I am working on a problem that has just reared its head. I have had my camper for a year now and love it. Elkhorn by Fleetwood 11x. Everything works . . . or did anyway.I have lost voltage (some) on the back section of the camper. The outside light, right inside the door, bathroom light and bathroom exhaust fan. I get about 7-9V on these wires or at the bulb fittings. I have 12V at the fuse in the distribution panel. It acts the same on shore power or battery. Other 12V lights and accessories in other parts of the camper (other circuits) all work just fine.The battery doesn't seem to be discharging any faster than it has in the past but it sure seems that it should. I would think that basic electrical theory indicates that in order to have a voltage drop of 3-5 volts it has to be being used somewhere.Of course the manual I got from Fleetwood doesn't have any electrical other than the most rudimentary block diagram type schematic.Not sure where to go from here. much of the wiring seems to be hidden from view. Any ideas or thoughts?Thanks, Nathan

Partially broken or corroded wire on positive or negative will cause a voltage drop. Hopefully someone will have a clue as to how the wires run so you can start chasing voltage to help isolate the problem area.

I have tracked the positive lead to under the fridge on the passenger side. That is the opposite of where I thought it would be going. I thought it would go under the sink down the drivers side with all the other wires.If anyone knows where the junction might be it would be helpfull. I really don't want to start tearing out the ceiling :-(

I would check voltage on the wire under the fridge with it under load, a test light would be a good start. Then at least you should know which direction the problem is at.

I have 12.9V up to where it disappears under the fridge frame. somewhere between there and the back end lighting circuit there must be a junction where it is corroded or chaffed insulation on metal frame. I assume it goes along the fridge cavity and into the roof. I have pulled the speakers and stuck my hand in as far as I can reach but no luck.

A dead short would cause you to have 0 Volts at the load and a drain on the battery. Since you have neither, we can eliminate that as a possibility..Voltage drop would be caused by a resistance in series with the load, like a corroded or bad connection.

95 elkhorn 12v wiring issue | Good Sam Community

ncline
Explorer
Oct 30, 2013
Yea, that is what I figured. Just was hoping someone might have seen this issue or something like it, or give me a hint about the wire routing. If I were really lucky someone might have ordered an electrical schematic before fleetwood went belly up and dumpstered all that stuff cause no one bought it.

Nathan
mkirsch
Nomad II
Oct 29, 2013
A dead short would cause you to have 0 Volts at the load and a drain on the battery. Since you have neither, we can eliminate that as a possibility..

Voltage drop would be caused by a resistance in series with the load, like a corroded or bad connection.
ncline
Explorer
Oct 29, 2013
I have 12.9V up to where it disappears under the fridge frame. somewhere between there and the back end lighting circuit there must be a junction where it is corroded or chaffed insulation on metal frame. I assume it goes along the fridge cavity and into the roof. I have pulled the speakers and stuck my hand in as far as I can reach but no luck.
DaButcher
Explorer
Oct 29, 2013
I would check voltage on the wire under the fridge with it under load, a test light would be a good start. Then at least you should know which direction the problem is at.
ncline
Explorer
Oct 29, 2013
I have tracked the positive lead to under the fridge on the passenger side. That is the opposite of where I thought it would be going. I thought it would go under the sink down the drivers side with all the other wires.
If anyone knows where the junction might be it would be helpfull. I really don't want to start tearing out the ceiling :-(
DaButcher
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
Partially broken or corroded wire on positive or negative will cause a voltage drop. Hopefully someone will have a clue as to how the wires run so you can start chasing voltage to help isolate the problem area.

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95 elkhorn 12v wiring issue

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