Fuse keeps blowing

[hdfxrs]

The bedroom light fuse in our 2010 Tioga Ranger blows out immediately when I plug it in. This just started happening. Any ideas on the cause would be appreciated.

Tom

[DaHose]

Well at least you have it narrowed down.

Jose

[hdfxrs]

The short occurs when the slide is all the way out. It disappears when the slide begins to move back in. Not sure how to get at the wires.

[hdfxrs]

Yes. Now I just have to see if I can trace the wires to/from the reading lights, if I can get the problem to repeat when I move the slide back out.

[tenbear]

hdfxrs wrote:
Thanks. I'll check that. The problem has gone away, but the slide is now in!!!

Seems like a pretty good clue to me.

[hdfxrs]

Thanks. I'll check that. The problem has gone away, but the slide is now in!!!

[GrumpyandGrandm]

Do you have a bedroom slide? Check the wiring that moves with the slideout, probably a pinched or rubbed wire.

[hdfxrs]

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't replaced any bulbs lately. Will try 12v test light across fuse and start disconnecting light fixtures and switches. There are two overhead lights , two reading lights over the bed and one switched light over the TV counter.

[tenbear]

You have a short circuit somewhere in the wiring that is fed by that fuse. It could be the wrong bulb as enblethen said. Bayonet bulbs come in single contact and double contact bases. Plugging a single contact light into a double contact socket will cause a short. Lots of other things can also cause a short, screw or staple into the wire, a wire rubbing on metal until the insulation is worn off, or maybe a mouse.

There are probably several lights on the same fuse. Somewhere there is an unwanted contact between the wire from the fuse and ground. You can start with the light fixture nearest the fuse panel, disconnect the wires and see if the short is still there. If not, reconnect the wires and move on to the next light. When the short appears you have found the problem.

Good luck.

[Dr_Quick]

A few things come to mind. My neighbor had a light go out over his dinette, and put a new bulb in. And as soon as switch was turned on fuse would blow. Come to find out the fixture had a double "base" bulb, one hot & other ground. He had put a single base bulb in, base hot and side of socket ground, not realizing the kind of bulb he took out. So he ended up with a direct short.

Also if you have a problem you can take out fuse and connect a test light to each fuse contact, and light will come on if it is a direct short. Start to disconnect wires, say starting at switch. When test light goes out, you found wire that has short.

[enblethen]

Has someone replaced the lamp? It could as simple as the wrong lamp. What style of bulb does it have?

[j-d]

Hope not, but somebody, on assembly, may have caught wiring under a screw or staple and it's just not chafed through the insulation.

But drop the fixture(s) down and see if situation changes.

I've used a low-amperage (say 10-AMP) auto-reset circuit breaker in place of the fuse. That gives me a chance to go around and manipulate the wiring and fixtures to see if the short "lifts."

[DaHose]

That very clearly says short to ground. Pull the fixture and try a fuse again. If it blows, then disconnect the wire at the fuse box/block. Try another fuse. It should stay healthy and you will troubleshoot a short in the wire. If the fuse still blows with the wire removed, you have a bad fuse block.

Jose

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[cekkk]

You're killing me. What a straight line! :B