Fuse 28 - dash instruments keeps blowing

[Land-Barge]

Coming home last night my battery light came on, wasn't far from home so switched off everything except lights, also noticed my handbrake light wasn't working so when I got home I checked the fuses, no. 28 was blown so replaced it but when I switched the ignition back on the fuse pops straight away

Had another look this morning, fuse still goes when I turn ignition on and none of my instruments work, half my check lights don't work either and the battery comes on when I'm driving 

any ideas what could be causeing the fuse to go or where to start looking, am trying to find my multimeter to check the alternator to see what's going on
 

[melinx]

Fuse 28 feeds an awful lot of things amongst which is the solid state voltage regulator for the instruments, all the warning lights and the lambda sensor heater.

Definitely worth checking the alternator voltage output because if it is producing too high a voltage it will certainly blow the instrument voltage regulator and maybe cause it to short circuit

http://totalcarlton.com/forums/index.php/topic,8959.msg70803.html#msg70803

[Land-Barge]

Quick update, disconnected alternator and put new fuse in, switched on ignition and fuse didn't blow, dash working fine, reconnected alternator, switched ignition back on, fuse didn't blow, dash working fine lol mustve been somthing wrong with the alternator and whatever it was has sorted itself when I disconnected it, at least it was a quick fix  

it was raining hard on my way home last night so maybe water got in and shorted it 

[melinx]

Fresh water is actually fairly non conductive unless you have very high voltages, well above what the alternator would produce !

Sorry to be pessimistic but I think it may be a matter of 'watch this space' 

[carlton_mad]

check the wiring in the bonnet by the hinge

[Land-Barge]

Found out what was causing the fuse to go, got home from the Thurrock meet and changed the fuse, turned ignition on and heard this 'fzzzzzzzzzzzzzt' sound from under the dash, turns out where it was welded it had caught part of the loom melted the insulation and was shorting out on the body

have taped up the damaged part and so far all seems ok

[ramerenz]

found this post and i seen that you're discussing about the dash. my problem is about dash cap. i need to install the dash cap. anyone knows how to do it?

[Dave the Builder]

Dash cap ? do you have photo ?