12-Volt DC - Fuse Distribution Panel

[sunnysouth]

Hello All,

I have a 1997 Tropical 36' (no slide outs) on a Ford F53 Chassis.

I'm trying to locate the 12 Volt DC - Fuse Distribution Panel.

My National RV "manual" says it's in the compartment adjacent to the main entry door but all that's in there (in the compartment directly behind the entry door) is the converter/charger and the battery control center solenoids - no fuses anywhere????

Not the automotive (chassis) fuses as I have found all of them both by the driver's seat (under the dash) and the ones in the engine compartment.

I'm referring to the fuses that control all the 12 volt interior lighting and coach components as well as some reset circuit breakers.
I've looked everywhere I thought it might be, but no luck.

Does anyone know where National might have "hidden" this panel?

Thanks in advance.

Rick

[DaveG39]

On my 2001 dolphin the 12 v control panel with the fuses was on the rear wall of the storage compartment just forward of the entry door not the one behind the entry door.

[sunnysouth]

Thanks Dave
I'll have to take a look in that compartment. My manual doesn't really make it all that clear and I just never thought to look in that compartment.
My map lights have quit working and all the automotive (chassis) fuses all test OK, so I'm hoping there's a fuse on the distribution panel that's at fault. Either that or both bulbs are shot - but I can't see them both going out at once. I've tried the dash "map lights" switch but both map lights aren't working.

Also, my lighter socket quit, but the fuse for it is OK so that one really has me baffled - unless there happens to be a second "in line" fuse for the lighter socket - maybe someone knows if there is before I pull the dash panel off to get at it - I need it for my GPS.

[dishonestjon]

need to locate.a/c vacumn pump that contols venting and its fuse panel location

[heharp]

My fuses are over behind a cover by my left knee, maybe a little lower, under the power gear pannel.............My map light fuse went out and I lost my cigarette lighter too...........replaced fuse and both work................Howard 2000 Tropi-Cal

[sunnysouth]

Thanks for all that have replied so far however my issue is still not resolved.

My MH has a Intellitec Model 120 power management system - looks like it might have been a factory install (or upgrade).

Now I'm wondering if the Intellitec Model 120 takes the place of the original 12V power distribution panel mentioned in my National Manual.

The Intellitec manual provided however is for a Model 500 and appears to be quite different than the Model 120. The model 500 appears not to have any 12V (coach) fuses, however the model 120 has around twelve 12V fuses.

I have looked everywhere (and I mean everywhere - inside and out) for the "National" Power Distribution Panel and it's nowhere to be found. There is no compartment in front of my entry door (as mentioned by DaveG39) on my particular model - it's a 1997 Tropical 236-L (no slides) on a Ford F-53 chassis.

There are however 12V fuses on the same panel (in the bedrood) beside the 120V breakers in the Intellitec power management system. These appear to be the only 12V fuses I can locate for the coach systems.

Also, (as mentioned by Howard) the fuses by the driver's seat and in the engine compartment (chassis fuses) are all OK, but still no lighter or map lights.

It appears that National might have done upgrades or "changes" without providing the correct or updated documentation. My MH is a 1997, yet the Coach Manual from National is a 1998/99 so I don't know if there were any changes from one year to the next on these models.
As a footnote, my chassis manual is dated October 1994??

The wiring diagram for the 12V Power distribution panel in my manual matches nothing in the motorhome at all.
It says the Power Distribution Panel is in the same compartment as my Battery Control Center (BCC), but it's not. As mentioned, the closest thing I can find to a Power Distribution Panel is the Intellitec Power Management System way back in the bedroom.

If anyone has the same model as mine or has a handle on what I'm seeing in the way of a power management system, I would really appreciate some feedback or assistance so I can get this issue resolved.

It's worth a steak dinner if I we ever cross paths on the road

Thanks all

[GWF545]

I found it for my '99 Dolphin. It was a 20 amp fuse that I had explicitly checked previously and simply didn’t recognize it as being blown. The fuse was located in the vehicle fuse block on the wall of the driver foot well behind a beige plastic cover next to the leveler controls. It is fuse number 16 listed in the f53 Owner’s Manual as “Body Builder Battery (+12v) Feed” which is a good description of it. On my Dolphin this circuit is always on and provides power for the cigarette lighter, map lights, and clock/memory hold for the radio. The radio itself runs off the house battery. I found it by pulling and testing each of the fuses in the block. I was pretty convinced it was a fuse since I discovered that my wife’s cell phone charger had a fault that caused it to blow the accessory fuse in our 4Runner. It’s almost always the simplest explanation. This may not be of use to you, but it sure sounds like the same situation. Let me know if you have success with this. Why National did not use the 20 amp circuit off the fuse block in the engine bay will remain a mystery. Perhaps it was simpler to wire it this way or the engine bay circuit is only on with the ignition.