the small yellow wire connected.
Photos to follow in a minute.

Sorry, feeding you duff info. It is a while since I did it so thought I would have a look.
The theory is the red plug carriers to 12v supply from the battery. Reducing the demand on this plug by removing the fridge heater supply means the RED plug is carrying a lot less current.
So I have removed the GREEN plug.
I have a red wire from the battery +ve connected to the TWO Red/Yellow wires.
I have a Black wire from the battery -ve connected top the TWO White/Black wires. These were removed from the Black plug which is still in situ but just with the small yellow wire connected.
Photos to follow in a minute.

Sorry, feeding you duff info. It is a while since I did it so thought I would have a look.
The theory is the red plug carriers to 12v supply from the battery. Reducing the demand on this plug by removing the fridge heater supply means the RED plug is carrying a lot less current.
So I have removed the GREEN plug.
I have a red wire from the battery +ve connected to the TWO Red/Yellow wires.
I have a Black wire from the battery -ve connected top the TWO White/Black wires. These were removed from the Black plug which is still in situ but just with the small yellow wire connected.
Photos to follow in a minute.

Hi, are you still running with this bypass / repair as I’ve got a long french trip coming up in my Autotrail and would feel safer with this rather than risk te connector burning out

 

[WASPES]

Hi, are you still running with this bypass / repair as I’ve got a long french trip coming up in my Autotrail and would feel safer with this rather than risk te connector burning out

Hi I have just read on the Autotrail forum that they have been sending out letters for EM40 RECALL many have said they have had letters today

 

[iain26]

Hi, are you still running with this bypass / repair as I’ve got a long french trip coming up in my Autotrail and would feel safer with this rather than risk te connector burning out

Yes, still working.

I wonder what a dealer would think of it if I go for inspection with the recall

 

[Jonno1103]

Hi I have just read on the Autotrail forum that they have been sending out letters for EM40 RECALL many have said they have had letters today

Yes they're doing it for the EM55 & EM56 too, the problem is the Fridge D+ fuse. Thetford say it should be 25a rather than the 20a Sargent fit.

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[ija]

Yes, still working.

I wonder what a dealer would think of it if I go for inspection with the recall

I would imagine a good excuse to void a warrenty claim

 

[Cockers]

I replaced my EM40 unit with the upgraded EM41, spoke to a guy at Sargent and explained I was using Lithium battery’s and he said the new EM41 unit would solve the problem. It came with new wiring harness which had upgraded connectors and bigger wiring.
Fitted it 6 months ago and had no problems since. Just had a long trip down to Italy where the weather was in the mid to late 30s with no problems. The EM41 did cost me £180.

 

[GeoffnDee]

It could be useful to know that a heavy duty replacement for the EM40 can also be found at www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk in their cataloque (Apuljack electronics section)

 

[Jonno1103]

It could be useful to know that a heavy duty replacement for the EM40 can also be found at www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk in their cataloque (Apuljack electronics section)

Yep they're also working on an upgraded replacement for the EM55 & EM56 too.

 

[Blossom]

I have a 2015 Autotrail, how would I identify if it had an EM40 unit fitted please? I have not received a recall letter yet.

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[Cockers]

I have a 2015 Autotrail, how would I identify if it had an EM40 unit fitted please? I have not received a recall letter yet.

I never received a recall letter either, when I purchased the EM41 there was no mention of a recall. You could phone them and ask

 

[Gellyneck]

Hi I have just read on the Autotrail forum that they have been sending out letters for EM40 RECALL many have said they have had letters today

We're currently travelling so no access to our mail.

Do you happen to have a link to the above?

 

[Diabalo]

I have not had a recall notification yet.

 

[Gellyneck]

I have not had a recall notification yet.

Have you seen the AT Forum page?
We're away so can't check mail and can't find forum page

 

[Diabalo]

Gellyneck Here you go just found it again on faceache

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[Gellyneck]

Gellyneck Here you go just found it again on faceache

View attachment 935558

Thanks buddy.

 

[plug]

hi Mick

it’s a very common issue especially on Autotrails, I know quite a few owners had exactly the same issue. I’d urge you to also check the harness between the 3 stage charger and Sargent unit, a completely different issue but once again very common and melted everything

Same thing, crap connectors and inferior capacity carryring cabling, if they charged us another £10 and used quality components this would never happen.

Hope you get sorted soon mate

Al

Just had to carry out the same repair problem when I got back from Spain, luckily I have a solar panel, I was in contact with Sargent they sent out a replacement lead, when I had removed the broken lead it was burnt out on the terminal, the replacement lead didn’t look any different to the one I have removed at least they sent out the cable FOC, but like everyone is thinking how long will it last.
2022 plate autotrail, and the recall said do not run fridge when travelling.

