Just fuses or something worse?

Whilst finishing off my install of a fuzeblock today, I was decided to tap the +12v wire from the number plate light to get my switched 12v. Anyway, I was using the multimeter to test which wire was positive (unplugged the connector and stuck the multimeter prong down there, with the other prong grounded, sure enough, found my negative, but then I think I accidently made contact with both the terminals inside the connector, effectively shorting it. Anyway, the next time I turned my ignition on, I get the noise, and it kicks over just fine, but the headlights, tailight, dashlight and the actual dash display don't work, but indicators still working. Anyway, I'm hoping its just a fuse or two, but haven't had a chance to check, just wondering if anyone can confirm that it sounds like fuses, or have I done something bad?
Its a 2008 model, only had it for about 2 months.

 

you might be drawing to much power from tail light lead try disconecting it and see if everything goes back to normal

 

The tail light wire is just used to trigger the relay in the fuzeblock, it also has direct connections to both battery terminals. Also, I hadn't actually connected the tail light wire when it happened, I was testing the socket to see which wire was the positive one.

 

oh I see
start checking fuses then, still best not to use tail light wire for relay they do draw a bit of power to run.

 

I would replace the fuse and see what happens. If everything goes back to normal, no harm done. If things don't go back to normal, then I would worry about it.

The thing to remember is that fuses are there to primarily protect the wiring, not the components. The components present a certain electrical load, and the proper size wiring is selected to run power to them. Then the proper size fuse is selected to protect the wire(s).

I guess my point is that it is difficult to damage any components by using a voltmeter to probe connections.

 

Thanks guys, I'm off to check the fuses, provided I can get that right hand panel off. What wire would you reccomend tapping into to trigger the relay? Tail light?

 

I have an AP-2 aux fuse panel and I use the taillight wire to trigger the relay. used a positap to connect the relay and it has worked fine for well over a year.

 

After the nightmare that was removing that bloody right panel, I checked the fuses and sure enough, one of the 10A fuses had blown, replaced with a new one and everything is back to normal, GPS and powerlet socket are working with switched power. Thanks for the help guys.

Shane