Some electrical not working

dawnh2 · 02-01-2018, 01:34 AM

Hello, I have a 2017 Forest River Forester class C. I'm plugged in to electricity but some things are not working and some things are. The outlets and the microwave and the furnace and hot water work. But some of the overhead lights aren't working without the battery. Could someone tell me where to look for the problem?
Thank you!

namusmc · 02-01-2018, 02:35 AM

Those overhead lights are all 12v Led and are powered by the coach batteries.
I may be missing something here because I can't see that as a problem.

**bikendan** · 02-01-2018, 04:48 AM

i'm confused too.

OP, you do understand that some things are 110v AC and some things are 12v DC?

outlets and microwave only run on 110v AC shore power or from generator.

furnace and lights are strictly 12v DC battery power.

the water heater can run on propane(which uses 12v DC battery power to ignite) or 110v AC power, depending on which switch you turn on.

CHICKDOE · 02-01-2018, 07:45 AM

i'd try to help but i'm a bit confused also. as mentioned earlier the furnace and lights use 12 volts. this can come from the batteries or the converter when you are plugged into shore power, as you say you are. you say the lights do not work without a battery. yet you are plugged into shore power so the converter should supply 12 volts for the lights. you also say that some of the lights don't work. do other lights work? if sounds as if you do have 12 volts present as the furnace works and i'm assuming some of the other lights work. if so, then it sounds like a fuse is blown keeping some of the lights from working. but then you say that they work if you put a battery in. if this is true, then it is not the fuse. another thought would be the battery disconnect switch has the batteries disconnected, but it this were the case I would not expect the furnace or any other 12 volt device to work. we need to clearly know what 12 volt devices are working and which are not, whether batteries are installed or not, and whether the battery disconnect switch has the batteries connected or not. do this with the shore power cord connected then go out and disconnect it and determine again what 12 volt devices are working. this info should help isolate where to look further.

5picker · 02-01-2018, 08:24 AM

I'm guessing the OP doesn't have a problem, just confusion on how things operate.

2017 unit... shame on the dealer for not educating them on how things work.

**Bama Rambler** · 02-01-2018, 08:27 AM

If you're plugged into electricity and the overhead lights aren't working without the battery, that means that the converter isn't powering the lights. Apparently the converter isn't working, either because it's bad, the breaker is off powering it, or the reverse polarity fuses are blown.

Have you checked any of those things?

dawnh2 · 02-01-2018, 01:30 PM

Thanks everyone. I'll be at the unit this weekend and I'll note more exactly what works and what doesn't. And you very well could be correct in me being confused. I'm a 61 year old woman who has never owned an RV before without a husband. But for some reason I thought that the lights would work off of electricity not just battery. I did purchased a fuse tester that I'll try out this weekend. I will try all of the things that you listed above and let you know. Thank you all!

RVBuff · 02-01-2018, 01:48 PM

Not sure about anyone else's unit, but my 12V stuff will work off the converter with shore power, even if the battery is dead. Could there be a bad fuse in the light circuit? If not, perhaps, as someone suggested, the converter is faulty.

camaraderie · 02-01-2018, 04:12 PM

I'm thinking the 12V cutoff switch by the door is on for that will block the converter and use of the batteries. It needs to be OFF when you are using the coach or trying to charge the batteries.

formerFR · 02-01-2018, 04:17 PM

yes, your lights and all '12v' items will certainly work when you are plugged in - that's the CONVERTER's job - take 120v electricity and 'convert' it down to 12v, but make sure your 'Use/Store' switch, usually near the entry, is on 'USE' to provide a connection for the 12v items.
When you are plugged into 120v 30a or 15a(with adatper)power, you will have use of everything within your coach, within the limits of your incoming power.

now, when you UNPLUG, your 12v items then work DIRECTLY from the battery, since they are also 12v.... but your 120v outlets, water heater(electric side), and other items may only work when you are running your Generator.

formerFR · 02-01-2018, 04:24 PM

by the way, no dumb questions here.... we ALL started as newbies at some point(some, like me, later than most!)

80,000 miles later, though, you've learned a lot!

cmoecmoe · 02-02-2018, 07:25 PM

Hey all,

In my camper, the 12v side will not work unless there is a battery installed in the camper.

Hope this helps!

Craig

huckranch · 02-08-2018, 06:48 AM

We have a 2016 Forester class c. The small round power switch just inside the entry door on left does need to be on for the 12 v lights to operate so I believe that may be your problem. Love our “Gump”. Good luck!

cavie · 02-08-2018, 07:27 AM

Mine and my neighbors Wildcats will operate the lights without a battery as long as the converter is working. Neither of our units have a battery switch. '02 and '06. That's what makes these forums difficult to navigate. All RV brands are different and things change as to what is normal according to years.

cavie · 02-08-2018, 07:34 AM

I'm assuming you have a light switch by the door for these lights. The individual lights may have a switch in them also. Mine have low/hi/off. Each light must be switched on.

**wmtire** · 02-08-2018, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavie

Mine and my neighbors Wildcats will operate the lights without a battery as long as the converter is working. Neither of our units have a battery switch. '02 and '06. That's what makes these forums difficult to navigate. All RV brands are different and things change as to what is normal according to years.

Exactly, which is why you have to be adaptive and reflective of different electrical situations. There are some common things amongst the different RV's, and a GOOD basic understanding of the difference between 120 volt AC and 12 volt DC is crucial in troubleshooting/offering advice.

Once the light goes on (bad pun), as to this, and especially what/how a converter operates, then your RV life will be much simpler..... as well as your advice may be more correct.

This is why I include these two articles by Mark Polk in my suggested reading to RV newbies, and even to those who may need a refresher on different RV systems as opposed to home electrical (they are similar and also different too).

Basic RV Electricity - RV Information (RV Maintenance)

RV Converters and Amp Draw - RV Information (RV Maintenance)

Jeff6146 · 02-12-2018, 08:26 AM

https://youtu.be/GcEsz_ZVfdM

Jeff6146 · 02-12-2018, 08:26 AM

https://youtu.be/7DpIzugALqc

Jeff6146 · 02-12-2018, 08:27 AM

https://youtu.be/CWuKIWtGP-g

Jeff6146 · 02-12-2018, 08:27 AM

https://youtu.be/r6--YnKyM-o

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