Lights quit working after plugging cell phone charger into cigarette lighter

[hagnik]

Hello all,

I have a 1972 Overlander. All my overhead lights have been working fine in the past. While camping this weekend, I noticed there was a cigarette lighter near one of the electric outlets. I though it would be a good place to put my phone charger. wrong... As soon as I plugged it in, the front set of my over head lights, my fridge, and my 2 front lights (above gaucho) went out. I assumed this was just a breaker, but they were all in the ON position. I switched them off and on but still did not work.

Does anyone know what happened? How can I fix this? I'm camping again this weekend and would love for my fridge to work.

Thanks,
Nick

[dznf0g]

Check for a blown fuse. 12V outlets have changed slightly in their contact points and are a SLIGHTLY different size than many years ago. Most all newer outlets and devices are compatable with each other, but some older outlets will pop the fuse when newer components are plugged in....intermittently. Since you have a '72, I would bet this is your problem. Replace the fuse and I would replace the outlet. They are readily available from any RV store, Wally World, etc.

[hagnik]

Thanks for the quick reply. Where would the fuse be? In the actual receptical that holds the cigarette lighter? Could it be up or down stream? Would I be looking for one of those small cylindrical fuses?

I don't need the cigarette lighter to work, I just want to repair it so everything else works.

Thanks
Nick

[richinny]

i think you have a 12v fuse panel that has the old glass type automotive fuses. it should be near the converter for 12v.

i think the breakers you flipped sound like the 129v as shored power breakers.

[dznf0g]

What Ricky said. I am not, by any means a vintage AS expert! But, the pictures I have seen on this forum show glass tubular fuses in the fuse panel.

My newer unit has all circuit breakers (except for tongue jack, LP detector, etc) for the 12 volt side, but the older ones don't. I am not familiar eith the location of your particular fuse panel.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by hagnik

Thanks for the quick reply. Where would the fuse be? In the actual receptical that holds the cigarette lighter? Could it be up or down stream? Would I be looking for one of those small cylindrical fuses?

I don't need the cigarette lighter to work, I just want to repair it so everything else works.

Thanks
Nick

That is a 12 volt outlet, "NOT" a cigarette light outlet. Holy "devil" will happen if you plugged in a lighter, as the heat would do considerable damage to the backside of that plate.

More than likely, a wire shorted out on the backside of that plate.

Remove that plate and check the backside, before you install a fuse.

The fuse should be 20 amps.

Andy

[DKB_SATX]

To echo what's been said about fuses versus breakers, the breakers are most likely just for the 120V system. I'm lucky in the my trailer was upgraded to the modern automotive-style fuses by the PO when he replaced the Univolt with a WFCO converter. In my case the fuse block is close to the converter. From my manual, it looks like the original Univolt for mine (at '75 Argosy) had the 12V fuses inside its case. I have the original manual, and those circuits are descriptively labeled "Circuit #1, Circuit #2 and Circuit #3" so I couldn't tell you offhand if the interior lights and the 12V outlet were on the same circuit on my unit or not, but finding those 12V fuses is the best place to start.