Blowing fuse

[Nell]

Hi,

Well we have a small problem here before our trip. We have a fuse that keeps popping as soon as you replace it. It's the one that has the outside light by the door and the overhead light by the inside of the door(the double switch). Hubby replaced the light today-lost the lens on the outside light and changed the whole assembly. Light worked when he tested it fine. Finished hooking it all back and calking it. It doesn't work. Every time he tried a new fuse, it blew. Where should we look for a problem? The inside light went out on us last trip out in the fall, but thought it was just the bulb. Replaced them too. Still nothing.

We can live without those two lights, but it'd be nice to have them. Suggestions?

Thanks,
Nell

[Nell]

Hi,

Well we have a small problem here before our trip. We have a fuse that keeps popping as soon as you replace it. It's the one that has the outside light by the door and the overhead light by the inside of the door(the double switch). Hubby replaced the light today-lost the lens on the outside light and changed the whole assembly. Light worked when he tested it fine. Finished hooking it all back and calking it. It doesn't work. Every time he tried a new fuse, it blew. Where should we look for a problem? The inside light went out on us last trip out in the fall, but thought it was just the bulb. Replaced them too. Still nothing.

We can live without those two lights, but it'd be nice to have them. Suggestions?

Thanks,
Nell

[Jeff_in_The_Dalles]

Well, if it's blowing the fuse immediately even when both light switches are off, then I think you could assume that there is a short in the wire that runs from the fuse box to the light switch.

On the other hand, if it pops the fuse as soon as you turn a particular switch on, then it would point to a short in the wire from that switch to the light, or in the light fixture it's self.

Insulation can chaffe off the wire anyplace it runs by something metal. If it wasn't blowing fuses before final installation of the outside light, then I'd look in that area first.

[diandtom]

Solder two wires to a 12v bulb and put it across where the fuse goes. When the light goes out you have found the problem.
Tom

[96PSD]

My guess would be that a wire maybe nicked by a screw after you husband put everything back together or the rear of the light fixture when it was put back in is touching something metal from behind causing the short.