Ok, I ordered a new bathroom vent with a fan and I was digging around for a way to route power to it. My one bathroom light has two white and two black power lines coming into the light, but nothing going out from it, very strange... The other light has only one set of wires, but it's next to impossible to tie into it.Could it possibly wired for a fan and they just tied off into the light?That would be sweet, I can find no other logical reason for the double wires.

one Pair goes to the Wall Switch?

robatthelake wrote:one Pair goes to the Wall Switch?No wall switches in my camper, the switch is on the fixture.

The wires probably go to the switch/light and out to another switch/light.

wildwest450 wrote: ...My one bathroom light has two white and two black power lines coming into the light, but nothing going out from it, very strange...Are you sure that it is not one white in and one white out plus one black in and one black out. One light in a string of lights? (String = 2 or more.)

It doesn't make sense that it's part of a "string" because it's the farthest light away from all other lights. The wires definitely come from the direction of the fuse box, but continue no further than the light. The other bathroom light has a single wire that come in from another direction.

Two sets of power coming into bathroom lights.

20 Replies

Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Jun 15, 2013
My bathroom has four wires at the light fixture in the shower, with one pair feeding power in, and the other pair continuing on to the vent fan. My old Class C had the same arrangement, but there was no fan installed. I found the wires for adding one when I removed the vent trim.
wildwest450
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
Thanks for all the help, I forget that an rv isn't a house. I'll probably go buy a voltmeter and see what the deal is. I thougt it possible that all models were wired the same, and I would luck out on a fresh circuit for my fan.
westend
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
Yes, it should be fine to grab power for your fan from the light fixture. Hopefully, there is adequate 12v distribution so the bath light circuit is independent from other 12v draws. Best practice would have the lights on one branch circuit and other devices on a separate branch.

When you find four wires into a location, you can be 99% sure that it is part of a string. Direction of wire exits/entrances has little meaning in the RV world.
SaltiDawg
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
wildwest450 wrote:
It doesn't make sense that it's part of a "string" because it's the farthest light away from all other lights. The wires definitely come from the direction of the fuse box, but continue no further than the light. The other bathroom light has a single wire that come in from another direction.

Farthest geographically may not mean farthest electrically. Separate the whites and separate the blacks and see if both whites are hot - if not, it would seem to indicate the connection is simply passing power thru in a chain.
I have zero RV knowledge or experience, I was just trying to suggest some possible help.
wildwest450
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
Here's a pic... The 2 wires that are coming into the bathroom light are coming from the direction of the speaker, which right below that is the breaker box. The kitchen light has 2 wires, but it appears that one wire jumps to the light over the sink, and the sink light heads towards the stove exhaust fan. I'm so confused.

I guess the main question is, is it ok to tie the fan into the double wires on the bathroom light? I hope so, I have a $270 fan headed my way.
wildwest450
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
It doesn't make sense that it's part of a "string" because it's the farthest light away from all other lights. The wires definitely come from the direction of the fuse box, but continue no further than the light. The other bathroom light has a single wire that come in from another direction.
SaltiDawg
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
wildwest450 wrote:
...My one bathroom light has two white and two black power lines coming into the light, but nothing going out from it, very strange...

Are you sure that it is not one white in and one white out plus one black in and one black out. One light in a string of lights? (String = 2 or more.)
Clay_L
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
The wires probably go to the switch/light and out to another switch/light.
wildwest450
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
robatthelake wrote:
one Pair goes to the Wall Switch?

No wall switches in my camper, the switch is on the fixture.
robatthelake
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
one Pair goes to the Wall Switch?

Forum Discussion

Two sets of power coming into bathroom lights.

20 Replies

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