Finding electrical shorts

[Cap-N-Red]

What would be the correct procedure for locating a direct short on one of the 12vlt. legs coming off the fuse box? It's the leg that supplies current to the reading lights over the couch , overhead living area , sink , and outside step & scare lights. I say it's a direct short because it will blow a fuse the instant you try and place a new one in the holder.
Thanks for any information in advance

[azflycaster]

Put an ohm meter on the line and remove all bulbs that are in the circut. If it still reads a short, try pulling on the wires that go between the bulbs in the circut. When the meter goes from 0 ohms you have found the area of the short. It helps to have another person helping.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Cap-N-Red

What would be the correct procedure for locating a direct short on one of the 12vlt. legs coming off the fuse box? It's the leg that supplies current to the reading lights over the couch , overhead living area , sink , and outside step & scare lights. I say it's a direct short because it will blow a fuse the instant you try and place a new one in the holder.
Thanks for any information in advance

I would start fabricating a light bulb holder that has 2 leads and can be pushed onto both sides of the fuse holder ( sans fuse) for the circuit in question. A short will make the bulb light up.
Now, trace the wiring until the bulb goes out - that's where your short is going to be.
Make sure that all the users in the circuit are definitely turned off. Remove one light at a time and see if the problem becomes obvious.