Hello again, l got in my camper today (1995 fleet wood prowler 35 ft) cut the light on and they were very dim, l keep the camper hooked up to power all the time, will that hurt it? . l checked all the lights and they were the same all dim. all the plugin,s work find. what could be the problem. Thanks

Weak, or nearly boiled dry battery. How often to you check the water in the battery? Plugins work directly form 120 hookup and don't involve the battery. The lights, fridge, furnace fan, etc depend on a good battery. Check that out first and be ready to replace it.

In addition to a weak/bad battery.........a bad converter will also cause dim lights when connected to AC power source.With battery cables disconnected.....check battery voltageAlso with battery cables disconnected and hooked up to 110V AC shore power check converter output.....should be 13.4-13.6V DC. Any lower and converter isn't working correctlyJust for info..basic RV AC & DC Systems

While plugged in, check voltage at battery, should be at least 13.2-13.8, maybe even 14+. If not, probably bad converter.I

All of the above and double check that your breakaway cable isn't pulled...or anything else accidently left on that may have a hefty draw.Oh-and this will sound really dumb-make sure you really have power to the trailer-that the plug didn't get yanked nor you haven't tripped a breaker!Nice diagram OLD-BISQUIT!

Almost certainly a bad battery or bad connection somewhere on the 12 volt side. Check battery water first, then the battery terminals ( remove and clean) then the ground connection to the frame. Since the lights stay dim when plugged in it could be the converter/charger. Check input and output fuses and voltage as stated above.

lights | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

rayroof10
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
Battery is full, l was told to take the neg. cable off while the camper was plugged in. and see if l had any lights. there was no lights then l put the cable back on while l had a charger hooked up and lights looks good. ?. does it mean my converter is bad.or do l still have to have my battery even if l am plugged into a power supply.
SuperDutyFiver
Explorer
Dec 01, 2013
Wait-you plugged it in with the negative disconnected right? Depending how your coach is wired you may or may not have 12V light when the battery is disconnected but you are plugged into shore power-most likely you should.

Did you check to see if your battery is dry?
RJsfishin
Explorer
Nov 29, 2013
Maybe, but that doesn't explain the dim lite problem before, unless you cleaned and tightened terminals..
rayroof10
Explorer
Nov 29, 2013
l plugged the camper back up and unhooked the neg, battery cable. cut the lights on in the camper and didnt have any lights hooked cable back up works fine, does that mean the converter is back.
rayroof10
Explorer
Nov 28, 2013
havent been able to mess with it at the moment, weather sucks here right now. l am off friday and hopefully l can work with it then. but thanks for all the advice, l will let you all know what l find.
SuperDutyFiver
Explorer
Nov 28, 2013
Any luck? Always curious how these dang stories end...
jhilley
Explorer
Nov 24, 2013
Almost certainly a bad battery or bad connection somewhere on the 12 volt side. Check battery water first, then the battery terminals ( remove and clean) then the ground connection to the frame. Since the lights stay dim when plugged in it could be the converter/charger. Check input and output fuses and voltage as stated above.
SuperDutyFiver
Explorer
Nov 24, 2013
All of the above and double check that your breakaway cable isn't pulled...or anything else accidently left on that may have a hefty draw.

Oh-and this will sound really dumb-make sure you really have power to the trailer-that the plug didn't get yanked nor you haven't tripped a breaker!

Nice diagram OLD-BISQUIT!
RJsfishin
Explorer
Nov 24, 2013
While plugged in, check voltage at battery, should be at least 13.2-13.8, maybe even 14+. If not, probably bad converter.
I
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 24, 2013
In addition to a weak/bad battery.........a bad converter will also cause dim lights when connected to AC power source.

With battery cables disconnected.....check battery voltage

Also with battery cables disconnected and hooked up to 110V AC shore power check converter output.....should be 13.4-13.6V DC. Any lower and converter isn't working correctly

Just for info..basic RV AC & DC Systems