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ascdds · 05-07-2019, 04:16 PM

My rooftop satellite dish will not turn on. I checked the on/off switch for continuity and it is good but my voltage detector did not detect a hot wire coming into the switch. The 7.5A fuse also tested good but I don't know how to check to see if power is coming to the fuse. Any help on how to check for power to the fuse? I am not well versed on these things so simple language please.

GaryKD · 05-07-2019, 04:33 PM

Hi ascdds,
Remove the fuse. One of the receiving fuse clips should have power. Put a meter lead on the one fuse clips and the other to ground. If no power, try the other clip.

LETMGROW · 05-07-2019, 05:04 PM

Be sure you have your tester set for volts before checking for voltage. You also need a good ground. If you don't show a voltage reading leave the ground attached and try testing a circuit you know is working to confirm the ground is good.
A fuse can be bad even if it passes a continuity check. A tiny bit of corrosion buildup in the fuse case can cause this. The corrosion present will not carry the voltage necessary to operate any accessory. You can remove a fuse from a known good circuit and use it in the suspect cavity to confirm this. The fuse amperage wouldn't be important for this test. It's only a test. If the circuit is live with the substituted fuse remove the fuse and install a new one with the correct amperage.
Lynn

Dutch Star Don · 05-07-2019, 08:57 PM

Just so you know, some fuses are powered all the time and some are only powered when the ignition is on.

Mark_K5LXP · 05-07-2019, 09:49 PM

It's a long shot but make sure the fuse is good. Sometimes they don't blow but can fatigue and crack. I like using a continuity light for checking power circuits because the lamp in them presents a load, where a digital voltmeter has such a high input impedance it might register a voltage through a bad but not broken connection.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM