12v outlet not working off battery (Aliner)

Ian. wrote:
but it looks like the wires are spliced into the running lights/tail lights.

Likely a previous owner made a modification.

That might have been done to power a backup camera monitor ONLY when the tail lights are ON.....or some other reason.

That doesn't explain the shore power thing; I think one piece of critical information here is wrong or missing.

Ian. wrote:
I've recently noticed my 12v "cigarette plug" outlet only works when running off shore power. All other 12v appliances work fine off of the battery, and as my camper is fairly new to me I can't recall if it's ever worked off battery. I seem to remember a post/blog about someome rewiring their 12v outlet to run off the battery rather than 120v/alternator because it came that way from the factory, but I haven't been able to find the article. Haven't checked if it runs off alternator yet, but it looks like the wires are spliced into the running lights/tail lights.

Your post makes no sense at all. Your trailer has two distinct 12 vdc systems - exterior lighting that is powered by the tow vehicle and the interior system, including lighting, that is powered by the trailer's tongue mounted battery or when plugged into shore power by the converter. If as you say this cigarette lighter receptacle is powered when plugged into shore power then it has to be wired to the converter, in which case it would also be powered by the trailer battery when the trailer is not plugged into shore power. Furthermore, if it indeed is powered by these two sources then it can't be getting power from the tow vehicle as these are two entirely distinct 12 vdc systems. Finally, your vehicle alternator doesn't generate 120 volts of anything, it and the vehicle battery are the heart of the vehicle's 12 vdc system. Sounds to me like you really need to get someone else who understands all this to sort it out for you before you do damage to the trailer, the vehicle, yourself, or all three. :E

First, WELCOME!!!

Next, I love Aliners! We had one in the family and it served nobly. I call it nobly, maybe valiantly, it went from FL to AK, overloaded with "moving" stuff as well as "camping" stuff. Then pounded all over rough AK roads on numerous trips. Used properly, it should be trouble free. The house part was. Family tore the welds between bumper and frame by clamping a hitch receiver to it then plugging a cargo carrier to it with two full 5-gal gas cans. NO "square tube" RV bumper can stand that for long, be it cargo or even a spare tire bracket, so it isn't an Aliner fault. They also had a chassis failure that had to be welded during an AK outing. Shop said they'd seen that before, yet I believe it was spawned (like that AK salmon term!) by the overloaded usage. You've got a great trailer, and you'll feel really smart every time you set up and fold down in about 30 seconds each!

And, Wiring... If it had a previous owner, that PO might have wired the socket to the trailer's running lights to try and keep a 12VDC "something" charged or running while driving. Parking lights ON would power that socket.

More typically, the Converter/Charger powers everything that's 12VDC when on shore tie. Then it transfers all that to the Battery when you unplug from the Pedestal.

See if that socket powers up when you plug into the truck and put the lights on. Nothing wrong with moving the socket wiring over to the Battery if it's closer or easier than digging back into the "house" wiring. Just add an inline fuse. Please! It'd be a good time to code your battery wiring so you know you're putting in on right. I just tape them into a little bundles. One for "+" and one for "-"

Ian. wrote:
I've recently noticed my 12v "cigarette plug" outlet only works when running off shore power. All other 12v appliances work fine off of the battery, and as my camper is fairly new to me I can't recall if it's ever worked off battery. I seem to remember a post/blog about someome rewiring their 12v outlet to run off the battery rather than 120v/alternator because it came that way from the factory, but I haven't been able to find the article. Haven't checked if it runs off alternator yet, but it looks like the wires are spliced into the running lights/tail lights.

Doesn't make sense. The 12vdc system is all tied together. If any one thing works from battery they should all work from battery. I think you have misinterpreted something you witnessed.

Your interior 12V devices won't be connected to the marker or tail lights unless modified by an owner to be powered while the trailer is connected to tow vehicle. The tow vehicle allows power for tail and running lights.

It would be difficult to install a 12V receptacle to only be powered by the converter. You should check again since it's probable that the receptacle is powered by the battery also.