Fuse Inventory

Ratkity

Thanks for the link! It's probably the only fuse I don't have an extra hanging around.

ChanW

There's one on eBay (only a little cheaper when you add shipping) here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Norcold-61654622-3-Amp-Fuse-RV-Parts-/251667578044

Or here: http://www.tvformyrv.com/39-2234-norcold-fuse-3-amp-32v-or-less-61654622 (much more reasonable, except when you add shipping)

But what the heck? Why is it so expensive? It doesn't look special to me. Before paying that much,  I'd see if I could contact a friendly tech at Norcold and ask if any old 3A fuse would do.

Photomom

Does someone have one of the "official" fuses, and can you post the markings on it?

ericnliz

I do believe you can probably find a 3 amp fuse at just about any auto parts store. Just need to make sure on the length. That's where I went to get my spares for both my truck, and our WolfT@B.

Photomom

ericnliz said:

I do believe you can probably find a 3 amp fuse at just about any auto parts store. Just need to make sure on the length. That's where I went to get my spares for both my truck, and our WolfT@B.

There are variations, e.g. fast blow/slow blow.

ericnliz

Yup! And I knew that. They have the various ones there, I checked.

ChanW

Ahhhh, you'd be the one to ask,  Photomom.

Just out of curiosity...

What's the difference between a fuse marked  3A/120v vs one marked 3A/24v? (Just as an example)

As far as I've ever known, amps is amps when it comes to fuses... No?

Photomom

I looked at the circuit diagram for my 3 way fridge and it appears that there are 3 fuses. The aforementioned 3amp fuse is part of the 120VAC heating circuit. There is also a 20amp in the 12VDC heating circuit, and a 1amp fuse that is part of the propane heating circuit. Alas there are no specs for any of them. 

It it doesn't appear that the fuses are intended to be user serviceable parts. Has anyone here actually replaced one and had the fridge work after?

Photomom

ChanW said:

Ahhhh, you'd be the one to ask,  Photomom.

Just out of curiosity...

What's the difference between a fuse marked  3A/120v vs one marked 3A/24v? (Just as an example)

As far as I've ever known, amps is amps when it comes to fuses... No?

Here is a great resource for understanding fuses. Yes, you can substitute a 120v fuse in place of a 24v fuse, as long as all the other ratings are identical. But not the other way around. 

http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/public/en/bussmann/consumer/products/home_circuit_protectionproductsandaccessories/fuses/Glass_Ceramic.html

ChanW

Photomom, I haven't replaced them, but they are simple to remove, with a normal pop-in holder. You have to remove the stove top to access them.

There are fuses/breakers in the breaker box protecting the same things in the 3-way, so these are redundant, so to speak. Hopefully the ones in the breaker box blow first.

ChanW

Re: the Cooper info on fuses, I'd love to know the specific differences in the actual physical properties. Maybe I'll have to go back to school. B-/

Photomom said:

Here is a great resource for understanding fuses. Yes, you can substitute a 120v fuse in place of a 24v fuse, as long as all the other ratings are identical. But not the other way around. 

http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/public/en/bussmann/consumer/products/home_circuit_protectionproductsandaccessories/fuses/Glass_Ceramic.html

Photomom

Without knowing anything other than what is shown in the circuit diagram, I am guessing that there would need to be a serious fault in the Fridge's A/C heater, DC heater, or propane lighter for the respective fuse to blow, and a replacement fuse would likely blow too. Therefore I'm not going to worry about getting these fuses. Coolers and ice are easy to come by. 

Photomom

ChanW said:

Re: the Cooper info on fuses, I'd love to know the specific differences in the actual physical properties. Maybe I'll have to go back to school. B-/

Ah, you'd have to ask an actual electrical engineer for that. :-)

Photomom

Now, what I can't wrap my head around is how the fridge cools stuff with heat. 

ChanW

Followup:

I contacted tvformyrv.com who listed the fuse at @$2 plus shipping. I was asking if they could ship via USPS First Class postage, to save on shipping. This was his reply:

...stop in at any auto parts store and get a 3 amp fuse.  It will work fine... No need to get a "Norcold" fuse, and no need to spend extra money shipping that particular fuse.

I thought that was pretty nice of him.

Verna

Doggone it!  I probably have some 3 amp fuses left over from my telephone system installation days!

ericnliz

I tried to tell you! I usually get the packs that have a variety of all fuses large and small. Just handy to have them just in case.

Verna

ericnliz said:

I tried to tell you! I usually get the packs that have a variety of all fuses large and small. Just handy to have them just in case.

I've had since April 13th when I first read about it. When I got it, I expected a gold one is a gold box. Bubble pack wrapped with a rubber band around it and not the pink anti-static bubble pack we had to use at the phone company. I won't get duped like that again!