1976 Dodge Mobile Traveler - living space electric
The living space lighting only works if ignition key is on. It has a 2nd battery for the living space. Is there a switch somewhere to put the living space on 2nd battery?
Forum Discussion
"The key must be on" implies to me that the isolator is engaging and you're using power from the chassis battery only. Often the isolator setup is just a high-current relay (or solenoid--different name for the same device) that is actuated by the run circuit of the chassis so the house battery is connected and charges while the vehicle is running. Often there's also a pushbutton switch to turn it on labeled emergency start or something similar, to provide juice to the chassis from the house battery should the chassis battery be dead.
Your house battery is either bad or it's not connected for some reason. Verify that the cables to it are sound and the connections well-made. Don't forget to check the ground side as well as the positive side. Since it's affecting basically everything, it should be something fairly close to the battery.
There's often also a house battery disconnect switch (often using a remote controlled latching relay) for most or all of the house electric system. While I would not generally expect it, it's possible that the connection to the isolator and thence the chassis 12V system is on the house side of this disconnect rather than the battery side, and it's simply turned off or not working.
Your house battery is either bad or it's not connected for some reason. Verify that the cables to it are sound and the connections well-made. Don't forget to check the ground side as well as the positive side. Since it's affecting basically everything, it should be something fairly close to the battery.
There's often also a house battery disconnect switch (often using a remote controlled latching relay) for most or all of the house electric system. While I would not generally expect it, it's possible that the connection to the isolator and thence the chassis 12V system is on the house side of this disconnect rather than the battery side, and it's simply turned off or not working.
