Fuse blowing and sparking!

[Lily&Me]

The 20 amp fuse for the control panel and water heater had blown and was replaced a couple of weeks ago. When we parked tonight, it had blown again. Attempt to replace fuse this time resulted in sparking from this receptacle!! Hitting the reset button allowed the fuse to be inserted, only to hear a "pop" a few seconds after turning on the hot water heater, and fuse was blown a third time. Perhaps not coincidentally, the box containing the fuses, etc., is directly beneath the closet where we frantically mopped up rainwater some weeks ago----due to the black tank vent being installed by wild men at Airstream who screwed the vent (that didn't fit) in so tightly it was shattered underneath all that caulk!

Any fix-it-yourself suggestions? We are just north of Prairie du Chien, WI, and are told Prairie RV might be able to help.

[Lily&Me]

We are now on our way to Chippewa Falls, WI, where we have been able to get a 1pm appt at Fox RV. Anyone familiar with them, any suggestions as to this problem from anyone out there??? Thanks

[Lumatic]

Are you describing a problem with 120v or 12v system? What year and model is your Airstream?

[Lily&Me]

We are in an 06 Interstate, Class B motorhome. We are technically challenged but learning, please be patient. Doug thinks it is a 12v problem. We were plugged into electricity, fuse was blown, couldn't replace properly because first it sparked/arc'd, then it blew again after only a few seconds.

[Lily&Me]

No responses/help is not a good sign. Not plugged into electric, we tried putting in a new fuse, to sparking/arc'ing. We reset the switch, put in a new fuse, turned on the hot water heater, then the water pump, then the control panel. Everything turned on, fuse blew a few seconds later. We are now waiting for our 1pm appointment.

[richinny]

look around the water heater for a wire that may be loose or cut causing the short. btw, we don't heat hot water, it's just a water heater.

[richinny]

oh, and try turning things on one at a time with 5 minutes in between to see which item seems to blow the fuse.

[Lily&Me]

A wizard (to us, anyway) at Fox RV in Chippewa Falls, WI, found a green wire to nowhere behind the control panel that had worked its' way up against the aluminum skin, causing the short. !! He said it probably was intended to light the water pump when on---although we have no light for our water pump, and never have, so it was just hanging out back there, loose and waiting to cause problems. Grrrrrrrrrrr. For a grand total of $57.00, he diagnosed this and pulled it out and we are on our way once again. Nice people at Fox RV, and got us in with just a couple of hours notice.

Richinny and Lumatic, thanks for your help.