Fuses; Tools Of The Trade; Know When To Say No - Monaco 2002 Diplomat Service Manual

The 12 Volt fuses, located in this distribution panel, service the interior
house lighting, ventilation fans, monitor panel, furnace and water heater.
Should a fuse blow it will be evident by the broken metal strip located in the
center of the fuse. Replacement fuses should be of the same amperage. If a
higher rated fuse is installed it can damage the wiring. Fuse current set points
follow much of the same electrical principle as the 120 Volt AC breakers.
Using 12 Volt DC as the electromotive force can make it more susceptible to
outside influences, such as corrosion from weathering or oxidation.
The large variety of applications this voltage can be used in makes it a diet
staple for most of the recreational vehicle and automotive industries. The dan-
ger from shocks with this voltage is minimized, but can still occur. A good
example is when a magnetic field is generated, then collapses when the power
supply is cut. The result is a discharge that can reach tens of thousands of volts
for a short time period. Care should be used when working with this voltage as
current values can be quite high, like in the case of a battery cables.
Shorting a battery cable to ground with a battery at a reasonable state of
charge can result in a fire or serious personal injury from a burn.
One of the most widely used tools for testing a 12 Volt problem is the test
light. Test lights come in a host of varieties, such as a light bulb with a probe
and ground clip, to the more elaborate electronic ones that measure a wide
scale of voltages and perform a variety of functions. A VOM or Volt Ohm
Meter is used to perform a multitude of tests. It is generally used when exact
values are needed for evaluation. These meters come in an analog or digital
format. Either of these two testing tools may be used, depending upon personal
preference. If a 12 Volt light is not working, the test light may be better suited
for this. In the case of a charging system problem the meter may be the tool of
choice. In any situation the testing tool is an invaluable piece of equipment
when it comes to determining an electrical problem.
Should it become necessary to use testing tools take certain precautions and
consider three things. First, recognize when the problem is beyond your skill
level. Nothing will create more mayhem than being armed with tools and
going in an unknown direction. Good intentions have led to major problems.
The second item to keep in mind is if something will cause more grief by
being dealt with now than if it were left alone and repaired by a professional at
a more convenient time. How many times have you said to yourself, "Oh this
will only take a few minutes," only to find it is taking an entire day and you
wished you had not touched it? The third item to consider is whether or not the
current situation may be potentially dangerous if left to be repaired at a more
convenient time.
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D I P L O M A T
Electrical Systems - House

Fuses

AMPERAGE COLOR
1 BLACK
2 GRAY
3 VIOLET
4 PINK
5 GOLD
7, 5 BROWN
10 RED
15 BLUE
20 YELLOW
25 CLEAR
30 GREEN
Amperage Chart
ATO Fuse
om060086.EPS

Tools of the Trade

Know When to
Say No
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