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ChadHubbard's avatar
ChadHubbard
Explorer
Aug 04, 2018

Help finding 12 volt fuse for refrigerator

I have a 2003 Fleetwood Pride 32' fifth wheel. The cooling unit failed on the refrigerator. My wife and I replace the cooling unit today (that was a good time!).

When I removed the 12 volt positive wire from the circuit board I allowed it to touch a piece of metal that was grounded. Blew a fuse. We re-installed the refrigerator and wired everything up. No 12 volts I can not located any 12 volt fuses.

The unit has a 55 amp inverter which is working. I have tested for voltage coming out of it and to the two distribution boards. The main 12 volt wire goes 'up' somewhere and comes back as 2 smaller cables feeding the distribution boards. There are fuses and breakers. I can follow the wires from the refrigerator almost all the way to the inverter, but not quite.

We have looked thoroughly for a 12 volt panel in addition to the distribution panel. No luck.

Anyone have any insights when the 12 volt feed for the refrigerator is connected to power?

thanks much!
Chad
  • bob213's avatar
    bob213
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2018
    You have a converter not an inverter. There should be a 12 volt fuse panel somewhere in the trailer. Usually right there with the circuit breakers at the converter. Also check the fuses on the circuit board behind the refrigerator(usually a black cover). I think they are 3 and 5 amp fuses.
  • bgum's avatar
    bgum
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2018
    Unless I don't understand your description it has always been my experience that the 12 volt items were always in the same place as the converter. Are you confusing converter and inverter?
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Aug 04, 2018
    Odds are he has a converter. Post make and model of the Inverter or converter that you found.
    Locate the 120 volt circuit breakers. Adjacent to them, there should be a small metal plate, held in place by a thumb screw. Remove this plate. The fuses should be there.
  • bgum's avatar
    bgum
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2018
    Reset all breakers. Turn them off then back on. Do this after checking all automotive type fuses in the converter and replace as necessary. If this doesn't fix then check the back of the frig for a fuse and replace as necessary.
  • corvettekent's avatar
    corvettekent
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2018
    My 12 volt fuses are in the front cargo or generator room but I don't have a Fleetwood.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 04, 2018
    Fuses are probably NOT labeled so just start pulling and checking for a blown one.

    Fridge circuit board requires CLEAN DC Voltage...that comes from the filtered section on the fuse dist panel that converter & battery supply DC to.
  • ChadHubbard's avatar
    ChadHubbard
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2018
    Thanks for all the responses. Sorry for calling the converter and inverter. May bad.

    I have reset all the 120 volt breakers and checked all the fuses I can find. There are 2 in the refrig control board, 2 below the converter, and 1 larger amperage thermal reset breaker for the main 12 volt power. I will get some pics. Can not find any 12 volt fuse panel nor can I find where the wire from the refrig runs to the converter.

    I will not be able to work on it again until Monday.

    thanks again!
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 04, 2018
    Converter DC output and the battery POS Cable BOTH go to the DC Dist Panel which is where the DC fuses will be.

    It being a 5th wheel I am surprised that the AC Circuit Breaker Panel and DC Dist Panel are not same....one side AC other side DC with converter below/part of or behind it


    IS there a 'removable' panel below fridge?
  • ChadHubbard's avatar
    ChadHubbard
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2018
    Thanks, the info that the converter power feed and batter POS to go the 12V distribution panel is helpful. The 240 volt panel is in the bathroom, have looked high and low and can not find any 12 volt panel / fuses anywhere.

    Here are some pics I took today. The exterior pics are just for orientation of where the converter is located. Then pics of the converter and wiring in the rear passenger side of the basement.

    I am now trying to figure out (again) how to load pics. I know there exists a sticky here somewhere explaining the process.

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