14DBS mystery fuse???

[shortcircuit]

HELLO ALL,
WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING OUR NEW 14DBS THIS SUMMER, AND THINK IT WAS THE BEST PURCHASE WE HAVE MADE FOR CAMPING. WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH IT.

IN THE LOWER KITCHEN CABINET ON THE LEFT INSIDE WALL IS A RED FUSE HOLDER STICKING OUT OF THE AZDEL PANEL THAT ENCLOSES THE ELECTRICAL POWER CONTROL CENTER. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS FUSE IS FOR?
 
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[charliem]

[font size="3"][font face="arial"]That definitely does not look like a factory installation. Did you buy from a dealer or an individual? Maybe you can ask the previous owner. Otherwise you'll have to trace the wiring. It looks like it's close to the power panel so look for any added power things such as extra sockets, lights, chargers? Also there are several 14DBS owners here who might have some ideas.
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[shortcircuit]

IT IS FACTORY WIRING. WE BOUGHT IT NEW AND IT WAS DELIVERED IN APRIL, THIS YEAR.

[fasteddieb]

If that's right from the factory, they should be ashamed.

[admin]

What size is it? I cant get a good idea from the picture but I assume its for a 15 or 20?

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/2040/thread" timestamp="1405619508" author="@shortcircuit"]IT IS FACTORY WIRING. WE BOUGHT IT NEW AND IT WAS DELIVERED IN APRIL, THIS YEAR.[/quote][font size="3"]In that case you got bit by the Friday afternoon "it's Miller time" bug. Someone didn't finish the job. Anyone guess if it's 120V or 12V?
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[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/2044/thread" timestamp="1405624626" author="@charliem"][font size="3"]Anyone guess if it's 120V or 12V?
[/font][/quote]It better be 12V or they're in big trouble. I don't understand the necessity to do this. Even on our 21BHS there were at least two unused fuses in the 12V panel (I know because I used one to power my SeeLevel and there was at least one more remaining).

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Could it be a 12V connector? Not a fuse? Still wouldn't explain the unfinished hole. We probably won't know until someone does some tracing.
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[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/2048/thread" timestamp="1405632143" author="@charliem"][font size="3"]Could it be a 12V connector? Not a fuse? Still wouldn't explain the unfinished hole. We probably won't know until someone does some tracing.
[/font][/quote]Nope, definitely a blade fuse holder:

http://www.connectorsupply.com/catalog/atc-blade-fuse-holder-10-gauge-p-261.html

[mitch]

The only thing I can think of, and it's sloppy, is that someone thought is would be an easy way to get to fuse that's blown.  I don't know how the 14DBS is configured so maybe it's a pain in the butt to get to the wiring behind the power converter.   By chance is this trailer prewired for solar?

Mitch

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/2050/thread" timestamp="1405636301" author="@mitch"]The only thing I can think of, and it's sloppy, is that someone thought is would be an easy way to get to fuse that's blown.  I don't know how the 14DBS is configured so maybe it's a pain in the butt to get to the wiring behind the power converter.   By chance is this trailer prewired for solar?

Mitch[/quote]The fuses are really easy to get to in the converter. You just push the front and it pops open exposing all of the fuses. The solar question is a good one. It would make sense to fuse as close to the source as possible, but it still seems like a bad install. At least it's behind a cabinet door...

[shortcircuit]

[font face="comic sans ms" size="4"]Hello to all who have responded,
Thanks for all the suggestions!

I have removed the inside Azdel panel where the power distribution panel wiring is accessed. Boy what a mess! I wish I had a copy of the wiring diagram for the 14DBS camper! That would really help.

The mystery fuse is 15 amp. I assumed the mystery fuse was added to feed another item in the camper if all the 12 volt fuses were used up in the power distribution panel. However, not all the fuses in the panel have been identified as for some item. So, I assume there are two unused fuses in the panel. This adds to the mystery!

Now for the mystery fuse and what it feeds. I removed the 15 amp mystery fuse from it's holder and the radio lost power, then I reinstalled the mystery fuse. However, looking at the power panel, there is a fuse marked as "radio". So, I removed that fuse and what da ya know? The radio lost power again!!??

The wire from the mystery fuse is not connected to the wire bundle coming out of the power panel, so I have no idea how two separate fuses put power to the radio. This will require exstensive investigation. My experience as a 40 year industrial technician should help me decipher this dilema, but this "mystery" is a first for me!

Any suggestions are welcome, even from Livin Lite folks!  

So, until I find out additional info. Happy camping to you all! [/font]

[tinkeringtechie]

For that to happen, the "radio" fuse and mystery fuse must be in series. I can't imagine why that would be though...

[pinstriper]

Or, one could be the fuse for a relay circuit. But why ?

[shortcircuit]

[font face="comic sans ms" size="3"]MYSTERY FUSE DILEMA SOLVED! THE RADIO IN OUR CAMPER IS A DUAL XD1228 AN/FM/CD RECEIVER. IT'S A CAR RADIO PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I LOOKED IN THE RADIO OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE TWO POWER CONNECTIONS FOR THIS PARTICULAR RADIO, ONE IS FOR "IGNITION" POWER AND THE OTHER ONE IS FOR "MEMORY" POWER, TO MAINTAIN ALL PROGRAMMED FUNCTIONS. I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT DISCONNECTING EITHER FUSE WILL TURN OF THE RADIO. I GUESS IT CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER? ANYWAY, I CRAWLED INTO THE CABINET AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF TRACING WIRING AND TIDYING UP THE BUNDLE OF SPAGETTI, I REMOVED THE EXTRA "MYSTERY FUSE" AND CONNECTED IT TO THE WIRE COMING OUT OF THE POWER PANEL (CIRCUIT 9) WHICH FEEDS THE RADIO "OTHER CONNECTION". THIS MAY SOUND CONFUSING BUT THIS IS A CAMPER, NOT A CAR! SO, THE RADIO POWER IS ON ALL THE TIME, NO IGNITION KEY REQUIRED! IT WORKS GREAT AND IS A SOUND ELECTRICAL SOLUTION FOR THE "MYSTERY FUSE"! BY THE WAY I TRACED OUT THE TWO UNMARKED FUSES IN THE POWER PANEL AND THEY ARE INDEED SPARES! SO I HAVE TWO EXTRA FUSES IN CASE I NEED TO ADD SOME NEW GADGET LIKE SOME OF YOU ALL ARE DOING 
[span]    [/span]HAPPY CAMPING!:)[/font]