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jeffk14's avatar
jeffk14
Explorer
Jun 19, 2017

Monitor Circuit Blows Fuses

I have a 2008 Palomino Puma travel trailer. The 15A fuse for the monitor circuit blows immediately when inserted. I have 12v to the hot side of the fuse and the load side of the fuse is shorted to ground. I am very familiar with electrical troubleshooting (35-year aircraft mechanic) but without a wiring diagram, I don't know what all is on this particular circuit.

I also have a couple of outside lights not working, the ignitor for the gas water heater will not fire, the water pump will not come on and the light and fan in the range hood is inop. I'm thinking that there is a possibility that all these items might be on the monitor circuit. The monitor panel is completely dead. No lights at all, including the water pump and water heater switch lights. The electric water heater works though.

I've already eliminated the water pump and the monitor panel itself from being the source of the short. By the way, I just bought this camper last week. Thanks!
  • Does your rig have multiple switches to turn water pump on? If the answer is yes, look around near the 12 volt DC panel for a water pump controller. Mine is hidden next to drawers in that area.
    The water pump controller, or some, switches the ground. testing the pump circuit would require disconnection both wires.
    Water Pump controller
  • It wouldn't be unusual for most or all of the items you mentioned as inop to be on the same circuit. My instinct would be to start removing all the items from their circuit one-by-one, and hope the fault is in one of the devices and not in the wiring buried in the wall or ceiling. If that turns out to be the case it wouldn't be the first time something like a screw or staple was driven into the wires.

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