Security Light

[1ofmany]

We have a Keystone Montana fifth wheel...over the past five years it has come on by itself a number of times. The inside switch that controls the light is still in the off position...the only way, short of cutting power, to turn the light off is to use the remote. Any ideas why the light turns itself on?

[SCVJeff]

Well I built one with 12 1W Amber LEDs on a dimmer and am about to rebuild the fixture with 3W devices (x3 the light). We use it as an area light and unless we're cleaning up, is never turned up brighter than an area navigation light so people don't trip on the rocks. Nothing scary about it unless it's turned up all the way. The new build with 36W of LED might be scary.

LEDZILLA

[D_E_Bishop]

Following that logic, I can let my short line tear something up, destroy my levelers, pull my water hose off, ruin my awning and just get away. Oh yeah, and leave behind anything I have setting out like the $45 folding chairs.

I don't think so.

I think there is some other reason for "Scare Lights". But what the heck.

[BarneyS]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
Okay, I have a question, I am not being a smart a$$ or anything like that, I'm not stirring the pot, I'm a Class A guy and hear about these scare lights all the time on trailers, 5ers in particular. My question is why do trailers have them and normally Class A's don't.

snip...

I don't mean to step on anyone's toes but, Why?

I suspect it is because on a trailer, whether regular trailer or 5th wheel, if something "goes bump in the night" you must get out of your RV to get to the truck to "get out of Dodge". Those lights light up the darkness pretty good and might "scare" the intruder away or at least let you see them and let them know you are aware.

In a motorhome, all you do is take a seat in the drivers seat, turn the key and you are gone! No need to go outside and see what the commotion is.
Barney

[D_E_Bishop]

Okay, I have a question, I am not being a smart a$$ or anything like that, I'm not stirring the pot, I'm a Class A guy and hear about these scare lights all the time on trailers, 5ers in particular. My question is why do trailers have them and normally Class A's don't.

I don't have remotes for anything but electronics. I installed amber LEDs with a remote to illuminate our steps and inside the stair well on our old rig, but no big ole 8" lights. We even have red lights inside so as to protect our night vision when out in the boonies.

I don't mean to step on anyone's toes but, Why?

[mhardin]

AH HA!!!!!

Now I know what is causing the porch light on my Heartland Elkridge to come on. I just bought it (used) a couple of months ago and thought maybe the switch was bad. Now, I'm sure it is the remote doing it. Thanks!!!!!

[Carl_n_Susan]

On a Montana, if the light is turned on by the remote, it can only be turned off by the remote. Yes the switch illuminates to indicate it is on. But it will not affect the light.

There are three solutions.
1. Put the remote where it will not be accidentally activated
2. Remove the battery from the remote
3. Disconnect the 12V wire that controls the light from the "brain" in the front storage area.

Check out the free to join Montana Owners Club www.montanaowners.com There are over 10,000 members there with answers to all things Montana questions. There are numerous discussions there on the remote and its peculiarities.

[road2002runner]

Have you replaced the battery in the remote ? The remote can control MANY things, or just a few, depends on what your 5er has programed.

There IS a RESET button in the front storage - it should have a red
arrow on it.

When I replaced my battery I had to go thru the WHOLE program to find the corresponding action to the # on the remote. For example - set up incorrect and you push the slide out signal - and the awning would come out. I spent some trial and error time to get mine all reset - so I wrote the instruction down - in case it happened again.

I got no help from Keystone, or dealer. I finally found a link to remotes on a Heartland page. Goto heartland page & look up remote it probably is still there. It controls Lights, frnt & rr legs, slide outs & awning on mine - some have other things depending on how your unit is configured.

Sorry I dont have a link, but I printed the one I found and it's in my Keystone Cougar HC - 100 mi. away.

Hope this helps.

Barry

I believe it is a lippert remote -(but could be wrong on that)

[fj12ryder]

We have a security light that comes on with the remote, but it is located above the door and relatively small, not the "scare lights". We've never had any issues with it coming on by itself though. I think I'd be looking at the remote control center also.

[Allworth]

Some of the new ones come with a key fob that controls outside lights, landing gear, and whatever else.

Something else to go wrong.

JMHO

[SCVJeff]

1ofmany wrote:
Thanks to all for your thoughts:-)

What remote ?

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[1ofmany]

Thanks to all for your thoughts:-)

[RoyB]

I suspect the controller is defective or has some loose connections. Most often if DC power is disrupted and then goes back back on in a couple of seconds the outside light will come ON.

I would inspect the connections around the controller board wherever that is located haha...

You could always just pull the main 12VDC fuse in the panel that is controlling this and use that for your turning on and off as needed until you find the real problem...

Those outside 8-inch DC lights are sometimes called scare lights. You should be able to find a named fuse zone in your fuse panel that only controls those lights. My trailer has two installed up high on each side of the trailer close to the rear of the trailer. I imagine the DOT RUles would prevent any of those light installed on the rear wall of the trailer just for the reason you are stating here that come on by themself sometimes... That would be a big DOT Safety violation if this happened being pulled down the public roads...

My 2008 Flagstaff has them installed like shown here in this on-line google photo. Mine are controlled by a standard ON-OFF switch from inside the trailer... I am assuming this is the security lights you are referring too...



Roy Ken

[DutchmenSport]

If the light is controlled by a remote, anything could cause the light to come on. A radio frequency, an electric impulse, a cell phone pinging a text message, really anything electronic could cause the light to come on if it has remote capabilities.

I suggest you think back a bit and figure out when it came on last. Then figure out what was occurring with your cell or i-phone at that same time.