So I've had this trailer which we purchased three years ago.Roof doesn't leak, where we are we have no running water, power or cell service, and yes I love it! This is my isolation from the modern world (mostly)I grow a bit bored being there sometimes and I wanted to modernize it a little bit. Got a great deal on a solar panel kit that I will be runnin along with a battery for the trailer. I hooked up said battery and discovered to my dismay 2 things.1) One of my battery fuses (the screw in part of it) appears to be broken and replacement parts will be almos timpossible to come by...I have an old Master Coach trailer that is from Dauphine the manufacturer appears to be out of business or at least not in the same place I have. (I will post pics in this thread this evening once I upload them to my server) So I guess some geenral questions...Only a few of my inside lights (the small lightbulbs from a car type) appear to work, I changed them all out with a good working and only 2 of the lights actually work. (Possibly due to the broken fuzse?) I am thinking that maybe these are also connected in a straight line (meaning they are all interconnected and go around the trailer?) Only 2 lights work the rest all do not, the first 2 in what I'd call the "line" work after that they stop.I already fixed my leaking pipe and I'm pretty handy with all tools so I don't mind doing the work if folks can chime in with some ideas/knowledge!Thanks ahead. Pics to come later tonight!

Did all the lights work before you changed them out ?Take a simple 12 volt tester and check the power to the sockets.Some time when working on these thing's a wire will come off a splice.The socket terminals may be bent to far down to contact the lamp terminals. Good luck.:)

Check for power at each non working fixture. If you have 12 volts then its the fixture switch or dirty contacts/loose wire etc.Is the fuse holder similar to this. Check for the proper fit. This is just an example I grabbed.HolderI wouldn't worry about the age of it. No, you probably wont find specific trim parts etc, but the frig, furnace, w heater, vents, parts or replacement units can be found on line.

Lights did not work ever as far as I can tell (thus why I thought they were burned out) and I tested each with a working light bulbThis is a picture of my baby, she's old and got some minor damage but I repaired most of it so she doesn't leak!The power inverter in the trailer works as I have hooked it up to a generator, the light above the table (master light with the switch) works when the power is on but obviously not on 12 volt.The 12 volt set the "double" one near the bedroom/bathroom lights, and the one over the sink lights, all others in the row do not work.My trailer is on a permanent site, I don't believe it to be "road worthy" per say as in pull it somewhere else I use it as my "cottage" if you will. Question, is it normal for the plugs not to work on battery? I think it makes sense but checking.I have a big inverter (I can post pictures) under the seat it's a beast and appears to work well but as I explained one of the fuses is broken, it's not the "twist on" part thats broken but the part inside the panel that holds it closed.it's a 20 foot (plus hitch) trailer, I have had to replace the gas lines outside the trailer as well as the gas hook up (forgive the loss of name at this time where the lines meet to go into the main gas line). The propane burners work, the stove works but will not "stay on" all the time for some reason (possibly a blocked line?Fridge has apparently never worked or I am unable to get the pilot light lit on it and the furnace while is says gas is also electric and needs blower to work, so I just don't use it. We camp usually from April - Octobre almost and the close up on Thanks Giving weekend.We enjoy it for what it is, a simple place ot "get away" and relax.We painted the outside a bit as the vinyl was all worn somewhat and re-caulked the windows and all seems to work pretty well.

rjxj wrote:Is the fuse holder similar to this. Check for the proper fit. This is just an example I grabbed.It is similar yes, thats the "cap" part the inside part is what I believe is busted or at leas tthe holding part of the inside part is broken, it has two little "clamps" that hold it shut and they don't appear to work.I'm not imagining replacing things with the same parts this is after all a 1979 model so I doubt I will get it to be the same. I'd be satisfied with something to get it working period.I know the "fuses" are definatly for the battery portion since there are breakers on my panel as well for the eletrical portion, pretty sure they are used for the inverter, it's nice to have that portion but I would love to get it all working as much as I can. We've been slowly working on doing inexpensive "renos" to it by painting it, slowly working on adding curtains instead of the ugly blinds, I know when I am running on the generator (I share with my neighbor) that all my plugs and my "big" light works well. My 12 volt system is what appears to be broken, if its a one long wire circuit, the first 2 are working and everything after is not.I have tested it with a volt meter and get a 0 reading, so I am guessing that it may have wire damage in it. (this trailer had some littlee visitors in the past so possiblu they snacked on the wires...) I don't mind running a new wire "outside" the wall since only adults use it and I'm pretty sure I could conceal most of the wire behind things and buying the wire hidding stuff so I think that would work to regain my lights, this isn't rocket science eletrical work so I think I could pull it off.Thoughts?

This is another picture of the trailer.A bit more modern and you can se the outdoor kitchen that I built for functionality, it can hold my water and it also hides my cooler from teh sun as well as it's the perfect height to do dishes outside.

Old Trailer Fix Ups... | Good Sam Community

Groovyphoenix
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
So I know it's been a long time since I poted on here and this topic might be dead but I figured I'd provide an update.

ALL lights are now working! We looked over the built in power controller and found that the previous owner almost set fire to the place! He had connected ALL the grounds together I guess to make a super fuse or instead of replacing the broken one he piggy backed, not sure his logic.

