Lighting Circuit Blinking On And Off?

MySecondTrailer · 08-07-2022, 09:15 PM

Hello all!

I have a 2022 Forest River Wildwood Lodge 42QBQ that I got a few months ago. It lives at a campground in NJ, connected to 50amp service because it has two AC units.

We are not currently at the camper, but my in-laws are nearby. My wife closed it up today to come home for a while, so according to her, all lighting, A/C, etc was turned off. They called saying that the lights were blinking on and off, steadily. Once they gained access to trailer, they shot a pair of videos for me of what they were seeing. See below:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aHdt8DkwbjETNEWg6

All of my outside lighting was blinking in a cadence, along with inside lighting (I'm assuming that it's DC lighting). The AC control units were also blinking on and off, as well as the Propane/Carbon Monoxide Safe-T-Alert. I know that the refrigerator was NOT blinking, so I'm ASSUMING that this has to do with the DC circuit somehow.

According to them, there was also a sewage smell inside, so they cleared the toilets for us again, but I can't imagine that had anything to do with it. After they cleared the toilets, they claim that the blinking stopped...but that doesn't make any sense to me.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be going on? Only thing I can think is that the battery wasn't charging or ... I don't know. I'm at a loss. Any guidance before I get down there would be awesome.

**wmtire** · 08-08-2022, 08:23 AM

That is a strange one indeed. Got to put my thinking cap on.

**Flybob** · 08-08-2022, 08:32 AM

Check to see if you have 120VAC power and check the battery voltage. Do you have a autoresettable breaker in your 12V battery circuit? It could be tripping and resetting.

bubbles · 08-08-2022, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flybob

Check to see if you have 120VAC power and check the battery voltage. Do you have a autoresettable breaker in your 12V battery circuit? It could be tripping and resetting.

He said all the lighting switches were off. Is there a precision plex (or equivalent) system involved here?

MySecondTrailer · 08-08-2022, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbles

He said all the lighting switches were off. Is there a precision plex (or equivalent) system involved here?

No, as of right now it's just the factory stuff. I'm going to be back down this weekend to take a look but I don't even really know what to begin to look for. I've not heard about it continuing again today. It just seems really strange.

MySecondTrailer · 08-08-2022, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flybob

Check to see if you have 120VAC power and check the battery voltage. Do you have a autoresettable breaker in your 12V battery circuit? It could be tripping and resetting.

This was my initial feeling. Assuming that they know how to read my panel correctly, they seem to think that the battery itself was reporting good. I'm not 100% sure that I believe them until I see with my own eyes though.

Oaklevel · 08-08-2022, 06:12 PM

Let us know what you find out ...... we have a Lodge as well but it is not permantly set up on a site.

I have no idea either.......

Does yours have a battery disconnect?.

PhilFromMaine · 08-09-2022, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flybob

Check to see if you have 120VAC power and check the battery voltage. Do you have a autoresettable breaker in your 12V battery circuit? It could be tripping and resetting.

I agree. The timing of the flicker has to indicate a auto-reset breaker.
So the issue probably is either the breaker itself or more likely a ground fault somewhere causing the auto-reset breaker to do its function.

Assuming that your lights are all 12v, I would try to isolate your 12v power consumption devices until you find one that resolves the flickering and then focus on that device to find the route cause of the fault.

bubbles · 08-09-2022, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilFromMaine

I agree. The timing of the flicker has to indicate a auto-reset breaker.
So the issue probably is either the breaker itself or more likely a ground fault somewhere causing the auto-reset breaker to do its function.

Assuming that your lights are all 12v, I would try to isolate your 12v power consumption devices until you find one that resolves the flickering and then focus on that device to find the route cause of the fault.

As posted by the OP; "We are not currently at the camper, but my in-laws are nearby. My wife closed it up today to come home for a while, so according to her, all lighting, A/C, etc was turned off.

If this is true please explain how what you (and another) say is possible.

Aussieguy · 08-09-2022, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbles

If this is true please explain how what you (and another) say is possible.

If power is still connected ...

a faulty switch / chaffed wiring harness could cause lights to come on / off

Electrical gremlins are a real pain sometimes
I just spent days tracing and fixing a simple light circuit.
Especially if you are NOT the original owner... who knows what you'll find.

Larry-NC · 08-09-2022, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilFromMaine

I agree. The timing of the flicker has to indicate a auto-reset breaker.

Not necessarily. The converter has a "crowbar" feature, common to many power supply types. If excessive current is drawn, its output voltage shuts down.

There could be a high current draw (maybe not a 0-ohm short circuit) that is causing the converter to cycle. You would diagnose this by removing fuses one-at-a-time until the cycling stops.

It could also be a fault within the converter. I had one (a WFCO 8955) fail this way. My guess is that one of the big electrolytic capacitors has failed, but I haven't had time to diagnose it. (Thought I would eventually fix it and either keep it as a spare or use it as a battery charger.)

bubbles · 08-09-2022, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussieguy

If power is still connected ...

a faulty switch / chaffed wiring harness could cause lights to come on / off

Electrical gremlins are a real pain sometimes
I just spent days tracing and fixing a simple light circuit.
Especially if you are NOT the original owner... who knows what you'll find.

Yes, but there's more than one switch here (inside/outside lighting). The thermostat, possibly, unless it was also set to off. Agree.

Aussieguy · 08-10-2022, 08:13 AM

Just because a fuse / circuit is marked Lights...
doesn't stop someone from tapping into that circuit to power the new whatsamathingy

or someone totally screws up the whole system by adding / modifying a rats nest of wires ....

I owned a 30 year old boat.. what a mess the wiring was

Electrical trouble shooting ... no fun some days

MrScott1 · 07-06-2024, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Not necessarily. The converter has a "crowbar" feature, common to many power supply types. If excessive current is drawn, its output voltage shuts down.

I believe you are thinking of short-circuit protection, which reacts to excessive current draw.

A "crowbar" circuit reacts to excessive voltage by applying a short circuit (like a conductive metal crowbar across the terminals) in order to protect the various devices connected to the system. At which point, the sort circuit protection comes into play.

"Crowbar" circuits are frequently used to protect against a power supply's output voltage regulation failing; if the output voltage gets excessive, 'crowbar' the supply (short it out). Better to blow a fuse than e.g. fry a computer.

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