Just installed a new roof on my 1999 Coachmen Mirada. Problem is that I must have pinched a wire somewhere? 12v Ceiling lights in my RV don't work now. Checked the fuse, it was blown, replaced it and it blew as I plugged it in. Removed all the light fixtures from the ceiling, unplugged them all from there 12v wiring. So now nothing should be powered up my that circuit right? Tried to put a new fuse in but it blew right away?How can I find this break in the wiring? Do they sell a tracer of some sort that can test the wires and find a break? :?

It would not be a break in the wiring. As you first described, this is apparently a short circuit. Can you disconnect the circuit from the fuse panel side, then use a ohm-meter to check for short circuits.

No easy way i can think of.... Pull down the light fixtures and break connections that daisy chain to the next fixture. You want to find the segment that is shorted and abandoned it. Then you will have to run new wires from there I guess... This will be a major pain to fish new wires from one fixture to the next...I would use two conductor 'boat wiring' once you narrow down the shorted segment.Roy Ken

Sounds like you screwed a screw into the wire.run a jumper wire from light to light until fuse blows.then you will know where the short is at

newman fulltimer wrote:Sounds like you screwed a screw into the wire.run a jumper wire from light to light until fuse blows.then you will know where the short is atWith all the lights unplugged and removed I still can't get the fuse panel to take a new fuse without it blowing.

Pull the fuse. Remove all ceiling bulbs. Connect a long wire from the battery + with a aux light connected in series. Connect the wire to the ceiling light + wire (you have to cut/disconnect the wire). Aux light on short, off no short. Track down the bad segment and replace. The aux light can also be one of the common auto store type testers with a bulb.

I have a short somewhere? How do I find it? | Good Sam Community

JimMartin
Explorer
May 18, 2014
newman fulltimer wrote:
Sounds like you screwed a screw into the wire.run a jumper wire from light to light until fuse blows.then you will know where the short is at

With all the lights unplugged and removed I still can't get the fuse panel to take a new fuse without it blowing.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
May 18, 2014
Sounds like you screwed a screw into the wire.run a jumper wire from light to light until fuse blows.then you will know where the short is at
RoyB
Explorer II
May 18, 2014
No easy way i can think of.... Pull down the light fixtures and break connections that daisy chain to the next fixture. You want to find the segment that is shorted and abandoned it. Then you will have to run new wires from there I guess... This will be a major pain to fish new wires from one fixture to the next...

I would use two conductor 'boat wiring' once you narrow down the shorted segment.

Roy Ken
TucsonJim
Explorer II
May 18, 2014
It would not be a break in the wiring. As you first described, this is apparently a short circuit. Can you disconnect the circuit from the fuse panel side, then use a ohm-meter to check for short circuits.

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I have a short somewhere? How do I find it?

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