Have recently successfully installed a 3watt GK601 12V Gas Alarm (www.caravanrvcamping.com.au/12v-gas-detector-wall-mounted) tapping power from the bedside lights. (Accept this is not ideal as its powered through a lighting fuse), After installation I realised the alarm does not have a on/off switch and wanted the facility to turn it off when not running gas and have also read where the alarm has sounded when igniting the stove or fridge.
So, in the first case I purchased a simple 20A on/off toggle switch from Jaycar, and installed it on the positive.
Switched the power back on with the toggle switch ON, and it worked perfectly. So far so good.
Flicked the switch to OFF and the 10A fuse blew (dead fuse #1).
Replaced the fuse, and this time set toggle to OFF and after a few minutes switched to ON and the fuse blew (dead fuse #2).
Considering that the toggle switch may be faulty I changed the Jaycar toggle switch for a more robust 12V/100A Isolating Disconnector Cut Off Switch. Acknowledge that these are purposed for battery isolation but thought it could easily handle a simple gas alarm. So, I repeated the earlier tests.
Set the Disconnector Cut Off Switch to ON and turned the power back on and the gas alarm worked perfectly, that is until I changed the Disconnector Cut Off Switch to OFF and another fuse blew (dead fuse #3).
Clearly not learning from my mistakes I tried starting with the Disconnector Cut Off Switch in OFF position and after a few minutes switched to ON. Another fuse blew (dead fuse #4).
My afternoon involved a quick trip to Repco to buy new fuses!
Clearly, I am doing something wrong here. Any insight and guidance would be appreciated.
So, in the first case I purchased a simple 20A on/off toggle switch from Jaycar, and installed it on the positive.
Switched the power back on with the toggle switch ON, and it worked perfectly. So far so good.
Flicked the switch to OFF and the 10A fuse blew (dead fuse #1).
Replaced the fuse, and this time set toggle to OFF and after a few minutes switched to ON and the fuse blew (dead fuse #2).
Considering that the toggle switch may be faulty I changed the Jaycar toggle switch for a more robust 12V/100A Isolating Disconnector Cut Off Switch. Acknowledge that these are purposed for battery isolation but thought it could easily handle a simple gas alarm. So, I repeated the earlier tests.
Set the Disconnector Cut Off Switch to ON and turned the power back on and the gas alarm worked perfectly, that is until I changed the Disconnector Cut Off Switch to OFF and another fuse blew (dead fuse #3).
Clearly not learning from my mistakes I tried starting with the Disconnector Cut Off Switch in OFF position and after a few minutes switched to ON. Another fuse blew (dead fuse #4).
My afternoon involved a quick trip to Repco to buy new fuses!
Clearly, I am doing something wrong here. Any insight and guidance would be appreciated.