12 volt receptacles shorting 12 volt accessory charge cords

[billyray50]

We bought a 2020 Jayco precept 34g gas motorhome with the ford f53 chassis and v10 engine. The coach has 3 12 volt dc outlets in the cockpit. So far while trying to charge GPS and TPMS monitor and not both at same time the charge cords shorted out. Also blew 12 volt cord for a sharper image seat cooler inline 6 amp fuse. Seat cooler was the only item plugged in at the time. Help!

[sssooo]

Had a 2004 Bounder on a workhorse put bars on front and back it went from a white knuckle drive to sit back and drive with one hand made it great to drive

[wa8yxm]

I had afront track bar put on my Workhorse.> BIG IMPROVEMENT

Truth. 2006 took two trips from Detroit to Las Vegas both times pulling the same 1992 Chevy lumina.. First trip Without the Track bar and steering stablizer. It was a RELIEF to park the Motor home and drive the Chevy (left on Jan 2)

2nd Trip (left day before Thanksgiving) when we got to LV man was that Lumina hard to drive... Same car, Same Motor home. Same driver.

[billyray50]

sssooo wrote:
I had a rear track bar put on my 2018 Bounder and it made it handle worse had it removed

Really? I test drove it in some tail winds after install and thought it helped a lot. I will be installing a safe T plus steering stabilizer in the front next.

[sssooo]

I had a rear track bar put on my 2018 Bounder and it made it handle worse had it removed

[wa8yxm]

Alas radio shack is no more but you can still find electroinc parts if you shop around.

The circuit I built was built into a 12 volt Plug.

Tip went to a resistorm as I recall about 450 Ohms. and the other lead of the resistor to the tri-color LED. if you can not find a 2 lead Tri-Color get a red one and a green one... Connect the resistor to the short lead on one and the long lead on the other (or however the two leads are identified) DO NOT SOLDER (yet)

Connect the other lead to the "Ground" contact and again do not (yet) solder

Plug it in in to a known good outlet GREEN only.. Solder and finalize
RED. Swap the leads around and try again

now plug into the suspect outlet.. RED bad Green good.

[billyray50]

wa8yxm wrote:
I have not heard of that in a long,,,, long...... long time (like 1970s)

I used to have a plug that contained just two parts. in fact I still do. One was a 2-lead tri-color LED and the other was a resistor..

IF you plugged it into a 12 volt accessory outlet that was properly wired GREEN
If you plugged it into one that was reverse wired RED
If it showed yellow.. Well that outlet had AC on it not DC (never happened)

This can be done with a volt meter.. I suggest a plug to binding posts for this.

but you can do it without

Using adapter Like this one hook meter black to black red to red and plug in read voltage

+13.6 (ending running) or 12.6 (Engine off) = Good
Negative voltage or 15+ volts = bad

Without the adapter it's a touch tricky
Black to SHELL and red to the center of the bottom of the outlet

That adapter however is how I'd do it

Side benefit. If you ever have to replace the plug on a 12 volt cord (just the plug not a plug/voltage converter like for your phone et-al) well this is real handy for that. Till you can get a proper crimp or solder on plug.

Thanks for the input. I recently had the motorhome in a local RV shop for a rear trac bar install and had them look into this. Told me is was wired in reverse and They fixed all 3 12 volt outlets. I have not tested them yet since I had to order more 12 volt charge chords for tpms monitor, GPS, and phone charger. Will definitely order this first. Appreciate the info.

[wa8yxm]

I have not heard of that in a long,,,, long...... long time (like 1970s)

I used to have a plug that contained just two parts. in fact I still do. One was a 2-lead tri-color LED and the other was a resistor..

IF you plugged it into a 12 volt accessory outlet that was properly wired GREEN
If you plugged it into one that was reverse wired RED
If it showed yellow.. Well that outlet had AC on it not DC (never happened)

This can be done with a volt meter.. I suggest a plug to binding posts for this.
but you can do it without

Using adapter Like this one hook meter black to black red to red and plug in read voltage

+13.6 (ending running) or 12.6 (Engine off) = Good
Negative voltage or 15+ volts = bad

Without the adapter it's a touch tricky
Black to SHELL and red to the center of the bottom of the outlet

That adapter however is how I'd do it

Side benefit. If you ever have to replace the plug on a 12 volt cord (just the plug not a plug/voltage converter like for your phone et-al) well this is real handy for that. Till you can get a proper crimp or solder on plug.

[Jay58]

Test with a meter

[wopachop]

Poke your finger in the hole. If you screech like a small dog that got stepped on, its 120v. If you dont feel nada its reversed polarity.

(making jokes.....feel bad thats a brand new trailer. hope it gets fixed)

[billyray50]

Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated.

[hotjag1]

I had exactly the same problem because I had wired them backwards..."reverse polarity". Switched the 2 wires around and they work perfectly.

[MrWizard]

Reverse polarity on 12v ?
Maybe
Most 12vdc would simply not work, except 12v fans would run backwards, and 12v incandescent interior RV lamps would light
Problem
The items mention use 5v internally
Reverse polarity would mess with voltage regulation on the circuit boards, creating overload conditions, If the device even turned on and worked
Did These incidents occur while parked
Are these outlets powered by RV 12v circuit?
Converter voltage could be Too High
Or
It could have A.C. voltage ripple in the DC output
Either way it would be a converter problem

[Executive45]

There are only two reasons why you would experience what you are getting. One, the receptacles are not 12VDC and reverse polarity. I believe Doug has answered the reverse polarity issue which is more common than you think. Rarely will you find them wired with a 120VDC circuit. The plugs simply screw out and they're pretty easy to get to. Hold the outside part and unscrew the inside part. Use a meter to check voltage. Since you're experiencing the same issue with all three, it's in the wiring. If someone wired one wrong they wired all three wrong. Easy and cheap fix...Dennis

[dougrainer]

The Plugs are NOT Ford. So, I will bet the polarity of the plugs are reversed. THAT is why you are destroying the cords. The OUTER silver case is Negative and the inside rear is the positive. IF reversed, it is very easy to gain access on a Precept to reverse the spade terminals on the back of the receptacles. Also, KEEP the bad cords and receipts for them. Jayco will reimburse you thru your Jayco dealer. IF indeed it is reverse polarity. IF you fix it yourself, TAKE PICS of the reversed wiring and then when it is corrected. Doug