Just took delivery of a new TT 2 days ago, our drive back home from the dealer is 3 hours - and we parked in a RV storage lot. When I unhooked from TV I went to push the battery disconnect (at control panel by door) to disconnect before storage. However, first I tried turning on 12V appliances / switches and nothing lit up. It was a bit rainy, so I pushed the disconnect in and went home for the night. next day I went back to the TT pulled disconnect out and everything 12 V worked. However I tried again 15 minutes later and nothing. Since it didn't work, then worked, then didn't work, I don't think it is a fuse or breaker. I am suspecting either a borderline battery charge or an intermittent problem (perhaps with the disconnect switch.) I put a meter on the battery terminals and read 13V (no load). Have not had time to investigate further. Sales dealership has been helpful on the phone, but I am not anxious to tow it into a repair place if I can fix easily myself - even if under warranty.Any thoughts on what to try. pull off control panel and bypass disconnect switch? take battery to auto dealer and have it tested ? put volt meter to battery wires going into fuse panel (under refridgerator) and see if it reads 121 V when disconnect is pulled out?Any advice appreciated. thank you.

Why do you think it is not an auto resetting circuit breaker?

Oh that could be. Are those all in the fuse panel, or any up front by the battery... HOw would I check those?I did locate two small inline devices near the batter mounted to the frame. I thought they might be current limiting fuses or something. I did not know they could auto reset. I did measure the continuity between the two terminals on these devices and it read continuity. However, I don't recall if I measured them when the 12V was working or not working, I think when it was working. If that is the issue, that means a short somewhere else, correct?

There is often a battery cutoff switch usually found near the outside end of the front pass thru or in the battery compartment.Just a note: never accept an RV without testing every single appliance, light, jacks, awning, windows and every thing else before signing the paperwork. Make them fix any problems right then, do not accept 'bring it back and we will take care of it."

Auto reset circuit breakerMake and model of rig?

shadow cruiser 257MKS by Cruiser RV

Newbie - electrical question, 12V not working | Good Sam Community

LittleBill
Explorer
Apr 09, 2022
enblethen wrote:
Do you have availability of a helper?
Have helper hold one probe on the ground and you check and hold other probe.

these are amazing when you have no friends (i mean no helper available)

Test Leads
opnspaces
Navigator II
Apr 09, 2022
I like the test leads LittleBill. Well I liked them right up until I saw the price. :) I have these and frequently use one to clamp to the battery or whatever and then clamp the other end onto the probe tip for the meter. Link
LittleBill
Explorer
Apr 09, 2022
opnspaces wrote:
I like the test leads LittleBill. Well I liked them right up until I saw the price. :) I have these and frequently use one to clamp to the battery or whatever and then clamp the other end onto the probe tip for the meter. Link

they were 15 when i bought them, and they are a lot longer then the ones you mentioned, as I also own them
ccjack
Explorer
Apr 11, 2022
Success ! thank you all for replying.

Running a ground cable from battery to interior of TT allowed me to verify all of the hot wires (at disconnect and at fuse box) were all good - 13V to true battery ground. However, the red wire in the fuse box measured to the ground wire in the fuse box read 0, so the problem was the ground/ negative wires.

Problem was in the electrical box mounted to the frame. The negative cable from batt. went in and had a ring terminal that was connected to nothing. the ring terminal was sort of resting against the wall of the box. All other wires were connected to each other, etc. (I had earlier checked that box, but it was packed with wires and I missed the loose one in the back.) I mounted it with a ground screw to the box and appears all is working well.
opnspaces
Navigator II
Apr 11, 2022
Good news glad you got it fixed. The loose ground terminal would definitely explain the intermittent part of the equation. Now take the saved gas money and go for a steak dinner somewhere.
enblethen
Nomad
Apr 11, 2022
Thanks for the update/
Happy Travels!
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Apr 11, 2022
Always glad to learn hat the problem is.. Thanks for telling us. Glad you found it.

Forum Discussion

Newbie - electrical question, 12V not working

About Technical Issues

Related Content

GFI electrical question?

Electrical Question

Electric Awning question

Frig Electric Not Working

Work Bench Question