12V light flicker

[rvfun]

We have an '09 Beaver Marquis. When using shore power, our 12v lights flicker. Some times constant, but other times they will flicker for 10 seconds or so and then stop. But, either way the flicker is often enough to be annoying. I have checked the voltage and it seems to have a slight quick reduction in voltage with the flicker (which is what I would expect).

This flickering also happen when we are only on generator power.

My question is which component should I look into first (inverter, voltage regulator, etc)? Or, could it be a loose connection, etc? Or, what diagnosis should I run to narrow this problem down?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Gordon66]

I had the same issue. Mine was the relay in the compartment below the drivers window. It's what they call the salesman switch activated relay. If it does what mine did, it will fail and you will loose all of your coach 12v power. This happened to me in 20 degree weather at 2:00am. No lights and no heat. I bypassed the relay with a #2 jumper wire. Allis good now.

[RustyJC]

For those RV that have a multi-stage power converter, some change of intensity of 12VDC lighting is normal. Our Progressive Dynamics 9180 converter (equipped with the Charge Wizard accessory) has four voltage outputs - boost, normal, float and desulfation. When the RV is in use, it will switch back and forth between boost and normal modes depending on 12VDC system demand and battery state of charge, and this switchover between modes can be seen in the intensity of some of the 12VDC lighting.

Rusty

[stubeje]

Mine did the same thing and it was the variable cooling fan in the converter. As the converter heated up the fan was supposed to come on to cool it but the fan wasn't working and everytime the converter got hot the lights would blink wheather on shore power or generator. Replaced converter and flicker went away...

[Corkey]

I'm having the same issue, and it's the 12v relay, same as Gordon66. I haven't jumpered it yet, but will as soon as it's daylight.

I'm dry camping as I post and the 12v completely shut down as I was showering this morning at 5am. I can hit the switch and the 12v comes back on, but the lights still flicker.

[rvfun]

I'm really needing help now. The flickering has now gone to no power at all. I found a blown fuse on the battery cutoff relay. See pics. Put new one in and all 12V was working. But, 6 hours later, all 12V is not working again. I was able to talk via phone to a Monaco tech and he helped me with the above. I think the relay is gone. I think I need to bypass the relay now but this relay does not look like others in all other realy threads. Does anyone know how to bypass this relay? I can unbolt the red and what looks to be a ground (is not a wire) and put together, but I don't know what to do with the 3 white wires. Any help please with the next step to get 12V back on? Thx, Bob...

[rvfun]

I went ahead and bypassed the relay. I unconnected the red positive cable and the flat connector on other side of the relay. Then moved the relay out of the way and bolted the red cable to the flat connector. Wrapped in electrical tape. I now have 12V lightning, heat, etc in the coach. I cannot get the radio, rear monitor, etc. in the front to power up. Still investigating that. But, for now happy with 12V power in coach. Hope this may help others in the future.

[Mike Canter]

I assume when you call that the "salesman" relay that it is the one that is controlled by the 12 volt cutoff switch by the door that the salesman turns on went you are looking at the coach on the lot (lol). Turning this switch on and off with lights on or other DC powered items will cause the internal contacts in the relay to arc. After some time they will start to make intermittent contact and cause the lights to flicker. To make them live longer they say you should turn off all the lights before you flip the switch on the way out the door. To me that defeats the purpose of the switch and I would rather replace the relay once every five years and have that single switch convience.

[rvfun]

I replaced the battery disconnect relay and now all 12V power is restored. I guess on this particular mh/relay, bypassing only connects part of the 12V system. All is good now. I've ordered 2 relayed to keep for the next time they go bad. Never to be caught short again.

[itdave]

The relay controls many but not all things that the House Batteries power. I think the things you mentioned Radio, Rear Monitor etc are powered by the Chassis Batteries. The key may need to be in the Accessory or On position to get power to those things. In the long run I think you will be better off with the relay bypassed. Unless you are using it to turn off all the lights in the coach when you go out I don't know any purpose it serves.

[Tigertrax]

I too am having the same 12V flicker issue. We are camped with 50amp power.
Bypassed the cutoff solenoid in the drivers side lower electrical compartment. Was hoping that would resolve it but not so lucky.

Can it perhaps be some other solenoid or the power inverter?