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billysmb24's avatar
billysmb24
Explorer
Jul 08, 2013

12V Power Turns off and on

I just took out a new RV I purchased (93 Gulfstream Conquest). I fully charged the 12V power system by plugging into the house power earlier this week. After fully charging, I disconnected the house power and everything worked fine inside (overhead lights, fridge, oven fan, etc.)

Yesterday I took it camping for the first time and the 12V power was working just fine. About 20 minutes after we departed, I stopped and parked the RV at a friends house. I noticed at that time all the 12V power was off (nothing). None of the overhead lights would come on, the 12V meter tester I had was dead, zero, etc. I decided to go camping anyway and about an hour later we arrived near the campsite and stopped at the grocery store. At that time I checked the 12v system and everything was working fine again. I turned my fridge back on as it went out earlier. I then left and checked into my campsite. Everything worked fine overnight, no issues.

I came back home this morning and again my 12V power was off when I arrived home. I unpacked everything and about a half hour later I check it out and the 12V power system was back on.

Do I need a new converter? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Billy
  • Billy,

    Don't go buying things you don't need until you do the diagnostics.
    Yes, it sounds like a bad connection, but it could be any of them or all of them. Start cleaning near the battery and CHECK EVERYTHING.

    Good Luck

    Matt
  • Thank you for your advice on the issue I'm having. I'll check the ground wiring as you all suggested. Billy
  • X3 on the loose ground. See if you can locate where the 12v system is tied to the chassis. Sometimes its only a small self-tapping screw through a lug with wires coming out (Look near the battery). That connection can get corroded or the wires frayed and give an intermittent contact. Clean the frame contact point well with sandpaper and replace the screw and lug then spray on some battery contact corrosion preventer.
  • Sounds like a loose ground or failing/activating automatic reset circuit breaker protecting the battery wiring