Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-13-2010, 05:34 PM   #1
1 Rivet Member
 
2009 20' Flying Cloud
San Rafael , California
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 7
Images: 1
Unhappy Can't find a short!

Please help! I can't find a short on my 20',2009 Flying cloud . 15 Amp fuse is blowing out every time, when I Turn on ceiling lights. This fuse is also responsible for patio and step lights. Three button switch is located at the entrance of the trailer. Patio/step/ceiling. I checked switch, its fine, no short there. Patio and step also fine, only when I turn on ceiling. I checked all 7 12v lamps, fine. How can I trace a short?
KAMPOTA s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 05:38 PM   #2
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by KAMPOTA s View Post
Please help! I can't find a short on my 20',2009 Flying cloud . 15 Amp fuse is blowing out every time, when I Turn on ceiling lights. This fuse is also responsible for patio and step lights. Three button switch is located at the entrance of the trailer. Patio/step/ceiling. I checked switch, its fine, no short there. Patio and step also fine, only when I turn on ceiling. I checked all 7 12v lamps, fine. How can I trace a short?
Are you sure the 15 amp fuse is correct, or would it be a 20 amp?

If there indeed is a short, the 20 amp will blow just as fast as the 15 amp.

Andym
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 05:40 PM   #3
3 Rivet Member
 
JFerguson's Avatar
 
1964 26' Overlander
Gloucester , Virginia
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 167
Well I think you must consider three possibilities and two are easy to check. The last one is harder. It is most probable that the short is at the terminations of the circuit i.e. the switch or the lamp. You have already checked the switch. Next check the lamp fixture. The final possibility is that the short is somewhere in the cable run, this is harder to track down, but not impossible. If the lights are wired in parallel then you may have to isolate each light fixture till you find the short. The key thing is to be methodical and safe. You can do it!!!
JFerguson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 05:41 PM   #4
3 Rivet Member
 
JFerguson's Avatar
 
1964 26' Overlander
Gloucester , Virginia
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 167
Do you have a multimeter Kampota?
JFerguson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 07:58 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
garry's Avatar
 
1969 31' Sovereign
Broken Arrow , Oklahoma
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,455
Images: 7
"Only blows when the 12V ceiling lights are turned on"

I would 1st pull every bulb and see if it blows with no bulbs installed. If yes it blows you have a tougher job use a meter and check across the neg and pos at each bulb socket if you can't get on the wire read from the center of the bulb to the side of the socket.
I guess we need to know if you own and know how to use a multi meter?

If the fuse doesn't blow start installing bulbs and see how far you get.
__________________
Garry
garry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 10:01 PM   #6
Rivet Master
 
ROBERTSUNRUS's Avatar

 
2005 25' Safari
Salem , Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,369
Images: 18
Blog Entries: 55
Two thoughts.

Quote:
Originally Posted by KAMPOTA s View Post
Please help! I can't find a short on my 20',2009 Flying cloud . 15 Amp fuse is blowing out every time, when I Turn on ceiling lights. This fuse is also responsible for patio and step lights. Three button switch is located at the entrance of the trailer. Patio/step/ceiling. I checked switch, its fine, no short there. Patio and step also fine, only when I turn on ceiling. I checked all 7 12v lamps, fine. How can I trace a short?
Hi, first let's analize the situation. You bought your trailer new, right? You should have a warranty with it. Tampering, and maybe further damaging the electrical system, could cancel that part of your warranty. Next, with my automotive electrical repair experiences, I have found most [not all] problems to be self induced. [meaning the owner caused the problem] So I ask you this question, that I asked of my customers, before diagnoising the problem. "What was the last thing you did to your trailer?" Even though you may not think it is related, many times it is. Did you do any electrical repairs or modifications? Did you remove and re-install anything? Did you add anything to your trailer, inside or out, that required drilling or the use of sheet metal screws? You may have pinched or punctured a wire loom without realizing what you have done.

