Results for "12v lighting"

Electrical Easy 30 minutes 375 👍 0

RV 12V Lights Dimming: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

My neighbor insists it's the converter, the RV dealer swears it's bad wiring, and every YouTube video claims it's a dying battery—but my 12V ceiling lights keep dimming! One evening they're blazing bright like a casino, the next morning they're giving off all the enthusiasm of a sleepy firefly.

I've already checked my batteries, and they seem to be charging fine and in good shape. The converter is still humming and its fan is running normally. I'm pretty sure this isn't some fancy mood lighting feature I accidentally activated (though knowing my tech skills, anything's possible). The dimming seems totally random - sometimes they're fine, sometimes they look like they're on their last legs.

I've got a basic multimeter that I pretend to know how to use, but I'm not sure where to even start poking around. As a bonus weirdness, some of my under-cabinet light switches and the wall switch for the ceiling lights are getting really hot. Anyone know what typically causes this whole disco light show situation with 12V lighting systems? …more

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General Hard 45-60 min 357 👍 0

How to Remove Firefly RV Control Panel: Complete DIY Guide

Our 2019 Fleetwood Discovery LXE has a malfunctioning Firefly multiplex control panel that needs to be completely removed. I've been putting this off for months because I keep hearing horror stories about people cracking their panels or damaging the surrounding woodwork during removal.

I need to access the back of the unit for some electrical work, but I'm honestly terrified of breaking something expensive. The panel seems to be mounted flush with no obvious screws or clips visible from the front. I've searched everywhere but can't find a complete walkthrough that covers the preparation, actual removal process, and how to get everything back together properly.

Can someone please provide a detailed DIY guide that covers all the steps? I'm willing to take my time and do this right - I just need to know the proper technique so I don't end up with a broken control panel or damaged wall. …more

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Appliances Medium 3-4 hours 256 👍 0

Installing a Rear Camera on Your Fifth Wheel RV: Complete Guide

I spent way too much time backing into spots blind, so I grabbed my tools and I'm ready to install a rear camera system on my fifth wheel myself — just need to know the best place to start. I keep hearing horror stories about people drilling holes in the wrong spots or having wiring issues that cause leaks or electrical problems.

I'm torn between wireless and wired systems - which is actually safer to install? And I'm terrified about where to mount the camera without damaging my RV's structure or creating water intrusion issues. Should it go at the top center or would a corner placement be less risky?

I've been looking at brands like Furrion, Haloview, and Rear View Safety, but I need to know which ones are most reliable and forgiving for a cautious DIYer. Most importantly, how do I run cables safely without creating new holes that could leak? Are there existing entry points I should use instead?

(Note: Can you share details about your current fifth wheel and any existing camera/monitoring setup?) …more

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Electrical Medium 3-4 hours 249 👍 0

RV Underbody Lighting Installation: Complete DIY Guide

I'm wondering if anyone else walked out this morning and spotted how embarrassingly bland their RV's underside looks compared to those slick LED setups online? My husband and I are pretty new to the RV world and I've been wanting to add some nice ambient lighting underneath our Class A motorhome. I think it would look really cool when we're set up at campsites in the evenings. I've seen other RVers with these gorgeous blue or white lights that make their rigs look so professional. We're definitely beginners when it comes to electrical work, so I'm hoping someone can walk me through what's involved. Is this something we can tackle ourselves or should we find a professional? Any product recommendations would be super helpful too. Thanks so much for your patience with us newbies! …more

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Electrical Easy N/A - planning 210 👍 0

RV Battery Charging: Underhood Generators vs Engine Idling Guide

Since my neighbor can boondock for weeks with perfect battery power while mine die after just a few days, what charging method am I missing? I came across this interesting information from a New York City perspective (original link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/ar...S&cvid=f9f9617373f147cba291498b28b099b4&ei=17).

I've been thinking about either just idling my engine to let the alternator do its thing, or maybe installing one of those underhood generators I keep hearing about.

