# Oh heck, I've done it now. 12 volt? Anyone **URL:** \ **Category:** GEM Forum\ **Created:** [October 1, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638 "2018-10-01T23:27:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andiesmommy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/andiesmommy/32/1559_2.png) [@andiesmommy](https://community.electricforum.com/u/andiesmommy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/1 "2018-10-01T23:27:50Z")
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! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Inwo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/inwo/32/1067_2.png) [@Inwo](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Inwo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/2 "2018-10-01T23:32:30Z")
What 12v converter is it? Sure power or the open circuit board? ---
**Author:** ![andiesmommy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/andiesmommy/32/1559_2.png) [@andiesmommy](https://community.electricforum.com/u/andiesmommy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/3 "2018-10-01T23:40:40Z")
Um, hmmmm… I’m using the purple wire that comes from the converter. Hmmm…just looked and it says sure power. Thank you for any help! ---
**Author:** ![andiesmommy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/andiesmommy/32/1559_2.png) [@andiesmommy](https://community.electricforum.com/u/andiesmommy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/4 "2018-10-01T23:51:51Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![dlwford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/dlwford/32/2713_2.png) [@dlwford](https://community.electricforum.com/u/dlwford)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/5 "2018-10-02T00:19:50Z")
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. Will the radio work ?? ---
**Author:** ![andiesmommy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/andiesmommy/32/1559_2.png) [@andiesmommy](https://community.electricforum.com/u/andiesmommy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/6 "2018-10-02T00:27:52Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![dlwford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/dlwford/32/2713_2.png) [@dlwford](https://community.electricforum.com/u/dlwford)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/7 "2018-10-02T00:35:17Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![andiesmommy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/andiesmommy/32/1559_2.png) [@andiesmommy](https://community.electricforum.com/u/andiesmommy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 2:25am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/8 "2018-10-02T02:25:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Inwo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/inwo/32/1067_2.png) [@Inwo](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Inwo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/9 "2018-10-02T03:04:04Z")
![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/2X/5/5a49c37da872b5f6912c6006c3345c3ef8efdc79.png) I believe all surepower have both 12v sources. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Houseboater](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/old_houseboater/32/544_2.png) [@Old\_Houseboater](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Old_Houseboater)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/10 "2018-10-02T18:13:29Z")
12 volt system is grounded to frame. 72 volt system ground is isolated from frame and uses wired return. ---
**Author:** ![dlwford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/dlwford/32/2713_2.png) [@dlwford](https://community.electricforum.com/u/dlwford)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/11 "2018-10-02T18:38:43Z")
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. Thanks, Larry ---
**Author:** ![andiesmommy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/andiesmommy/32/1559_2.png) [@andiesmommy](https://community.electricforum.com/u/andiesmommy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/oh-heck-ive-done-it-now-12-volt-anyone/14638/12 "2018-10-14T20:22:32Z")
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.