Do not, ever, install a larger fuse than called for in any given circuit. And never by-pass a fuse. In many cases the wiring is rated for the size fuse needed for that circuit; By-passes and larger fuses can and will melt wire looms. [if you do this, now you are in real trouble]
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
ROBERTSUNRUS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 06:22 AM   #7
3 Rivet Member
 
JFerguson's Avatar
 
1964 26' Overlander
Gloucester , Virginia
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 167
One good thing about restoring a vintage trailer as opposed to buying new...you learn it inside and out.
JFerguson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 08:01 AM   #8
4 Rivet Member
 
2008 16' Safari
Destrehan , Louisiana
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 395
Take out the bulbs and look at the tabs that are suposed to contact the bulb conections. You will most likely find that the tabs are touching when the bulb is installed. Replace the light socket after you confirm that this is the problem.
dlb435 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 11:37 AM   #9
Rivet Master
 
richinny's Avatar
 
2011 34' Classic
Westchester Cty.NY , / Miami FL
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,122
if just one fixture blows the fuse when turned on, pull the bulb on that fixture first and start inspecting the fixture socket and wiring.
__________________
Ricky
2012 F150 Super Crew 5-1/2' bed Ecoboost 4x4 3.73 elec. lock diff. Propride hitch
give life. kidney & pancreas transplant 9/9/06
Ingrid-my unofficial '"World's Oldest Streamer" 1909-2008 R.I.P.
richinny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 01:43 PM   #10
Rivet Master
 
HowieE's Avatar
 
1991 34' Excella
Princeton , New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
Images: 12
There is no reason to remove any of the bulbs. You can not have a short down stream of the bulb because that is the ground side of the bulbs and the bulbs would light if all was good to that point. Ground is what voltage goes to in a short.

If you have removed the switch and do not see any problem there I would take a piece of wire long enough to reach from the switch to the first light fixture in the circuit. At the first fixture disconnect any second or third fixture supply wire leaving that first fixture. Disconnect the wire from the secondary side of the switch. Connect a new wire from the secondary side of the switch, running it in free air, to the first fixture. Turn the switch on. If the fuse blows the problem is the wire in the wall from the switch to the fixture. If the fuse holds connect the second fixture into the circuit and test again. If the fuse blows it is the wire in the ceiling between the 1st fixture and the second fixture or the second fixture itself. Look for a pinched wire where the fixture was mounted to the ceiling. If the fixture checks out OK disconnect the wire from the 1st to 2nd fixture and jumper a new wire as you did from the switch to the 1st fixture. Continue this process of replacing the supply wire and testing each fixture until you can turn the switch on without blowing a fuse. The only way to find a short is to substitute items one by one from the last known good point until you reach the one that is the problem. Don't worry fuses are cheap and you can not cause a problem testing this way.

If it turns out to be a factory installed wire in the wall or ceiling you will have to come back and give us some idea of where and then hopefully we can come up with something. My guess is it will be a pinched wire in the mounting of one of the fixtures but you have to build the system out, with substitute wires, from the switch to locate the problem.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles

HowieE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 04:08 PM   #11
Rivet Master
 
Ag&Au's Avatar
 
Port Orchard , Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by HowieE View Post
There is no reason to remove any of the bulbs. You can not have a short down stream of the bulb because that is the ground side of the bulbs and the bulbs would light if all was good to that point. Ground is what voltage goes to in a short.

.

I have seen a bulb develop an internal short in the process of burning out. Apparently the violence of the burnout caused the filament support wires to move enough to touch each other and weld together. Those wires would carry the short circuit current long enough to blow the fuse.
So it is not always the case, that removing the bulb would not help.

regards,
Ken
Ag&Au is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 05:22 PM   #12
Rivet Master
 
TG Twinkie's Avatar
 
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill , Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
Images: 2
Blog Entries: 5
Trouble shooting

I'd take the bulbs out. Turn on the switch and see if the fuse blows. If not. Are you sure you have the correct bulbs? Is there more than one fixture?
If the fuse holds with all of the bulbs out. Install one bulb at a time with the switch on and see what happens.
If the fuse doesn't hold and you have multiple fixtures, disconnect one at a time and see what happens.
Tell us what happens.
TG Twinkie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 06:35 PM   #13
Site Team
 
Aage's Avatar
 
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa , ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
Images: 25
Just a question...

Um, isn't a 2009 still under warrantee?
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
...John Wayne...........................
Aage is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
fuse


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Short gowyn Brakes & Brake Controllers 14 02-12-2008 06:13 PM
Short -Short Ramp Lights - Interior & Exterior 0 09-12-2007 04:34 PM
I'm a little short, can u help? Shorty Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 1 05-28-2006 12:46 PM
The Short, Short Trailer - Spamboree flamingo-kid1 On The Road... 2 04-14-2005 01:41 PM
12 v short Don McKelvay Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 8 10-25-2003 11:44 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:30 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.