My buddy says idling is fine and super easy, but I'm wondering if there are any downsides I should know about - like regulations or whether it's actually efficient. Are underhood generators worth the investment, or should I be looking at completely different options? What's the real deal here? …more

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Electrical Easy Informational 197 👍 0

RV Battery Disconnect Switch Problems: Why Salesman Switches Fail

Since following that popular YouTube fix for my Thor Outlaw's battery drain, the salesman switch "solution" turned my minor electrical issue into a complete nightmare. Despite being marketed as a battery disconnect, this switch fails to eliminate parasitic draw completely while simultaneously disconnecting the batteries from the charging system when on shore power.

The design creates a problematic scenario: batteries continue draining through various circuits even when 'disconnected,' but they cannot receive charge from the converter. This results in dead batteries after extended storage periods, particularly when parked indoors where solar charging is unavailable.

I'm experiencing about a 50% probability of completely dead batteries, where they're disconnected from the converter and lack sufficient power to even reconnect to the charging system. The indicator light provides no reliable signal about the switch's actual position, making it impossible to track battery connection status.

What are the most effective solutions for addressing this flawed disconnect system? Are there proven workarounds that other Thor Outlaw owners have implemented, or should I be looking at bypassing this switch entirely? …more

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Electrical Hard Professional installation 196 👍 0

48V RV Electrical Systems: Complete Guide to Modern RV Power Upgrades and Efficiency

Tried upgrading my RV's electrical system but I'm standing in the supply store staring at 12V versus 48V components with zero clue what I actually need. The Bluetti RV5 caught my eye as an all-in-one solution that might make the jump easier.

But honestly, I'm still on the fence. What are the real benefits of going 48V? Is it actually that much better than sticking with 12V lithium? And are there any gotchas I should know about, especially with solar integration and getting everything certified for RV use? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 3-4 hours 189 👍 0

Can You Remove an RV Inverter Charger Without Replacing It?

Called three RV supply shops about replacing my failed Xantrex inverter/charger in my 2001 Fleetwood Expedition — but do I even need one or just wasting money? Since I never utilize the inverter function and rely exclusively on generator or shore power for 120V loads, I'm evaluating whether complete removal is feasible rather than expensive replacement.

My primary concern is maintaining proper 12V DC charging capabilities for house batteries that power lighting, water pump, and ventilation systems. Would installing a standalone battery charger provide adequate charging and maintenance functionality? Are there any critical system integration issues I need to address, particularly regarding power transfer switching between shore power and generator sources? …more

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General Medium N/A - shopping 187 👍 0

Best RV GPS Systems with Integrated Dashcam and Backup Camera Display for Safe Travel

Halfway through backing out of my campsite this morning I spotted my dashboard cluttered with three separate screens for GPS, dashcam, and backup camera.

I've been looking around but I'm not sure if fully integrated systems like this actually exist, or if I should be thinking about this differently. Would love some guidance from more experienced folks - are there good options out there, or am I better off going a different route? Thanks for any help! …more

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Electrical Easy N/A 187 👍 0

RV Red Warning Light: How to Identify Unknown Electrical Components

Woke up to find my RV's mystery electrical component glowing red instead of the green light the manual promised, and I can't even figure out what this thing is! In the picture I uploaded, you can see the component with the red warning light that just started appearing recently. I'm pretty sure that's not a good sign, right?

I'm thinking it might be some kind of detector or maybe part of the electrical system? There are so many gadgets crammed into these rigs. Anyone know what typically has red warning lights in RVs and what I should be looking for to figure out what this thing actually is? Would love to get it sorted before it becomes a bigger problem! …more

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Plumbing Medium 3-4 hours 177 👍 0

Atwood GC6AA-10E Replacement Guide: Compatible Water Heaters & Installation Tips

Atwood GC6AA-10E water heater finally died after 18 years and I need a direct replacement that'll bolt right into the same cutout without modifications. Every RV parts site shows different "compatible" models and I'm not confident any of them actually fit. What drops right in? …more

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Ac Refrigeration Hard N/A for diagnosis 174 👍 0

Norcold 1210 Not Cooling with No Error Codes: Troubleshooting Guide

Looked at my Norcold 1210 refrigerator in my Grand Design 303RLS this morning — it's running perfectly normal but everything inside stays warm with zero error codes. Everything seems to work - the control panel responds, lights come on, and it even fires up on propane - but there's absolutely no cooling happening. Temperature reading shows 43°F and climbing.

