Simple repair of 240 V level 2 SPX Voltec charging station
My SPX Voltec level 2 240 V charging station (model EL-50580 purchased 10/8/11) went dead on Monday (no lights). The 240 V circuit to the unit was fine. A number of threads on this site reported the problem but it seems most members have been able to replace the unit under warranty. I was not so lucky as it was three weeks out of warranty. I called SPX and they said there was nothing they could do. There is no repair service. The only thing they could recommend was to check with my credit card company to see if they had an extended warranty. They did, but there is an exclusion for auto accessories.
So I took the front cover off and with some inspection I found two fuses at the input to the circuit board. I found one of them blown with an ohmmeter. The fuse is a Littelfuse Inc. series 505 500 V 20 A (ceramic fast blow) mounted directly to the circuit board. I ordered three (2 spares) from Digikey at $4.42 each: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/0505020.MXEP/F3265-ND/1967673
I then replaced the fuse (and was careful desoldering from the top side of the board since the thick traces made it difficult) and now my unit works fine.
I suspect that the reason Leer (the manufacturer) decided to go with axial lead type fuses is for safety. There are no fuse holders that have specifications of 500 V 20 A. I suspect that a surge on the power line blew the fuse and perhaps saved the Voltec unit and the car. The fuse did its job. But since the fuses are not readily replaceable, most people replace the unit at a cost of $495 plus shipping. This is not right. There is an easy and inexpensive fix. I saved more than $500. The unit has been working now for days.
My SPX Voltec level 2 240 V charging station (model EL-50580 purchased 10/8/11) went dead on Monday (no lights). The 240 V circuit to the unit was fine. A number of threads on this site reported the problem but it seems most members have been able to replace the unit under warranty. I was not so lucky as it was three weeks out of warranty. I called SPX and they said there was nothing they could do. There is no repair service. The only thing they could recommend was to check with my credit card company to see if they had an extended warranty. They did, but there is an exclusion for auto accessories.
So I took the front cover off and with some inspection I found two fuses at the input to the circuit board. I found one of them blown with an ohmmeter. The fuse is a Littelfuse Inc. series 505 500 V 20 A (ceramic fast blow) mounted directly to the circuit board. I ordered three (2 spares) from Digikey at $4.42 each: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/0505020.MXEP/F3265-ND/1967673
I then replaced the fuse (and was careful desoldering from the top side of the board since the thick traces made it difficult) and now my unit works fine.
I suspect that the reason Leer (the manufacturer) decided to go with axial lead type fuses is for safety. There are no fuse holders that have specifications of 500 V 20 A. I suspect that a surge on the power line blew the fuse and perhaps saved the Voltec unit and the car. The fuse did its job. But since the fuses are not readily replaceable, most people replace the unit at a cost of $495 plus shipping. This is not right. There is an easy and inexpensive fix. I saved more than $500. The unit has been working now for days.