12 Volt Fuse Panel Melt. Down

[lemjim]

The fuse circuit that powers lights over vainly, range hood light,light over sink and the one over living room chair just melted, did not blow just fried, what would most likely cause this. The wires to the fuse look ok and there are four unused spots on the strip so I could most likely use one of these. Thanks for any input on this delema.

Thanks again, Jim

[RoyB]

X2 What Don is saying...

We was smelling burning one time in our OFF-ROAD POPUP... Got to looking around for where the burning smell was coming from and it turned out to the ceiling lamp fixture that was using incandescent type automotive lamps.. Pulled it down and the whole area behind the fixture had already burned into the ceiling...

Looked like one of these photos I got from Google...

Google image

Now this was scary haha..

Pulled the other ceiling fixture down down and it showed the same thing...

Changed out to LED lights after that... The automotive type bulbs really draw the current as compared to what LED lights draw.

Roy Ken

[wa8yxm]

CA Traveler wrote:
Most likely is a loose connection that got hot.

The other cause is heat. If you have vacant fuse slots. just move it over to one of those and re-label. Clean the connector or put a new end on the wire if it's that kind to be safe.

[rgatijnet1]

I am guessing that all of those lights are incandescent. If the bulbs were changed to halogen, they do draw more current. Perhaps the best thing to do is switch to LED lights once you repair the fuse panel. They will draw a lot less amperage.

[pianotuna]

while you are at it, replace the bulbs with led's. More light, less demand, less heat.

[GordonThree]

loose connection, fuse too big for circuit/panel, defective fuse

when you move the connections, buy some new Cooper/Bussman fuses from NAPA

Buy some contact cleaner as well and spray down the fuse connections, then mate/remove the fuse a few times to move any dirt around.

Check all screw and crimp connections

[SidecarFlip]

+1 on the connections. 12 volt power has a lot of amperage and little voltage so a loose connection arcs and melts.

[CA_Traveler]

Most likely is a loose connection that got hot.