Learning the Electrical
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5329
Printed Date: 14 Jun 2025 at 12:05am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Learning the Electrical
Posted By: MikeGranberry
Subject: Learning the Electrical
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2014 at 6:50pm
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I am new to my 2015 RPod 179 and have a question. Since I drove it home from the dealer my RPod has been in my driveway for one week and in storage for a month. In the driveway, it was plugged into a 110 circuit and all systems seemed to work fine. Since my circuit was not 30 AMPs, I tried the A/C and Microwave at different times. All the overhead lights worked fine, including those running off the 12V circuit. I went over to storage today to prepare for a trip. It was plugged into the circuit that is provided by my storage unit and I could only see power on what appeared to be the AC circuits. There was a light on the microwave and the TV. The overhead lights and the Jensen system were dark. All circuit breakers seemed set correctly. I did not have enough light to check the 12V fuses, but I will do that when I bring it home tomorrow. Am I missing something. I do not appear to have the 12V components but the 110 extension cord is delivering power to the RPod. ------------- Buick Enclave 2014 Rpod 179 Interested in cycling & kayaks |
Replies:
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2014 at 7:28pm
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I bet when you're able to check the 12v fuse at home you might find that to be your issue. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2014 at 7:35pm
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Sounds like one of the 12 volt fuses is blown, the radio and overhead lights are all 12 volts. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: MikeGranberry
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2014 at 10:54pm
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Does anyone know the mapping of the 12v fuses. I cannot find a schematic anywhere and Forest River says they do not publish one.
------------- Buick Enclave 2014 Rpod 179 Interested in cycling & kayaks |
Posted By: mtbmitch
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2014 at 11:12pm
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I found some of the wires that are held in place on the power distribution panel to be very loose when we got our used rpod last year. That could cause the amperage to go up and blow a fuse. You could hook up an amp meter across the fuse and turn one thing at a time to isolate the problem. ------------- enjoy the fresh air |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2014 at 11:12pm
No such thing as a standard fuse layout. FR's motto: "let no two pods be built the same". Best bet is to pull one fuse at a time, note what doesn't work, and mark the fuse panel. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2014 at 8:35am
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Ditto to what Charlie said. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2014 at 8:51am
 ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: MikeGranberry
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2014 at 12:51pm
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When I got the RPod 179 to the house, I discovered a blown 40 Amp fuse. All seems OK now. Thanks for all the pointers. Now to map all the fuses to make this discoverable at night in the dark.
------------- Buick Enclave 2014 Rpod 179 Interested in cycling & kayaks |
Posted By: RescapePod
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2014 at 1:04pm
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At my walk around with the dealer mechanic I was told that the small automobile fuses have a red light that lights up next to the blown fuse.
I just bought a M179 2015.. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2014 at 2:16pm
The 40amp being blown means someone accidentally hooked up the battery backwards. ------------- |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2014 at 4:12pm
or that you stuck the wires of the end of a 181g light bar into your 12v socket under duress to show all the pretty lights. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2014 at 8:14pm
That is true. The small red LEDs are on the circuit board next to each fuse. When a fuse blows th light lights to tell you which one is open. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2014 at 8:15pm
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2014 at 8:33pm
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Good to know ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2014 at 10:17pm
or that you stuck the wires of the end of a 181g light bar into your 12v socket under duress to show all the pretty lights. [/QUOTE]
No that blows a 10amp. The 40 amps are strictly for reverse polarity protection.
(but you know the lights made you all tingly...) ------------- |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 8:54am
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When I purchased my pod used all of the 12 volt fuses were marked with labels. I assumed it was from the factory but maybe the first owner put them on. They were all printed out nice except two of them were reversed. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: rcamper
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 4:24pm
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in some cases the converter or distribution box as some call have fuses in them that have no current running through them. if you slowly pull a fuse it should spark which is normal . i am having mine checked to see why fuses that have no crrent are there . i checked my 1`2 volt and everything worked except the stereo. i dont think they wired it in or there is a fuse behind the stere that can't be seen that might be blown that would be a 10 amp. ------------- gone camping |
Posted By: rcamper
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 4:30pm
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i got mine both 40 amp were blown which i didn't know and the front light and slide, water pump worked anyway. they must bypass the converter in case that happens while camping ------------- gone camping |
Posted By: rcamper
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 4:44pm
if the 40 amp fuses are blown. i just put the cables on correctly and everything worked even though the fuses were blown. so what else do those fuses do? i called them they said that's all they do. my point is why are they there if everything works when you correct the cable and leave the blown fuses there. a brain teaser no doubt ------------- gone camping |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 5:24pm
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The 40 amp fuses protect the convertor- if they are blown you can still be running off the battery but you aren't charging with them blown, assuming you are connected to AC power. In other words the convertor output is connected through the 40 amp fuses, when they are good, but if they are blown the convertor is not supplying any power, just the battery is. ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |