Well, I have been totally redoing my litle 2002 E2. I had overheating problems, put in a heat sink and a fan. Was kind of actually proud of myself. (Not a lot of women diyers on this forum!) Also finished a custom stake bed that is darling. Put on new smaller wheels and really cute hub caps. I guarantee I’ve solved the -41 problem now.
But… I was installing a new radio, and accidently crossed the wires. Yikes! Fried the radio, burnt the 12 volt fuse. Okay, I can deal with that. Changed the fuse, new battery… But…my voltmeter doesn’t read 12 volts coming out of the purple wire for switched 12 volt power anymore. What did I do? Can I fix it? Thanks for any help. This forum is a lifeline for me.
(Truth - electricity really isn’t my thing, I’m an engineer, but I’m trying!
And I should add, even though my voltmeter reads “low” my fan on this same wire (it has 2 outlets) is running just fine. Things that make you go hmmmmm
Check your volt meter with a known good 12 VDC source (car battery) ! Converter may be damaged but still delivering some kinda chopped up waveform. Fan motor may run on it ok but a device needing some thing closer to pure DC may not. Be sure your volt meter is connected to the ground side of the converter directly - not just to the frame. Could have a bad ground connection some where.
I’ll check tomorrow. Just got a new radio today. I’ve been using the negative of a 12v battery for the voltmeter. I will check against ground with the voltmeter tomorrow. Thanks for any and all suggestions!
You’re welcomed. I’m a new GEM owner - trying to learn the systems used on it
Am retired BSEE, but my first encounter with these little systems - dealt previously with mostly really big stuff! (2500+ hp) Mine is a 2008 eS. so the drawings I’ve rounded up may not apply directly to your machine. Most likely a corroded connection somewhere. Are you using a battery in the main battery bank for the ground ?? The main bank (negative) is not common with the 12 converter negative output on my eS.
I have a spare small 12 volt battery for the constant 12 volt charge. The newer gems have a source for both a constant and switched 12 volt. Old gems like mine, only have a source for a switched 12 volt.
Understand that - but does she have a secondary 12 vdc battery as a “non switched” 12 vdc source ?? (2002 model). Also, is the Sure 72 to 12 vdc converter a chopper of some kind and what should the output wave form look like? How do they normally fail ?? There is one on my machine - along with a Quick Charge - onboard charger.
So, verified I really DID have 12 volt switched, measured to black ground, and it was correct. Wired up my radio, still nothing. Dang. Just had to set it aside for awhile. Dang.