What's making me nervous is that there are no error codes or alarms at all. I've checked the fuse and it's good, the little black box's red light is not on, and the fans aren't running. Usually when something breaks, you get some kind of warning, right? I'm worried I might be missing something obvious or that continuing to run it could cause more damage. Is this pointing to a specific type of failure, and am I safe to keep troubleshooting or should I stop using it immediately? …more

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Electrical Medium Planning exercise 169 👍 0

RV Generator Size Calculator: Solar vs Gas Generator Power Needs for Your Camper

Woke up to my Aliner classic's power system working perfectly in 60°F weather, but now that it's 85°F outside I'm drowning in solar versus gas generator confusion. Coming from a Rialta with a built-in generator where I just added some solar panels, I'm now starting from scratch with just one 88Ah lead acid battery and need to figure out the most practical setup for my boondocking needs.

My power requirements are pretty straightforward - laptop, house lights, furnace for overnight heating, and the occasional use of my 1800-watt toaster oven which is really the main power challenge. In my previous RV, I had 160Ah of lead acid batteries with a 100W solar panel that handled everything except the toaster oven, which required firing up the generator. I'm considering adding 200W of solar panels to this setup.

Here's where I'm getting confused: I've been looking at 2000-2500 watt generators with minimum 1900 running watts, but I heard you shouldn't run more than 80% of the running watts capacity, which would mean I need about 2300 running watts just to safely operate my 1800W toaster oven. Is that calculation correct? Alternatively, I'm wondering if I could skip the generator entirely and run the toaster oven off a large battery bank with a proper inverter - but I have no idea how much battery capacity that would require or if it's even practical. What's the most cost-effective approach for someone who primarily needs reliable power for essential loads but occasionally wants to use higher-wattage cooking appliances? …more

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Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 169 👍 0

RV LED Clearance Lights Turn Off When Headlights On - Grounding Fix Guide

Replaced all the clearance lights on my 2002 Bounder 39Z Diesel with LEDs yesterday but something still doesn't seem right — they work perfectly with the clearance light switch but shut off completely when I turn on the headlights. But the moment I turn on the headlights, every single LED clearance light goes dark! This is driving me crazy - the old incandescent bulbs never did this.

I've checked the fuses, swapped out different LED bulbs, and even tested the voltage at the fixtures. Everything seems fine until those headlights come on. I'm really hoping someone has seen this before because I'm running out of ideas. What could cause brand new LED clearance lights to shut off only when the headlights activate? …more

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General Easy 2-3 hours research and listing time 164 👍 0

Should I Sell My Atwood Level Legs Parts or Trade to BigFoot?

During our budget planning for the BigFoot upgrade, my wife casually asked why we're dropping $8k when our Atwood level legs could probably fetch decent trade-in value. My '06 Pace Arrow 38L has Atwood Level Legs that keep failing despite previous repairs, so I'm planning to upgrade to BigFoot Levelers for about $8k.

The BigFoot installer said he'd take my old Atwood system but wouldn't give me any credit - he'd just fix them up and sell the parts himself. He offered to give them back to me instead, but actually discouraged me from trying to sell them myself. This has me worried - is he trying to lowball me, or is selling RV leveling parts really that difficult and risky?

I'm concerned I might make a costly mistake either way. Are Atwood parts actually valuable enough that I should keep them and deal with selling myself, even though I don't know much about these systems? Or should I just let BigFoot take them to avoid the hassle and potential headaches? …more

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