3j sanjo fridge issues
- Thread starter Coot
- Start date
Welcome to the forum 
I've edited the thread title a little to maybe attract more responses.
How is the voltage on the battery the fridge is connected to?
Compressor fridges are rather notoriously sensitive to battery voltage and health as the first second or so of the compressor starting is nearly a dead short and it can draw a big current spike and the voltage drops.
If the compressor doesn't start reasonably quickly the controller may lock out to prevent damage. That can usually be reset by disconnecting the fridge from power - usually at the fuse as the off switch in the fridge doesn't always fully power down it's more of a soft off like a television.
I've edited the thread title a little to maybe attract more responses.
How is the voltage on the battery the fridge is connected to?
Compressor fridges are rather notoriously sensitive to battery voltage and health as the first second or so of the compressor starting is nearly a dead short and it can draw a big current spike and the voltage drops.
If the compressor doesn't start reasonably quickly the controller may lock out to prevent damage. That can usually be reset by disconnecting the fridge from power - usually at the fuse as the off switch in the fridge doesn't always fully power down it's more of a soft off like a television.
Hi all, sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but I’m having similar problems with my Sanjo 3J fridge.
It’s been absolutely fine for nearly a year, but recently it’s developed a fault. On initial start-up it runs normally and cools as expected. However, once it reaches the set temperature and the compressor cuts out, the orange light comes on and the compressor won’t restart when the temperature rises again.
The only way to get it working again is to pull the fuse for around 20 minutes and restart the unit. It will then run for another 10–15 minutes, reach temperature, shut off, and the same issue happens again—orange light on, compressor won’t kick back in. I also tried running it yesterday on electric hook up to eliminate low battery issues, with the same results. I suppose it is cold at the moment, so may take a while for it up kick the compressor back on.
To get the van warm, we also went for a nice run out, starting with the fridge running. van interior got warm but we still never heard it come back on once and fridge contents didn’t seem very cold.
Hope I’m not left with a box that’s basically just an LED light.
Has anyone come across this before or have any ideas what might be causing it?
Thanks in advance.
It’s been absolutely fine for nearly a year, but recently it’s developed a fault. On initial start-up it runs normally and cools as expected. However, once it reaches the set temperature and the compressor cuts out, the orange light comes on and the compressor won’t restart when the temperature rises again.
The only way to get it working again is to pull the fuse for around 20 minutes and restart the unit. It will then run for another 10–15 minutes, reach temperature, shut off, and the same issue happens again—orange light on, compressor won’t kick back in. I also tried running it yesterday on electric hook up to eliminate low battery issues, with the same results. I suppose it is cold at the moment, so may take a while for it up kick the compressor back on.
To get the van warm, we also went for a nice run out, starting with the fridge running. van interior got warm but we still never heard it come back on once and fridge contents didn’t seem very cold.
Hope I’m not left with a box that’s basically just an LED light.
Has anyone come across this before or have any ideas what might be causing it?
Thanks in advance.
Last edited:
Google the sanjo/dometic fault codes on the led, if no blinking led indicating a fault check with the 99p fridge thermometer you are about to buy, to properly check temperatures .
Melville1967
New Member
Where is the fuse located?
Mine was a 10amp in the PCB unit.