I got a hold of 4 15/20 AMP rated fused holders pulled the panel with a friend and we connected it all properly. No more draining, and ALL lights work.

I even took an idea I saw here and purchased a small 12V fan and placed it in the corner near a window to help pull in the cool air in the sleeping area.

We also brough in a 3 inch foam matress to put on top of the bed for better sleeping.
Groovyphoenix
Explorer
Mar 11, 2015
Another factor that I just remembered, and yes this is important.

When the trailer was moved where it was my roof did suffer some damage (thankfully nothing major but some damage) the rood was "pushed" down by a tree branch, around where co-incidentally the light is not working from... Which is why I was thinking that most probably this set of lights runs in a circuit around the trailer, the good news in this is the way everything is done I might actually be able to snake a new wire with little "show" and fix it all, and frankly if thats all it takes I just need the correct "gauge" wire to run and do this job. Since the light near the bathroom/closet works I think I could probably etch the wire there and then redo the run to the first light, and if it then picks up and works I could regain my lighting.

Plan to fix the bed this year as well and purchase a new mattress for it, a nice think foam and cut it out myself if needed because right now, our bed is pretty lumpy hot and small for us and since we use it at a bed 24/7 and never fold it up I figure a more comfortable mattress wouldn't hurt.

Thanks for all the advice you guys provided! I do appreciate it btw.
Groovyphoenix
Explorer
Mar 03, 2015
Noticed, the linked battery said it was a dc-27 mine is a dc-29 for size, not that it makes a huge difference but it's apparently longer charge.
Groovyphoenix
Explorer
Feb 26, 2015
westend wrote:
The 32V fuse holder will work fine, it is just rated to a higher voltage, no worries. Even though the Coleman solar panel is only low wattage, it could help as a battery maintainer. Lots of folks are using those Walmart marine hybrid batteries for their RV batteries.

I figured that since I don't use the battery much (only one weekend) then we're gone for two weeks out (usually) witht he charger it might be enough time to keep it charged during the summer times, it outputs about 22V and the regulator will keep it from overcharging the battery, the only reason we got this one was due to the sale price, though I am thinking of getting a 40W kit if they go on sale again this summer.
westend
Explorer
Feb 19, 2015
The 32V fuse holder will work fine, it is just rated to a higher voltage, no worries. Even though the Coleman solar panel is only low wattage, it could help as a battery maintainer. Lots of folks are using those Walmart marine hybrid batteries for their RV batteries.
Groovyphoenix
Explorer
Feb 19, 2015
steve-n-vicki wrote:
the fuse holder is available look up panel mount fuse holder

Inoticed some have different voltage? One at princess auto says 32v 20amp would that be adequate? The 20amp is what's currently plugging into that and it appears to be a simple enough job to unhook/reconnect it being only 2 wires I think I could handle doing the job myself.

As for the trickle charge, right now it's not in the budget as I would need 1 for each battery I just thought putting htem on the charger (for the time being) would be adequate since it's still recharging and letting it drain a bit.

I so far have this setup...

Eliminator Battery Pack

Battery I purchased

Solar Panel Kit

This is the solar panel kit I have (I got it for cheaper as well)

I have another battery for the trolling motor as well that I could swap out in a pinch but that's the battery I plan to go with for the RV use. Any opinions? or did I just throw away my money? 8-)
steve-n-vicki
Explorer
Feb 18, 2015
the fuse holder is available look up panel mount fuse holder
no2tracks
Explorer
Feb 18, 2015
Put the battery on a battery Tender whenever it's not in use. It's much better than a once a month charge.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=battery+tender+chargers&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=31138155410&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16902698790253116111&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_6pv2hovikz_b
Groovyphoenix
Explorer
Feb 18, 2015
Not sure what the #2 runs, yes, there are 120v and 12v switch as the plugs do not work on battery and the main light over the table will not work (a 60W light) all others are 12V lighting and thats why Iw as curious about the way it was wired up just because if it is in a "line" the 1st 2 lights work but after that they fail, it is also where I placed a shelf that might have caused damage (not sure) I'm not really looking to spend millions on as someone noted a 40+ year old trailer I would just like a simple way of fixing a few of the lights so we can play cards at night and etc. We have a solar panel for recharging the battery which I wil be installing this year and a new batter as well so I am hoping that all will work out well this year. We got everything a bit too late in the season (Oct madness sales) so we were able to port it over but not put the work in.

How do you guys handle winterizing the batteries? Right now I am letting them sit and once a month I hook up my battery charger and let it recharge... This a good method?
rrev
Explorer
Feb 07, 2015
Do you know what fuses run what? Maybe you can switch a couple wires around and bypass #2 for now. Maybe check your local electric repair place to see if they can replace the#2 socket or replace the who converter. But first I'd try the jumper wire that was already suggested.

Forum Discussion

Old Trailer Fix Ups...

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Leaving Trailer Hooked Up

New Trailer Pick Up

Backing up a trailer like a boss

How to transport toys once trailer is set up?

Observation back up camera for travel trailer