ARB Compressor short and melted wire

[Edub]

I'm posting here because I'm not sure where else to post and also for visibility (if there is a better place, feel free to move it)

Last weekend after a light off-roading session at Hidden Falls, I went to air back up. Immediately the compressor sounded bunny as if it was running at half power and I began to smell some burning plastic/rubber. I shut it off right away as I knew something was wrong and popped the hood to find the grounding wire completely melted from the compressor to the battery.

I have used it many times before and never had a problem. I followed the instructions when wiring and made sure everything was tight.

Any idea what would cause this? Neither of the 40amp fuses blew. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

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[chorky]

I'm posting here because I'm not sure where else to post and also for visibility (if there is a better place, feel free to move it)

Last weekend after a light off-roading session at Hidden Falls, I went to air back up. Immediately the compressor sounded bunny as if it was running at half power and I began to smell some burning plastic/rubber. I shut it off right away as I knew something was wrong and popped the hood to find the grounding wire completely melted from the compressor to the battery.

I have used it many times before and never had a problem. I followed the instructions when wiring and made sure everything was tight.

Any idea what would cause this? Neither of the 40amp fuses blew. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Kinda hard to see which wire is melted? Is it the signal wire (the smallest one) or is it one of the main power wires (the big red ones)?

Where is your compressor mounted? How is it grounded?

 

[MoxiesDad]

I'd guess that the ground wire is too small to handle the current draw.

 

[Edub]

Kinda hard to see which wire is melted? Is it the signal wire (the smallest one) or is it one of the main power wires (the big red ones)?

Where is your compressor mounted? How is it grounded?

Sorry, my photography skills aren't what they used to be.

It was the smaller ground wire, and it went back to the negative terminal on the battery. you can see in the first photo that it taps into the larger negative cable, and this is how it came from ARB.

The compressor itself is mounted inter the driver side wheel well using the Grimm Offroad bracket.

 

[Edub]

I'd guess that the ground wire is too small to handle the current draw.

But it's the factory harness that came with the compressor. Surely ARB took the size into consideration.

 

[chorky]

Sorry, my photography skills aren't what they used to be.

It was the smaller ground wire, and it went back to the negative terminal on the battery. you can see in the first photo that it taps into the larger negative cable, and this is how it came from ARB.

The compressor itself is mounted inter the driver side wheel well using the Grimm Offroad bracket.

what did you use for a switch option? did it come with one? Or did you hook it up to one of the aux switches? Everyone is different with how they are wired up.

That small ground wire was certainly trying to carry some load, but it shouldn't be. That wire's only purpose is to ground the switch. I don't have my own ARB harness anymore as I hard wired mine, but my assumption would be somehow that wire was shorted to power - in other words, the switch and/or relay of the compressor itself shorted out - allowing that wire to be essentially connected right to power.

I would contact ARB. this is likely a warranty repair and they probably will send you a new one. Your whole compressor is probably toast. My guess would be something inside the compressor assembly itself faulted, shorted out, and tried sending power directly through that switch ground. And that would make sense with the sound of the compressor appearing to be only half working.

How much did you use it before? Is it old or relatively new?

 

[chorky]

That would also explain why neither of your 40a fuses blew, because those wires weren't the circuit that was shorting out.

 

[Edub]

what did you use for a switch option? did it come with one? Or did you hook it up to one of the aux switches? Everyone is different with how they are wired up.

That small ground wire was certainly trying to carry some load, but it shouldn't be. That wire's only purpose is to ground the switch. I don't have my own ARB harness anymore as I hard wired mine, but my assumption would be somehow that wire was shorted to power - in other words, the switch and/or relay of the compressor itself shorted out - allowing that wire to be essentially connected right to power.

I would contact ARB. this is likely a warranty repair and they probably will send you a new one. Your whole compressor is probably toast. My guess would be something inside the compressor assembly itself faulted, shorted out, and tried sending power directly through that switch ground. And that would make sense with the sound of the compressor appearing to be only half working.

How much did you use it before? Is it old or relatively new?

Thanks for the input. I've probably had the compressor just over a year and have used it maybe 6 times?

It was wired up to one of my AUX switches.

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