I recently bought a 1997 Gulf Stream Conquest and want to learn the electrical system. It is on a 1996 Ford E Super Duty chassis. I checked the truck manual and it says the fuse box is on the firewall drivers side, but I dont see it. Do I need to look from the inside of the cab?I also cannot find the breakers for the coach. Looked in the bed, side of bed but nothing. I also cant locate the converter. There is a junction box beside the house battery which I have not opened yet. When I leave the camper for several days the house battery (new) looses charge so I must have a short some where.Now for the real dumb question. The engine has 2 batterys one on the left and one on the right side of the engine. Why ??Thanks for your shared wisdom.

One of those batteries is your HOUSE battery.

Two batteries are probably your House batteries, the other is the truck battery.

There may be no "short". Battery loses charge because there are devices that remain connected when everything is off, be it a truck or house battery. Good news is that they - usually - don't need to be connected when left in storage for several days. Take the cables off the battery, or at least, the +Pos cable.

First question. The Ford fuse panel, for chassis only, has nothing to do with the house part, is located inside the drivers compartment, under the dash on the fire wall, same as most cars. On our 06, there is also a breaker and distribution panel under the hood near the drivers side fender.The MH part of the RV is usually one combined unit, 120v inlet, convert 120 to 12v for house and charging the house battery. This is usually a steel faced panel with flip open door. It will have circuit breakers for the 120v system (and main input breaker). The second part of the unit will have automotive style fuses for the 12v part of the MH.This could be located anywhere in the MH, but usually near the coach/house batteries. Our c-class also has a secondary panel for the house, which is located at the back of an outside storage compartment, behind another metal door.Two chassis batteries, quite possible if your c-class has the diesel engine. Our old Ford E-series based ambulance had 3 chassis batteries, two as you said plus a third under the left battery, accessed only by taking of the grill and headlight, the mechanics really loved checking that one.Beverley and Ken

Cannot locate breakers and fuses | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

joebedford
Nomad II
Sep 29, 2013
Both my current truck and previous had two batteries. Two batteries are required to start high compression diesels (and it's easier to equalize lateral weight with two batteries).
john_bet
Explorer II
Sep 29, 2013
G and D wrote:
Thank you all for your help. Now I can spend the day with my camper pinning things down a but more

Onaquert John02

what is the easiest way to determine what is truck and what is house.

I also have a third is a lower compartment which I thought was the only house battery
When you look under the hood see if you can follow the battery cables from one side to the other possiably across the radiator to the other side to the other battery. If so they are both chassis batteries.
tenbear
Explorer
Sep 29, 2013
Could be if they are both 12v. Follow the positive wires and see where they go.
G_and_D
Explorer
Sep 29, 2013
AhHaa I found em. Behind a louvered metal panel I thought was part of the furnace. Both house breakers and fuses and the converter were there. I did as suggested and followed shore power. Also found the fuses for the cab inside under dash.

I have a gas engine and everything I can find on dual batteries refer to diesels. Also have a house battery in coach basement. Could both cab batteries be for starting?
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Sep 29, 2013
Our house circuit breakers are behind a panel that is behind upper cabinet doors in the bedroom. Have you opened all cabinets inside and looked to see what was inside?
Dusty_R
Explorer
Sep 29, 2013
I would go with a 10 gauge cord. A lighter cord will keep your battery up but sooner or later your going to want to run something heaver.

Dusty
tenbear
Explorer
Sep 29, 2013
Yes, it is ok to use an extension cord. Make sure it is a 3 wire extension, and a 12 gauge cord is advisable. You can use smaller wire if the only thing you use it for is charging the battery.
G_and_D
Explorer
Sep 29, 2013
Thank you all for your help

To plug in every few days is it ok to use a 35 ft extension cord plugged to an out side plug at the house with an adapter down from 30 amp plug to a 15 amp?
G_and_D
Explorer
Sep 29, 2013
Thank you all for your help. Now I can spend the day with my camper pinning things down a but more

Onaquert John02

what is the easiest way to determine what is truck and what is house.

I also have a third is a lower compartment which I thought was the only house battery
tenbear
Explorer
Sep 28, 2013
Double post, sorry