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Topic: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On (Read 5 times) previous topic - next topic
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Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Yahoo Message Number: 142032
I've got a vexing problem the past couple days, and I'm trying to troubleshoot it. This is a 2007 Mid-Bath. Whenever I switch on the water heater using the switch over the stove, it blows fuse number 8 in the electrical center. This is a 12V fuse, 7.5 Amps. It's a repeatable problem. We've checked the connections outside in the compartment housing the water heater wiring. Nothing out of order out there. We even tried unhooking the control board for the water heater. Yet still, when I flip the switch over the stove, it blows that fuse.
 According to the Lazy Daze manual and the labels in the electrical center, this fuse is for the following: water heater, thermostat, monitor panel, and the LP gas detector. The thermostat is off because I'm not heating or air conditioning at present.

Has anyone ever had this or a similar problem and solved it?
--
Jan Forseth
2007 27' Midbath named Footloose
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142036
Quote

I've got a vexing problem the past couple days, and I'm trying to troubleshoot it.

Hi Jan,

RonB has given you good advice, so I'll just add this trouble shooting tip:
 When dealing with a circuit that is shorted somewhere and blowing a fuse, it is safe to remove the blown fuse and connect a test light across the the connectors of the fuse holder. A good "tool" to have is a n automotive bulb such as an 1157 (the kind of bulb LD uses in the smaller light fixtures.
 To make this test light, buff a small spot on the bulb base with steel wool or sand paper and solder a wire to this spot. Solder another wire to the solder spot on the base. Terminate each wire with an alligator clip or wire lug. Cover the bulb and base with a layer of clear silicone caulk and hang up to let the caulk cure. The silicone will allow you to store the bulb with your tools and not worry about it breaking.
 With the test light hooked up thusly, if there's a short or heavy load on the circuit, the bulb will light. No blowing fuses while you are testing as the load on the circuit is limited to what the bulb draws. You can wiggle wires and such an when you find and remove the short, or if the short in intermittent, the bulb will go out letting you know.

good luck,

bumper
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142043
Bumper,

You always give good advice.  You break it down so that even us un-talented are even willing to give it a try. Since I have a LD I no longer stay at the Holiday Inn Express so your advice is much appreciated.

David
05RK
david 05rk
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142069
Thank you so much, Bumper and RonB. We are going to work on this short tonight or tomorrow. Hopefully the switch will be working soon afterwards. Meanwhile, I'm running the water heater on AC power, since I have hookups at the moment. So at least there is hot water, not that it's needed right now cuz it is HOT on the Front Range of Colorado today.

--Jan Forseth
--
Jan Forseth
2007 27' Midbath named Footloose
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142073
"A good "tool" to have is a n automotive bulb such as an 1157 (the kind of bulb LD uses in the smaller light fixtures.'
 A good alternative is to use a inexpensive 12-volt buzzer instead of the bulb. This allows you to hunt around for the short without having to keep checking the fuse panel to see if the bulb is still on.
When the buzzer stops buzzing, you know you have found the spot.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142075
And the great tips just keep coming. What a great forum!

David
05RK
david 05rk
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142123
Quote
A good alternative is to use a inexpensive 12-volt buzzer instead of the bulb. This allows you to hunt around for the short without having to keep checking the fuse panel to see if the bulb is still on.
When the buzzer stops buzzing, you know you have found the spot.

Thanks for this suggestion, Larry! We went to Radio Shack today and picked up a 12-volt buzzer.
 After two separate troubleshooting sessions (one in the control panel above the stove and one in the outside water heater compartment), my electrical genius/honey found the problem. It was in the area where the thermal fuse connects to the black material in the compartment. There was a part missing there that should have insulated a connection, evidently. For right now, it's covered with electrical tape. We'll get that part to complete the repair more properly.
 That buzzer was instrumental in helping us troubleshoot the problem, especially with the added aggravations of heat, mosquitos, and darkness! Thanks to all who helped with the solutions to the problem.

--Jan Forseth
--
Jan Forseth
2007 27' Midbath named Footloose
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142124
Jan,

It's good to hear that you have resolved your problem.  And thank you for reporting back your results.  Nothing more frustrating than to wonder whatever happened with a problem.  This may help others.

Art
Art and Barbara
Settled in Atterdag Village of Solvang
2015-2022 fulltime in a 2016 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP
2002-2015 2002 LD MB
Art's blog
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142125
older_fossil  wrote:

Nothing more frustrating than to wonder whatever happened with a problem.  This may help others.
---

Agreed. Like Art, and, I would think, many others, I often wonder about an outcome or resolution to a posted and discussed problem. Please post "the rest of the story" so we can add the information to the  knowledge base! ;-)

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142126
Quote

Thanks for this suggestion, Larry! We went to Radio Shack today and picked up a 12-volt buzzer.
 After two separate troubleshooting sessions (one in the control panel above the stove and one in the outside water heater compartment), my electrical genius/honey found the problem. It was in the area where the thermal fuse connects to the black material in the compartment. There was a part missing there that should have insulated a connection, evidently. For right now, it's covered with electrical tape. We'll get that part to complete the repair more properly.
 That buzzer was instrumental in helping us troubleshoot the problem, especially with the added aggravations of heat, mosquitos, and darkness! Thanks to all who helped with the solutions to the problem.

--Jan Forseth

############################################################## Jan, how 'bout posting a link to that buzzer. Thanks for reporting your resolution.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142135
Quote
Jan, how 'bout posting a link to that buzzer. Thanks for reporting your resolution.

We picked it up in a local Radio Shack store. It's the Radio Shack Piezo Buzzer, Model # 273-0080. Unfortunately, it's not listed on the Radio Shack website, perhaps discontinued?
 If you do decide to get one, I'd go with a constant buzzing one. This one is a "slow pulsing" model, which was quite obnoxious. But it did work.
--
Jan Forseth
2007 27' Midbath named Footloose
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142136
Ah, turns out the model number on the package is different than the one on the buzzer itself. After looking more closely at the buzzer model number (273-080) and re-doing a search, here is the one we bought:
 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102819

I still wouldn't get this one again because of the pulsing, rather than constant buzzing.
--
Jan Forseth
2007 27' Midbath named Footloose
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142137
"compujan"  wrote:

We picked it up in a local Radio Shack store. It's the Radio Shack Piezo Buzzer, Model # 273-0080. Unfortunately, it's not listed on the Radio Shack website, perhaps discontinued?
 If you do decide to get one, I'd go with a constant buzzing one. This one is a "slow pulsing" model, which was quite obnoxious. But it did work.
---

Maybe this "constant buzz" one would work?
 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062397 
Joan
2003 TK has a new home
 
Re: Fuse No. 8 Blows When Water Heater Switched On
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142171
Quote from: jctaylor1941"

---

Maybe this "constant buzz" one would work?
 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062397

I think you're onto something there, Joan. That one wasn't in stock when we picked up the other buzzer. I wish it had been. I think I'll get one for future troubleshooting.

--Jan Forseth
--
Jan Forseth
2007 27' Midbath named Footloose