Brief Description: Receiving Fault Message on the Backup B Panel
Receiving Fault Message on the Backup B Power Panel. This is odd since I tested OK the Approach AoA computer that is powered from this panel. The Fuel Guardian and Dimmer Switch Power also comes off of this panel. The Fuel Guardian light test button would not illuminate the lights as it should after the test button was pushed for 3 seconds. The dimmer switches didn't seem to affect anything as yet.
To make a long story short, I discovered that the VP CU will declare a fault on a powered circuit is a small amount of current is not detected for 3 seconds. This panel doesn't have large power draws, especially at this point. One of the programming choices for each device is whether fault detection is enabled. I disabled the fault detection for this device. Now another problem surfaced. The Backup B panel circuits other then the AoA computer were blowing their 1A fuses. I traced the problem to how I wired the dimmers. The dimmers were the common elements within each of these circuits. The dimmer has a 12v + terminal for power to the dimmer and load. It has a ground to carry the current back to ground. Then it has a (+) and (-) terminal for providing power and groung to the load (the LED lights, etc.). I had combined the load ground with the power ground and ran them to the Grounding Hub. What this did was cause a direct path from battery to ground without any load in between. It created a short circuit and blew any fuse connected in the circuit that incorporated the dimmers. After removing the load ground wires from the Grounding Hub, the Fuel Guardian Lights worked properly with the dimmer. I ran the load ground wires to a terminal post for future use as needed. Here, grounds from lights connected to the dimmer can be run if they can't be grounded locally.