 

[Mick and Ruth]

Just had to carry out the same repair problem when I got back from Spain, luckily I have a solar panel, I was in contact with Sargent they sent out a replacement lead, when I had removed the broken lead it was burnt out on the terminal, the replacement lead didn’t look any different to the one I have removed at least they sent out the cable FOC, but like everyone is thinking how long will it last.
2022 plate autotrail, and the recall said do not run fridge when travelling.

I replaced mine as was in Ireland when it went and paid Sargent for a replacement, got home 4 weeks later and Apuljack then released their version, I ordered that and immediately removed the Sargent one and it has remained in the box ever since, not fit for purpose. Had recall from Auto Trail two weeks ago e mailed them to say Im sticking with the Apuljack.

 

[RM_Marine]

Parents have just had the same letter to say they need to return thr motorhome to where they brought tp have the EM40 replaces as failer can cause fire and loss of rear lights

 

[plug]

I have a 2015 Autotrail, how would I identify if it had an EM40 unit fitted please? I have not received a recall letter yet.

The only information i have been given is this is caused by the thetford fridge, due to the amount of power it pulls.
I can’t confirm this as this information was given to me by company that is going to carry out the repair.

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[Fat Albert]

The only information i have been given is this is caused by the thetford fridge, due to the amount of power it pulls.
I can’t confirm this as this information was given to me by company that is going to carry out the repair.

I think you have hit the nail on the head regarding the fridge power. I have a thetford 3000 series and the PCB 20A fuse melted but didn’t fail and the solder melted off the board. Thetford have produced a version 2 for the 3000/4000 series fridges with a 25A fuse.

 

[Diabalo]

According to the Auto-Trail faceache group i'm on it's the tall fridge that is the problem, the under counter small fridge is Ok and you will not get a recall if you have one of those.

 

[Dilly-Dodd]

Morning all. Had this letter last week from Auto Trail with a recall for my A/T . The bad news it’s supplied by Marquis motors, have not had good experiences with them.

 

[RM_Marine]

Morning all. Had this letter last week from Auto Trail with a recall for my A/T . The bad news it’s supplied by Marquis motors, have not had good experiences with them.



View attachment 957062

Same experience as my parents then

 

[Miggs]

Got my letter a couple of weeks ago, mine goes in on Monday.

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[plug]

Morning all. Had this letter last week from Auto Trail with a recall for my A/T . The bad news it’s supplied by Marquis motors, have not had good experiences with them.



View attachment 957062

You need to contact Autotrail if you are not happy to take it back to them they will give you an alternative repairer to take your Motorhome to, they done this for me as I live in Kent and the dealer I bought it from is in Somerset.

 

[Gellyneck]

We've not received an email or letter on this from AT so going to call Sargent to try and find out if we're impacted.

Anybody know if it's just those with Thetford tall fridges that are impacted as we've got a Dometic RM8555 in ours. AT Frontier Savannah 2013 on an X250 Ducato.

 

[GeoffnDee]

Gellyneck , there is information regarding the EM40 and its replacement to be found at www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk in their catalogue , Sargent section , that you may find useful.

 

[Gellyneck]

Gellyneck , there is information regarding the EM40 and its replacement to be found at www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk in their catalogue , Sargent section , that you may find useful.

Many thanks. Will have a read and decide what to do.

 

[plug]

We've not received an email or letter on this from AT so going to call Sargent to try and find out if we're impacted.

Anybody know if it's just those with Thetford tall fridges that are impacted as we've got a Dometic RM8555 in ours. AT Frontier Savannah 2013 on an X250 Ducato.

Hi yours is not at risk, as Sargent told me it’s to do with the amount of power the thetford pulls in use, as the wiring was not designed for this type of fridge but was designed for the dometic unit.
Hope this helps you.

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[Gellyneck]

Hi yours is not at risk, as Sargent told me it’s to do with the amount of power the thetford pulls in use, as the wiring was not designed for this type of fridge but was designed for the dometic unit.
Hope this helps you.

I will be checking the EM40 / wiring when next out at storage to see condition.

Last time I look under the EM40 a couple of years ago (for another reason) there was no apparent issues.

For those in the know, and gleaned from the above posts, the user Dometic user manual says 170W on 12v operation so does that mean it pulls just over 14A so well under the 20A fusing. Or have I got it all wrong (yet again!)?