Blowing 15amp radio fuse

NorthernCamper · 07-10-2017, 05:17 PM

Hello, new member here.

I mistakenly put the wrong wires to the battery for a minute or so a couple weeks ago. (I get it now that black is hot&#128533

Since then, my 2007 Springdale blows 15amp fuses for the radio. The 10amp in line fuse behind the radio is ok, and no other fuses in the panel are blown, including the 2 40's. I have been checking for shorts for 3 days and I'm starting to get frustrated.

My wife says "Oh well, we always bring our radio from home anyways"...but I need closure on this, might be my OCD.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Jay

**JRTJH** · 07-10-2017, 06:44 PM

There is either a 8 pin plug or a series of twist caps that connect your radio to the trailer wiring. Unplug that plug or disconnect the wires (mark them with a piece of tape on BOTH sides of the connector to be sure you reconnect it properly). With the radio completely disconnected you can replace the 15 amp fuse. If it still blows, it's in the wiring if it does not blow, it's in the radio and you probably damaged it when you reversed the battery cables. One or both of the reverse polarity fuses should have blown, are you sure they are both OK? If that system failed to function, that would explain the radio's blowing fuses, but you could also have other damage to control circuits in the water heater, furnace and refrigerator.

I'd remove the radio from the system and see what that 15 amp fuse does.

NorthernCamper · 07-10-2017, 06:58 PM

Thank you JRTJH, I will disconnect the radio and retry the fuse. The "Reverse polarity fuses"...where are they located?

Jay

**JRTJH** · 07-10-2017, 07:22 PM

On newer power distribution centers they are on the power distribution center face, just left of the vertical row of DC fuses. They are usually a pair of red, 40 Amp fuses that are a bit larger than the blue 15 Amp fuses.

On older power centers, they are either on the side of the DC distribution center or on the actual converter which is mounted behind the AC circuit breakers.

Here's a picture of the newer configuration and a picture of the old style with the reverse polarity fuses on the end of the actual converter assembly that is located behind the power center. Hopefully these will get you started:

NorthernCamper · 07-10-2017, 07:26 PM

That is exactly what my panel looks like. (The top pic) Those 2 40's in the center are still intact, I pulled them out again this evening to recheck them. Unless I'm missing something, it's pretty obvious when a fuse blows....

I should add that when a 20amp is put in the 15 slot, the radio works perfectly fine. I did not leave it in however.

Jay

NorthernCamper · 07-16-2017, 10:48 AM

Ok, so I unplugged the radio connections and put a new 15amp fuse in the panel and it didn't blow. Does that really mean that the radio is damaged, because it will still work perfectly with a 20amp fuse in the panel...

**chuckster57** · 07-16-2017, 11:44 AM

Probably. I have an amp draw gauge that plugs into the fuse socket, then you put a 30 amp fuse in it. When the circuit is live, the display will show how many amps is being drawn. Your radio might have a label that says how many amps it should draw, but I think 15 is a bit much.

https://m.harborfreight.com/30-amp-a...ter-67724.html

NorthernCamper · 07-16-2017, 02:12 PM

Radio says 10. 15 in the panel gets blown, but a 20 doesn't. The 10 behind the radio is fine either way.

There has always been a 15 in the panel.(And it is also marked 15)

**chuckster57** · 07-16-2017, 02:45 PM

Makes me wonder what else is on that circuit.

**JRTJH** · 07-16-2017, 03:13 PM

Most of the Jensen and ASI radios do use a 10 amp fuse. Depending on what else Keystone wired into that circuit (maybe the WINEGARD TV Amp, etc) a 15 amp fuse could be needed for that leg of the wiring. If the fuse panel calls for a 15 amp fuse, I'd be reluctant to install a 20 amp on a permanent basis. You might be OK and than, you might wind up with some melted insulation and burned wiring after it sits for a couple of days. Then again, it might "torch" the wiring in an hour or two. That's reason enough, to me, not to exceed the fuse rating that's marked on the circuit.

If your radio is a Jensen, you can give their technical support section a call at 877-305-0445 M-F 8AM to 6PM Eastern Time. Or you can email them from this link: http://www.jensenrvdirect.com/technical-support

If you're still in warranty, this is one for the dealership. If you're out of warranty and have considered upgrading to a better radio, this might be an excellent time to start looking for what you prefer as a replacement.

NorthernCamper · 07-16-2017, 03:21 PM

I was under the impression that the radio had it's own circuit... The spot in the fuse panel is just marked "stereo".

The radio is a Jensen and the trailer is an 07.

**chuckster57** · 07-16-2017, 03:35 PM

I have found never to assume anything with RV wiring. Last month had an undercounter accent light keep blowing fuse. Fuse was labeled LP detector, and with some digging found the LP detector, under counter light and one other thing I can't remember was on that circuit. Turned out to be a bad connection at the detector...go figure

NorthernCamper · 07-16-2017, 03:39 PM

Truth be told, the panel where the fuse is blowing is marked as LP, but I believe it is labelled incorrectly. "Stereo" is right under "LP", and LP detector is working fine, but radio isn't. I may just go plug the radio connection back in and see if the fuse blows again. I'm sure it will....

**chuckster57** · 07-16-2017, 03:43 PM

Pull the LP detector and look at the 12V wires. You might find the radio is daisy chained.

NorthernCamper · 07-16-2017, 03:50 PM

I just pulled the panel out (again) and confirmed that the fuse is indeed labelled wrong.

LP has it's own fuse right below stereo.

Goose · 07-17-2017, 04:30 AM

This happened to me in my Passport, a couple of weeks ago. Accidentally mixed up the wires on my new battery and blew fuses everywhere. Had to replace fuses in my fridge, both 40A fuses in my main panel and my 15A radio fuse. Once I replaced the two 40A fuses in my panel, that was sort of the fix all for everything else. Thankfully, nothing ended up frying. Sounds like your radio may have taken a big hit. Especially if it keeps blowing after your replacing fuses. I would contact that radio manufacturer and see what they can tell you. Also, I agree with JRTJH on not installing a bigger fuse than what a slot is rated for. This will cause you even more issues. Good luck.

**JRTJH** · 07-17-2017, 04:45 AM

If the radio is removed from the trailer wiring, you can always connect it to a battery with a "make-shift" power cable. Install a 15 amp fuse in that power cable positive wire. If it blows the fuse, you'll know that it is definitely the radio since there'll only be the radio, two wires and a battery involved. If it doesn't blow the 15 amp fuse in that wiring situation, I'd contact the radio manufacturer for advice.

My guess is that when you momentarily connected the battery in reverse polarity you damaged the power circuits in the radio and it now is putting a larger demand on the converter. I'd guess that it's only a matter of time until you "let the smoke out of the radio" and it will stop working completely. Strange thing about electronics, once the smoke is all used up, they all tend to stop working. Magic smoke is hard to come by, so a replacement radio is probably in your future.

**chuckster57** · 07-17-2017, 04:53 AM

Magic smoke? Your telling trade secrets now. I have 2 bottles stashed in my tool box.

**JRTJH** · 07-17-2017, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Magic smoke? Your telling trade secrets now. I have 2 bottles stashed in my tool box.

I'm down to my last bottle and I can't find any replacements, so if you have a source that I can get more...... LOL

NorthernCamper · 07-17-2017, 06:02 AM

Thanks for all the advice lads...that makeshift wiring stuff is outta my league, so maybe I will just bypass it and search for a new radio.

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