Forum Discussion

gillman's avatar
gillman
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015

Electrical issue of some sort

I took my Grand Design Reflection 5vr in for a quick repair last month (plastic insert inside the Cargo area replacement on drivers side). Of course we are packing up and getting ready to leave town to go camping this Thursday and now I noticed that the 12v lights in the cargo area (both sides) do not work. I picked it up in the daylight so it never occurred to me to check that. I went through the entire camper to see if any other light wasn't working and sure enough the slide out wardrobe (directly above the cargo area) light does not work. Strangely enough, the 12v lights over the couch in the very back of the 5th wheel living room don't work either. I check the power converter for possible fuse issues. It is one of the newer ones with the red LEDs that light up if a fuse is "Open". None of the LEDs are on. I have not pulled each fuse to see if they are open / burnt and will do that tonight. I assume it got messed up with the work performed but I am not sure what would have caused it. I wanted to see if any of you have thoughts. I plan to call Holiday World RV (the ones who I bought it from and did the warranty work) to ask them as well this morning but I know there are lots of very experienced / smart people on this forum and wanted your thoughts. I did check a bulb and it was fine...

Of course I am headed out tomorrow night and it would be nice to have lights in the cargo area.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance for your ideas!

My signature is way out of date. We have a 2014 Grand Design Reflection 303 RLS. Guess I will update that!
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jun 25, 2015
    Force them to summon you when they uncover the problem. Otherwise it is almost guaranteed they will find an "unrelated" problem (lie), and sock-it-to-you.
  • gillman's avatar
    gillman
    Explorer
    Jun 25, 2015
    much as I suspected, there is only 1 GFCI in the entire camper and it is fine. I think the Service Rep wanted to get me off the phone. I will do more troubleshooting while we are camping and if I can't fix it, I will drag it back in after our trip and make them fix it. But it is irritating...
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2015
    If that panel covers wires it has to come back off. Service managers and used car salesmen are perpetually engaged in a contest as to who can sling ---- the thickest and fastest.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jun 24, 2015
    gillman wrote:
    I just got off the phone with the service guy at the RV dealer. He said it is likely a GFCI breaker popped. I looked for that last night and only found one on the island. I will check for another when I get home tonight. I didn't think the 12v lights would run off GFCI but rather straight from the power converter fused circuits. Hmmm. we will see. He said they get these type calls all the time and that is what it typically is.


    GUY is blowing Smoke.......GFCI is 120V AC and does not feed any 12V DC system
    A GFCI circuit might have converter on it but then you would NOT have any 12V DC.

    This plastic panel that was repaired/replaced........have you checked around that work area for damaged wiring?
  • gillman's avatar
    gillman
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2015
    I just got off the phone with the service guy at the RV dealer. He said it is likely a GFCI breaker popped. I looked for that last night and only found one on the island. I will check for another when I get home tonight. I didn't think the 12v lights would run off GFCI but rather straight from the power converter fused circuits. Hmmm. we will see. He said they get these type calls all the time and that is what it typically is.
  • gillman's avatar
    gillman
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2015
    Sorry, I should have provided more information. I have it plugged into shore power and 80% of the other 12v lights work great.
  • kayakcrazy's avatar
    kayakcrazy
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2015
    I'm not familiar with your particular trailer but having the variety of plugs and lights sounds like a possible ground fault plug.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Jun 24, 2015
    All of the lights work off the battery. At home I am assuming you are NOT plugged into a 120VAC Shore Power source. The converter/charger unit works only from a 120VAC source.

    If you are not on SHORE POWER it could be your battery is run down or perhaps you have a battery disconnect switch disconnecting your battery source. Your parasitic drains can run down a battery rather quickly...

    Roy Ken
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Jun 24, 2015
    My guess, they cut a wire while repairing it. One of the reasons dealer does get my fiver for anything except major repairs. I simply can do a better job!

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