CB Issue

[SteveP]

All the 12 V CBs on the right side of my panel (lower right - see pic) are dead. I haven’t pulled the panel yet. Anyone experience anything similar? The left side works fine.

Thanks,
Steve

[mmwjr]

More information please. The upper right are AC powered while the lower are DC powered, which are not working?

[SteveP]

Lower right… the 12 volt

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by SteveP

Lower right… the 12 volt

I don’t see the wiring diagram in our library for your model but have to assume the 12V feed is missing. You’ll most likely have to pull the panel. Is there a separate breaker for that side!

[SteveP]

Thanks… doesn’t appear to be a second breaker. Just the master on the panel. I have the diagram from the manual but it really doesn’t show much. As many have mentioned here and on Facebook I’ll pull the panel and have a look. Was hoping someone else with a 4600 had already solved a similar issue.

[SteveP]

Turned out to be a corroded ground attachment in the main 12v CB. The other bank of 12v CBs was not going to last too much longer. Two pics are the back of the panel and the two old/new connections. The 12v side is behind the steel panel sticking up. Thankfully all the other 12 and 110 connections looked OK. Now to tackle spring cleaning…

[mmwjr]

They’re not corroded but fried. Either they got loose and became resistive connections or too much current was conducted through them.

[SteveP]

If you saw the wire you might rethink your statement.

Regardless… it is now working.

[mmwjr]

I doubt it since there is signs of burning on the connectors.

[SteveP]

Maybe we are both correct with corrosion causing excess resistance and heat…

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by SteveP

Maybe we are both correct with corrosion causing excess resistance and heat…

That’s possible. I didn’t notice any other corrosion in the area. Main thing is you resolved the issue, enjoy.

[shrew]

The entire 12v panel is fed by a 10-12 gauge wire?? That seems kind of small. How many 12VDC breakers are on that bus? What devices are drawing from that bus?

Even with a 10 gauge wire I wouldn't expect to pull more than 30amps total, likely much less depending on the distances of the circuits.

[SteveP]

Not sure of the gauge but the hot feed was twice the size of the 2 ground connections. The panel supports the 2 heads, fridge, sump pump, lights, wash down pump and a few other items… 14-15 total. Other than the ground wire issue the connections seemed OK.

[shrew]

Originally Posted by SteveP

Not sure of the gauge but the hot feed was twice the size of the 2 ground connections. The panel supports the 2 heads, fridge, sump pump, lights, wash down pump and a few other items… 14-15 total. Other than the ground wire issue the connections seemed OK.

TWO Ground wires?? This doesn't make a lot of sense and not how it would have shipped from the factory. This is the ground to the panel?

The ground would need to be same size as the Line In. The circuit is sized for the round trip Battery Positive -> Panel -> -> Battery Ground. If the Line In was 6 gauge, then the ground would be 6 Gauge as well. Not two 12 gauge in parallel.

I suspect this might be why that ground leg of that circuit got hot.

[SteveP]

You’re correct. What I had mistakenly called a ground was the continuation of the hot (red) lead out of the main CB. The main is split into 2 leads that each power half of the 12v panel when the CB is on. LOL electrical is not my strength. Just glad it was a simple fix.