Re: (ET) Nothing works!

Thanks to everyone for your insights. Keep the suggestions coming if you think of anything else.

Paul

-------------- Original message --------------
From: RJ Kanary <rjkanary nauticom net>
          Lets take this opportunity to look at the fuse holders and the circuits they protect.

FU-2, [No I'm not making this up, that's it's designation.] protects the lift motor circuit.It is the fuse located on the outside of the trio. It usually has a blue wire at the bottom of the fuse holder. THIS IS THE ONLY LOCATION WHERE A 30A Slo-Blo® FUSE IS SPECIFIED.

FU-3, in the middle of the trio protects all the control circuits.That includes all the contactor coils and the RTN circuit that consists of the Seat Switch, the Brake Switch and so on.The Centrifugal Switch on the traction motor is also in series with this downstream of CB-1.

         Were I you, it is at the bottom of this fuse hol der that I would start my investigation.Using either a circuit breaker or an old thermal turn signal flasher, replace the fuse to limit your melted lead in a glass tube collection. <G>

     Remove all the wires from the bottom of the fuse holder. Close the Power Disconnect. No Dramatic Activity? Reconnect the wires, one at a time with the PD open, the close it to observe the results. When you hit the wire that elicits Dramatic Activity, now you can trace it through. :)

FU-4,at the opposite end from FU-2 in the trio protects the lighting circuit only.

Hope this gets you heading in the right direction.

RJ

paul mitchell2007 comcast net wrote:

Yes, the lift motor works after the 30A fuse opens. The lights are also inoperable, and I have all the manuals. I'm taking the day off tomorrow to work on it, and this will be the first real concentrated effort I've had to diagnose what's going on. However, being that this is my first foray into diagnosing electrical problems, I was hoping to get some ideas where to start.

Thanks
-------------- Original message --------------
From: RJ Kanary <rjkanary nauticom net>
Does the lift motor still work after the 30A fuse opens? If it does, it's a sure bet that it's NOT the lift fuse. :( Are the lights inop also ? BTW, do you possess the Homeowner's Service Manual ?

RJ

paul mitchell2007 comcast net wrote:
It's the 30 amp fuse that blows, but the lift motor works fine. I checked each battery individually, but not in succession as you suggest. I'll be sure to check that next. The gauges on the dash do nothing; everything appears to be dead. The numbers on the side panel are (nearest I can tell) 26AF12C and P24121, but I'm not sure if these are the original panels or not, as they were screwed on, not riveted.

-------------- Original message --------------
From: Jim Coate <jbc_lists_NO_REPLY coate org>

> Caution: late night ramblings as I should be in bed, but that said...
>
> By (sleepy) memory, the 30 amp fuse is for the lift; the control fuse
> and lights fuse are each 20 amps. Which fuse is it that blows?
>
> If you go through the battery pack with your meter, does each battery
> add ~6 volts to the total? ie keep the black meter lead on the most
> negative terminal (B5-) and move the red lead up one battery at a time
> and should see 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 volts (or a little higher if
> fully charged) as move from B5+ to B6+ to B4+ to B3+ to B1+ to B2+. And
> yes, GE numbered the batteries in the mo st confusing way possib le.
> Diagram here:
> http://electrictractorstore.com/index.php?m ain_pa ge=page&id=8&chapter=10
>
> I'd ask what the gauges on the dash do, but if the fuse blows, the meter
> may not do anything?
>
> As RJ said, knowing what model would help. If the GE tag went to the
> scrap yard along with the original rusty side panels, we'll have to get
> a few details to guess the model. First up would be the approximate
> diameter of the drive motor? (this determines if perm magnet model JA or
> sep-ex models CA-HA).
>
>
> paul mitchell2007 comcast net wrote:
> >
> > My E12 looks brand new: 4 new tires, rusted metal replaced, fresh pa int,
> > and new decals. The only problem...it doesn't run!
> >
> > 1) When I engage the power disconnect, the 30A fuse blows.
>
>
>
> --
> Jim Coate, Spencertown, New York
>
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> 1998 Electric S-10, 1997 Solectria Force, 1970's Elec-Traks
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>
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