How to turn off interior lights while driving

Ok first I will describe many (but not all) rv Light systems

There are ceiling lights. Down lights. "Local" lights and asile lights.

OFten the main lights have a switch on the light. may be on/off or 3 position.
"Local" lights (like over the dining table) will usually have on/off switches.
You have a main control panel somewhere (This has switches and indiators on it) that may have a LIGHTS switch
Just inside the door is a panel of switches. Usually you find the main Use/Store or battery switch here. there will also be a light switch. (or 2)

and there may be a switch on the dash. Sometimes there are two or three switches in a multi-switch system

And in some RV's it's an electronic module that controls the lights via relays and on/off push buttons or rockers (These will either be ON/OFF buttons or 3 position rocker switches spring return to center)

All depends on the RV.

Are there any light switches near the entry door? So that you could turn on an inside light when entering the coach.

By the door, there should be a series of switches. Turn on and off, one at a time. This should shut off the interior "entry" lights. If not, you switch could be bad.

It sounds like they are turning off and on the "salesman switch"

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
Yeah, I thought it's a joke too as every light has a switch.

Or, it's a motion detector light which seems to be always on -- but then again it would have to have switch somewhere.

Anyway, try the translucent light cover. If it clicks when you push it upwards, that could be the switch or some almost hidden switch around it.

Good point. A lot of RV lights have individual switches on the lights themselves. Most of the time they are still on a circuit with a main switch, but in a previous MH, our dinette lights had no wall switch - just the switch on the light itself. Even in our new FW, there are a few puck lights that have no switch, like the reading spots at the head of the bed.

Yeah, I thought it's a joke too as every light has a switch.

Or, it's a motion detector light which seems to be always on -- but then again it would have to have switch somewhere.

Anyway, try the translucent light cover. If it clicks when you push it upwards, that could be the switch or some almost hidden switch around it.

IamSiler wrote:
Sorry…this is a serious post. We bought from a dealer and they went through everything but it was so much info I can’t remember it all. Have the manuals but they don’t answer these silly questions. Thanks for responding.
We will get it figured out.

The manual is very generic as I am sure you have found out and won't go over lights - it may cover the battery disconnect. The only connection to your lights and the fridge - to be able to turn them off simultaneously is the battery disconnect switch, so my guess is you are confusing that with a light switch. While travelling your battery disconnect needs to be in connected mode in order to access all your battery driven devices. Lights, LP/fridge ignition, control panel etc. they all run off your house batteries. That disconnect switch is for storage so none of those things run and empty your batteries while the rv is in storage. Leave that switch on and search for another switch to control the lights.

In order to run the fridge on electric and air conditioner, outlets, microwave etc while driving, or disconnected from shore power, is to run the generator.


Did they teach you how to run the generator?

But I think the root of this particular problem with your lights is that you are confusing the battery disconnect switch with a light switch. As I said, whatever switch you are hitting that is turning off the lights and fridge at the same time, leave it on and find another switch that only turns off the lights.

Can you contact the dealer who sold you the RV?

Sorry…this is a serious post. We bought from a dealer and they went through everything but it was so much info I can’t remember it all. Have the manuals but they don’t answer these silly questions. Thanks for responding.
We will get it figured out.

IamSiler wrote:
No. I thought it was supposed to run on the voltage from the engine but it says no AC so it’s running on LP. I can turn the main light switch off but as I said it turns the fridge off too.

If you hit a switch and it turns off your lights and the fridge, it certainly sounds like the battery disconnect switch. Your fridge still requires some current to light the LP and no, it doesn't run off the engine. Your Fridge in electric mode runs off the generator if not plugged in to shore power. In the absence of that power it will run in LP mode. Have you tried leaving whatever switch you are hitting in the on position and trying other switches for the lights to turn them off?

Who did you buy this RV from?

If this is a serious post - and I certainly have my doubts, you need to do some real homework on how RV's work. Did you know anything when you bought it? Did you ask any questions from the seller? have you contacted them to ask these questions?