holiday rambler no 12v to fridge

[Vacationer04]

My '04 Holiday Rambler Vacationer has no 12v power to the fridge. I have checked all of the known fuses and breakers but have not found a way to restore that source of 12v. Am I missing a way to do that? The AC voltage at the fridge is only about 4 volts according to my volt meter so for now I have my Fridge heater directly plugged into 120 volts bypassing the board to get by for now. That will put it in full on mode but at least it will work temporarily. When I move my coach I will have the gen on to run the A/Cs anyway.

[DSDP_Don]

Glad you got it fixed. That fuse panel can be tough to decipher the coding Monaco used (fuse location chart on the back side of the lid), but follow the numbers like F1, F2, F3 etc and it will make sense.

[Vacationer04]

Many thanks to dougrainer and DSDP! The voltage is now back. The 5amp fuse in the distribution panel was blown. It is in the storage panel behind the Passenger front tire. I had stowed things there since I bought this coach in March and didn't recall noticing it then. It has made me aware now of where to look if another monster rears its ugly head. You have no idea how much stress and frustration has been lifted off my shoulders now.
We can always depend on someone here having experience on issues that confound us.
Thanks again and God Bless You!

[10forty2]

dougrainer wrote:

10forty2 wrote:
Just for elimination's sake....is there possibly a glass fuse mounted on the circuit board behind the fridge?

And I'm also curious as to this mysterious fuse box in the basement compartment behind the driver's wheel. I have no such animal.....I DO have a chassis fuse panel on the firewall under the steering wheel inside the cockpit and the main distribution panel in the bedroom, but to date, have not found any other fuse panel.

Yes, there is a fuse on the refer control board. But, if you do NOT have 12 volts on that red wire, that fuse is not a concern. Also, that fuse board in the storage compartment, they can sometimes be easy to miss on Gas models. It may be on the pass side. They have that black plastic cover. Have you looked at the link I provided? Doug

Not arguing with your experience. I have come to trust that you know what you are talking about. :C Yes, I took a look at the link and it shows the main panel with only 120VAC breakers. My main distribution panel in the bedroom has both breakers and 12VDC fuses. I'll take a closer look at my coach, but I honestly don't recall ever seeing a fuse panel anywhere except in the bedroom and on the inside of the firewall. :h Well, I think I recall seeing a relay/fuse box in the engine compartment as well.

I wonder if the OP has verified that he doesn't have 12VDC supplying the circuit board, or just that the refer isn't working because of a lack of 12VDC to the control circuits. If that fuse is blown, won't it keep the refer from working properly?

[dougrainer]

10forty2 wrote:
Just for elimination's sake....is there possibly a glass fuse mounted on the circuit board behind the fridge?

And I'm also curious as to this mysterious fuse box in the basement compartment behind the driver's wheel. I have no such animal.....I DO have a chassis fuse panel on the firewall under the steering wheel inside the cockpit and the main distribution panel in the bedroom, but to date, have not found any other fuse panel.

Yes, there is a fuse on the refer control board. But, if you do NOT have 12 volts on that red wire, that fuse is not a concern. Also, that fuse board in the storage compartment, they can sometimes be easy to miss on Gas models. It may be on the pass side. They have that black plastic cover. Have you looked at the link I provided? Doug

[10forty2]

Just for elimination's sake....is there possibly a glass fuse mounted on the circuit board behind the fridge?

And I'm also curious as to this mysterious fuse box in the basement compartment behind the driver's wheel. I have no such animal.....I DO have a chassis fuse panel on the firewall under the steering wheel inside the cockpit and the main distribution panel in the bedroom, but to date, have not found any other fuse panel.

[DSDP_Don]

"Vacationer04".....It seems like your coach does have the large fuse box in the bay like every Monaco does. Just so you know, it's a large black box with a cover on it. It usually has some nylon wingnuts holding the cover in place. Remove the wingnuts and you'll see all the coach fuses.

[dougrainer]

This link takes you to the 366 page 2004 vacationer owners manual. See page 305 which shows the fuse and location for the refer. It is fuse number 5-67 and is a 5 amp ATC. Doug

PS, SAME fuse panel the Diesels use.

http://holidayrambler.com/partsandservice/manuals/2004_Vacationer.pdf

The distribution panel (12 Volt DC) is located inside the front roadside
compartment. Fuse assignments are listed on a fuse label attached to the
inside cover of the front distribution panel. When replacing fuses always
replace with the same size as listed for a particular location. Fuse sizes
shown are maximum fuse size allowable. Installing fuse sizes other than
those listed can cause electrical wiring to become overloaded and create
hazardous situations.

[dougrainer]

Vacationer04 wrote:
I'm not familiar with a "Salesman's Switch". If you mean the kill switches that control all of the house circuits or the chassis then they are not the problem since all of the other power has still been on. Just not the one set of wires for the fridge - two wires only - one red and one white that come up to the fridge compartment. I cannot find the source of them.

Go to the coach battery compartment. See if you can find a set of fuses there and especially a RED small gauge wire like at the refer. Red IS Positive. Doug

[dougrainer]

kdk wrote:
You didn't by chance trip the sales man switch.
, cutting off 12 vdc power. just a thought, hope you find the problem.
Blessings ;kdk

I HATE that term. I have been in the RV service business for 37 years and the ONLY place I have seen that terminology is on this forum. The correct term is BATTERY DISCONNECT switch. As the OP stated, he does not know what you mean by Salesman switch. The Circuit has ALWAYS been called a Battery Disconnect switch by ALL RV makers. Sorry, but it just bugs me. Doug

[OLYLEN]

No cold has if memory serves two fuses on the covered panel on the outside of the refer near where you plug in the refer to 120. One may be out and one maybe under the black cover. Also do you have 12 volt to lights, thermostat, and furnace?

LEN

[Vacationer04]

I'm not familiar with a "Salesman's Switch". If you mean the kill switches that control all of the house circuits or the chassis then they are not the problem since all of the other power has still been on. Just not the one set of wires for the fridge - two wires only - one red and one white that come up to the fridge compartment. I cannot find the source of them.

[kdk]

You didn't by chance trip the sales man switch.
, cutting off 12 vdc power. just a thought, hope you find the problem.
Blessings ;kdk

[Vacationer04]

I was just out with my MH. There are no fuse panels behind the LF tire as that is a slide. I looked at the panel under the hood but it is apparently just chassis circuits by the labels in it. I got into the 12v panel for the house circuits and pulled each and every fuse to check continuity. All passed but still no 12v coming through the wires so there has to be a breach somewhere that keeps the power off. I could not check for incoming power in the 12v panel due to no way to ground my volt meter. My Norcold fridge is midway on the passenger side and not in a slide. There are two 12v fuses marked for kitchen but one is shared with the furnace. The other only seems to control the numerous fluorescent fixtures. There doesn't seem to be any reasonable explanation as to why it suddenly became dead in about 5 minutes time unless there is a hidden fuse or burned wire where it gets power to start with. I can't find that since it must be hidden under the floor.
As for the AC voltage I had used an extension cord to test it while it was out installing the fans. Today I have full voltage there at the dual outlet, but the fridge won't turn on. I assume due to lack of 12v so I will continue to run it on the heater direct until I return on Aug. 11. It is 87* today, full sun no shade and freezer is 5.8*, fridge is 41.6.

[dougrainer]

doxiemom11 wrote:
Even on our gas Monaco, the fuse panel Doug was talking about is in the bay right behind the drivers side tire. You may way to take a look.

I thought so, but the OP was pretty sure he found all Fuse panels. Doug