Fuse help needed, new post UPDATE

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

One bedside/reading lamp (two #1076 bulbs in it) was working when I read by it last night, but today it's dead. The lamp on the other side works fine. I've changed bulbs--nothing. So, I'm thinking it's a fuse that blew.

I thought a fuse would glow red if it was blown, but I can't see any red glow in the fuse panel. And, how the heck do I know which fuse goes with which item such as those lamps? I had a dead lamp on the other side of the bed a couple of years ago, and only by pulling each fuse did I finally discover the bad one. But surely there has to be a better way.

To add to the lighting problems, one of the three-light fixtures above my recliner also quit working. It was fine one day, not fine the next, and all three bulbs were black when I pulled them out of the fixture. I put in new bulbs, and they immediately blew out, too. So, where do I start? How could that fixture work fine for 5 years and then start blowing bulbs? We hadn't moved the trailer or anything, so I know the fixture didn't get jiggled.

By the way, I do follow the suggestions on all of the lamps/lights regarding the bulb identification number and size of bulbs that go in each one.

I need fuse identification help and ideas about why two lamps in my trailer are dead without warning.

Carolyn

[trlrboy]

We ran into the same problem with the 12v lights over the bed. I pulled fuses until I found the one that was blown (no red LED) and then replaced it. After that I pulled all the fuses to see what turned off and marked the fuse panel.

[H. John Kohl]

The red LED will not light unless current is being requested, the switch is on. Have someone turn on and off the switch on the bad light while someone else watches for the led to flash.

[jimcol]

Carolyn, IIRC both my reading lights are on the same fuse and the wiring daisy chains from one to the next. Since only one is out it may be a different problem. The push switches on those lights are notoriously unreliable. If John’s suggestion for checking the fuse doesn't pan out I'd check the switch. Remove the lamp from the wall to check. Jim

[BB_TX]

I sometimes have a problem with the light on my side of the bed. Flaky switch. Off and on a few times and it will start working again. Same with the light over our dining table.
Burning out the bulbs is something else now. That sounds like overvoltage to blow them that quickly. Have you checked the voltage there and elsewhere in the 12v system? No good guess why it would only blow at the one fixture though.

[racerjoe]

the bedside light good chance it has a bad switch. if the other one works it can't be a fuse. both sides would be wired together.those switches are junk. bought new ones from h. depot. the recliner lights sounds like a dead short in the switch. I would pull light fixture and check switch and see if wiring has been pinched.may have lost insulation.

[snfexpress]

I agree with racerjoe. Both bedroom sconce lights are on the same circuit. We have had switches that have failed.

As for the living room fixture, get yourself a multimeter and check for a short between hot and negative. Touch the red lead to the center core and the black lead to the surrounding case. If you have continuity then you have a problem.

Moving of the slides is not the only cause for electrical problems. Heat is a common problem; it can change how the fixture works. I suspect that heat has damaged your fixture and it needs to be replaced.

[NCFischers]

Those 12 volt incandescent bulbs will turn black from the heat they generate. When I replaced all my bulbs with LED's from Michael, I removed several that were still working but were black. I agree that your problem resides in the wiring and I would look at the switches first.

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

I suspected the two wall lamps were on the same circuit and that if one worked, a blown fuse wasn't a problem. That means the screwdriver will come out and the lamp will come off of the wall for an inspection.

The problem with the light above my recliner may be turned over to someone with more electrical confidence than I have. I miss the light it provides, but I don't think I have the know-how to tackle finding that problem.

If I don't get the two problems fixed before we get to Spokane for the June rally, I bet someone attending it (John K.?) can show me what to do!

Thanks to everyone for your help. (And tell me again WHY Keystone doesn't provide a way to ID those fuses? No reason at all, right?)

Carolyn

[H. John Kohl]

Yes I am more than happy to take a look. Since it is only the one bedroom fixture acting up I do believe it will be the switch. When I wiggled mine it would work. I finally replaced the push button switch and all is good now.

[farmboy]

Mine did the same thing as far as not working, but it was the sw. Had to replace the one over the couch also.

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

UPDATE: The wall lamp in the bedroom has a malfunctioning switch. I turned it off and on several times, and bingo! It started working again.

I still haven't taken the living room fixture above my recliner down. I wouldn't know what to look for if I did, so that's a project for another day, preferably when I have someone around who knows more about electricity than I do (which would be anyone, actually).

John, we'll see you at the Spokane/Deer Park rally! Thanks for your offer of help.

Carolyn

[snfexpress]

Here's the switch you want for the light fixture, just remove the rubber boot.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Volt-Wate...bda975&vxp=mtr

[DQDick]

Thanks Michael, bookmarked that for latter use.

[snfexpress]

Dick,

We've replaced a few in the last 4 years.