Powerlet blowing fuse on insert/removal?

[NorrinRadd]

Anyone had a problem with their factory outlet shorting when inserting or removing a connector?

I did not have any issues for years (but really only used it for batt tender) and then after a trip where it powered my GPS the whole week (in/out all week) I now have a fuse blow once every say 20 times I plug something in, doesn't matter which plug. Visually I do not see any problems or damage but when it blows the fuse you hear a little arc inside the outlet as you insert or remove the plug. The other times it works fine no issues and I try to do it real fast so as not to touch anything in/out, like playing "Operation".

Anyone had anything like this? When the fuse blows the Powerlet and the clock go out.

Thanks in advance!

[oldndumb]

From your description it sounds as though the problem is localized to the outlet itself, since you make no mention of blowing the GPS internal fuse, and you also say it doesn't matter which plug. It is either inside the plug recepticle area, or at the connectors on the rear of the Powerlet which hook up to the 12vdc and ground wires.

Go the easy route first and use a good light and inspect the recepticle area for damage, misalignment, or arcing indications. If that looks good, check the 12vdc wire and connector at the rear of the Powerlet.

When you are poking around, keep in mind that this circuit is unswitched and always hot.

[Haddi-Man]

Here are some other things you can do to diagnose the problem.

First, REMOVE THE FUSE! Do not do anything else until you've removed the fuse.

Then, after removing the fuse, take an ohmmeter and put it between the contacts inside the power socket. If you get any conductivity at all (i.e. the meter moves even slightly) then you have an internal short, and should probably just replace the outlet.

Having never removed the plug, I don't know if it's attached to its feed line by a connector or of it's hard wired, but there's probably a connector somewhere. If the socket fails the above test, do the same test at this connector. That will isolate the problem to a given point. Your best bet is still probably to replace the bad part, because electrical parts like this are usually pretty hard to restore once they go bad.

However, you might want to try picking up some DeoxIT (try Radio Shack) and spray that into the socket. It does a pretty good job at cleaning electrical contacts, so if you have a bit of corrosion or whatever in there that's causing the short it might help.

[Bruce C]

The center prong on the connector is held in place by a #4? Phillips screw. It might have loosened up and is shorting when installing the plug.

[Oyster]

Interesting thread, my 01 recently blew the fuse when I was trying out a cigar lighter adapter. I thought I heard the fuse blow when I plugged it in (or removed it, cant recall). I replaced the fuse and I have not had any issues since, but will check mine over, as well.

[NorrinRadd]

Appreciate the help, thanks to all!