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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

17 Replies

  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 06, 2018
    Pickup those 2 Hot Legs and it becomes 240V :B


    Thanks for the update and resolution!
  • allen8106's avatar
    allen8106
    Explorer
    Aug 06, 2018
    ChadHubbard wrote:
    There it was plain as day, the 12Volt panel, attached to the 240 volt panel.



    By the way, for the future, there is no 240 volt panel. It's 120 volt panel. Unless you have a European made rig it's 120 volts. It "looks" like a 120 volt plug hence the confusion. You are getting 120 volts to two legs each running separate circuits. Both go to the AC panel as 120 volts, usually one circuit runs the Air-conditioner(s) the other circuit usually runs all other AC circuits.
  • ChadHubbard's avatar
    ChadHubbard
    Explorer
    Aug 06, 2018
    Well guys and gals...you can color me stupid. I emptied the basement and traced the 'big red wire'. It led to the bathroom. My wife went in to look again, and WALLA! There it was plain as day, the 12Volt panel, attached to the 240 volt panel. I looked at it so many times I was snow blind. Replace a 15 amp fuse, refrig now cooloing.

    Thanks for all the suggestions and help. Just wanted to close the loop here.



  • 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.
  • 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?

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