Auxbeam port issue

My light bar stopped working this morning then I realized the port it was plugged into completely burnt/melted. Anyone ever come across this issue? Any idea why that happened? Was working just fine for months.

 

Anytime I see something like that, the first things that come to mind are either A) you were drawing too many amps for the set up, or B) the connection wasn’t good and you may have had some resistance from that. Hard to say what exactly caused it without knowing more, but those two are where I’d start looking.

 

ok thanks. I had the light bar connected to 30 amps. Should be more than enough I think? Would water also cause something like this?

 

Could be arcing from the connection not being tight enough.
Too much draw from the light fixture than whatever is the weakest chain in the link (wire, terminal, or other)
Fuse failed to do its job. (I’ve seen some cheap fuses fail to pop at its rated amp especially 30amp fuses for some reason)
Incorrect wire gauge for the amp draw / line loss.

Good to see your truck didn’t catch fire.
Always carry a fire extinguisher.

 

Water can in some cases. Usually water leads to a slow corrosion though. It can complete a circuit as it does conduct electricity, but you usually see smaller circuits suffer damage like that from water. Do you know what amperage the light bar draws? 30A is pretty high. So if the circuit was rated for 30, and you were drawing 30, it’s likely wouldn’t do that (though you should usually give yourself some buffer for voltage fluctuations, so I’d top out at 27A on a 30A circuit). But I’d be surprised if your light bar actually draws 30A. Was the wire sized correct for the amperage it did draw though? A wire that is too small can heat up pretty quick.

 

I have some cheap 1A fuses I use when testing circuits. Before any load is put on it, just to test functionality kind of thing. Anyway, I forgot to swap one for my DRLs (not stock, added a DRL circuit to an SR). I drove around for months before that thing popped. My actual draw was around 4-5A, so nothing crazy, but still 4-5X what the fuse was supposed to be rated for. That is why I don’t cheap out on fuses (except those 1A for testing)

 

I’m not surprised if it doesn’t pop at 2-2.5 amps over what ever it is. Some times it needs a tiny tiny bit of heat + time then pop.

But yes I agree, I think of fuses as a car seatbelt for a human. It’s the first and last line of protection before things get…. Expensive.

 

My question is, Did it Pop the fuse on the Circuit it was in? Or did it just burn the Circuit it was in?

 

This is the light bar I’m running. I believe it’s the Baja designs onX6 but can’t remember exactly as I bought it used with the rack. Looking online says that one uses 26 amps.

 

No the fuse didn’t pop it was in when it happened, the fuse was the first thing I checked and it didn’t seem popped then I noticed the burned/melted port etc.

 

Ok, Did you purchase this directly from Auxbeam? Or from somewhere else?

 

Sounds like a faulty fuse that didn’t go off properly.
If the fuse is original and it came in with the kit. I would contact them and see if they can get your unit replaced.

If not you could just go without that circuit if the damage isn’t bad. But I’d replace all the fuses.

 

I got it on market place brand new in its packaging. Seller never installed it and sold his truck etc.

 

The fuse is original never replaced them. It has some extras it came with as well. Would you recommend I just find new set a fuses and replace em all then?(don’t use the extras)

 

That might be an issue since you arent the original purchaser. I am a Vendor for Auxbeam. Try contacting and explain what happened. Give them the part number to the Controller. Let them know that the Fuse didn't Blow and it Burnt the Controller instead. Give them the Date when you Purchased it. If you have a Picture when you received it still in the Original Box include it with your email. Give them as much information as you can but not enough to show any possible cause to yourself.

 

I’ll try that, thanks. I actually still have the box in my garage and all so I’ll include pictures of it etc. thank you!

 

Also include a picture of the controller to show how it is burnt. Let me know when you get a response from Auxbeam.
You're Welcome

 

Replace all of them. Wouldn’t want the chance it for it to happen again.
And cause an electrical fire.

Oh actually that unit did it come and install with that 60amp rest-able breaker?

 

cool, they responded already actually. But yea they are definitely asking for a receipt :/

 

Cool I’ll give that a shot. Any specific fuse brand recommendations you might have?

and yes it came with the breaker as well.