LP Detector Wiring Short?

[oldnavycdr]

I had posted this in the Fleetwood Owners section but thought I would expand to get more input.

The original CCI LP detector sat dead in its location near the floor in the galley. It was well past replacement so I ordered a new one. When I unplugged the original (3 wire pigtail connection) and checked for voltage I got nada. I assumed an open circuit but could not locate. Finally found the fuses under the stairs and discovered they were blown. I replaced the fuses and they blew immediately -- with no detector plugged into the circuit. I had replaced the coach batteries prior to moving on to the LP detector and thought I had been meticulous about replicating all the connections -- attaching a red lead to one of the positive terminals. I've not touched the chassis batteries. I understand that I'll need to reconfigure from a 4 wire to 2 wire connection but my problem is that the fuses blow (both to the coach and chassis batteries) without a detector installed. Any thoughts or help in how to troubleshoot this? It is an older coach with the original absorbtion fridge so I'm leery about not having a functioning detector.

[gatorb8]

I had a similar issue long ago and it was actually mice had eaten and shorted the wires. You will need to follow the wires to find the short or run a new set. If you have an ohm meter and know how to use it, you could check which of the wires are shorted to ground. Is there any other electrical appliance on the wire run? anything else not working?

[Ljwt330]

Can you be specific as to which fuses blow, meaning to which circuts? I ask because it doesn't make sense that if the short was in the detector wiring that it would cause fuses to both the house and chassis batteries to blow. Still, without knowing the circuits the fuses are protecting, it's hard to give advice on a way to solve the problem. I am not familiar with your coach wiring so it may be possible the detector is connected to both power sources.


Also, when did the detector "die?" Was it before or after you replaced the house batteries?

[oldnavycdr]

Originally Posted by Ljwt330

Can you be specific as to which fuses blow, meaning to which circuts? I ask because it doesn't make sense that if the short was in the detector wiring that it would cause fuses to both the house and chassis batteries to blow. Still, without knowing the circuits the fuses are protecting, it's hard to give advice on a way to solve the problem. I am not familiar with your coach wiring so it may be possible the detector is connected to both power sources.


Also, when did the detector "die?" Was it before or after you replaced the house batteries?

I can't say if the detector was working (had power) when I purchased the coach but was not when I first looked at it. And it was after I changed the house batteries. I did not touch the chassis batteries, though. As for the circuit/fuses, these are not common with any other circuit. They are independent wire runs to each battery group and individually fused (3A) each found under the stairs.

[oldnavycdr]

Originally Posted by gatorb8

I had a similar issue long ago and it was actually mice had eaten and shorted the wires. You will need to follow the wires to find the short or run a new set. If you have an ohm meter and know how to use it, you could check which of the wires are shorted to ground. Is there any other electrical appliance on the wire run? anything else not working?

I'll take a multimeter to the circuit and see if the hot leads are grounded or otherwise shorted. That would make sense. There was a lot of evidence of rodent presence in the coach. There is no other appliance on the circuit.