My 12 Volt Power goes out and comes back on

[LarryLowe]

Last night we were sitting in our recently purchased 2003 Komfort 22 ft. travel trailer. We were using 12 volt battery power. All of the sudden, the lights went out, and then three seconds later, they came back on. It happened again about 5 minutes later. I turned out some of the lights, and it never happened again. Is this a malfunction, or some kind of circuit protection kicking in?

[Sam_Spade]

LarryLowe wrote:
I may have to take it to the pros. I don't wan to get into the power center inside.

Probably a wise choice BUT it's possible that they won't be able to find the problem if you can't reproduce it.

In addition to failing breakers, this can be a sign of a loose or corroded main battery cable too. You should at least check and clean them before taking it in.

On rare occasions, a battery can go open (or become intermittant) INSIDE the battery. How old is your battery ??

[Old-Biscuit]

Follow battery positive cable.....DC CB typically mounted under tongue before going inside trailer

[enblethen]

Follow the umbilical cord to where it meets the cable from the battery. That is the normal place for the circuit breaker.

[LarryLowe]

I can't see anything like that outside the trailer. I may have to take it to the pros. I don't wan to get into the power center inside.

[BB_TX]

I also would look first at the auto reset circuit breaker. Each time they trip and reset they burn the contacts a little making them even more prone to trip.

Auto reset circuit breaker

[Old-Biscuit]

Close to battery on positive cable will be a DC Circuit Breaker (small can with 2 stubs----cable on each stub)
S/B at least a 30A DC CB
It trips then resets.......failing

Available at auto parts stores.

[ScottG]

With that timing it sounds like a auto-resetting breaker. You may be pulling too much through it or it may have become weak with age.

[LarryLowe]

Thanks for those suggestions! I'll nose around and see what's up.

[Artum_Snowbird]

More than likely it is a loose connection between the battery and the 12 volt panel. I would check the positive and negative at the battery first, then at the 12 volt panel.

It is very often the neutral wire at the panel.

[enblethen]

Sounds like a circuit breaker near the battery is tripping.
It could be going bad!