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docj · 02-07-2013, 03:35 PM

I'm a volunteer with a free medical clinic in TX that works out of a 2011 Monaco Cayman that it owns. Because I'm a full-timer RVer I've become the technical resource to the group.

I've been trying to help them fix a few things that they apparently didn't get repaired while the rig was under warranty. So I'm trying to fix them on the cheap.

Although this MH was specially configured for the clinic and may be rather different from a standard Cayman, I'm hoping that someone here can help me puzzle out something that has stumped me.

The entire ceiling of the coach has been fitted with "puck-style" lighting fixtures each of which has a G4 20W halogen. For some reason the lights in the rear area (what would normally be the bedroom) are all dimmer than those in the rest of the coach even though the bulbs are the same. The easy answer would be to find the dimmer switch but I've looked everywhere and can't find one. The less appealing answer is that somehow this reduced voltage is being set through something like an Intellitec controller, but I don't know if the Cayman has one of those.

Any advice would be appreciated; the back room is one of the two exam rooms and the dim lighting is a nuisance.

nightriderrv · 02-07-2013, 08:13 PM

Have you done a voltage test at one of the lights, if it was made for a exam room from the factory then I would think a dimmer would not even be in the circuit at all

itdave · 02-07-2013, 10:53 PM

I would bet they have daisy chained the lights and there are more lights on the circuit than the wiring is designed for. You may need to add a relay that is controlled by the switch and run multiple feeds to the lights. As suggested you should check the voltage level at each light.

billsmax · 02-08-2013, 04:00 AM

Docj,

If your electrical system is like mine, the dimmer is built into the light switch. Turn the light on, then depress and hold the upper lit portion of the switch, this dims or brighten the lights, if like mine.

wa8yxm · 02-08-2013, 10:49 AM

Let me guess, the batteries are in the front, There is a longer run of wire to the rear, it's not up to carrying the load for all those puck lights. Each 20 watt puck light draws about 1.5 amps (give or take a bit due to the converter).

Measure the voltage at the switch for the lights.

jspande · 02-08-2013, 11:02 AM

Assuming the problem is wire size for the number of lights (likely) and not a dimmer, the best solution would be to simply replace the bulbs with LEDs. You'll get more and better light, and reduce the current draw to about 1/4 what it is now. Only downside is the expense but should be well worth it, and certainly beats rewiring.

YC1 · 02-08-2013, 11:18 AM

If it does not have a dimmer switch as suggested, and mine does not, then put a voltmeter across one of the bulbs. You can pull the fixture out but be careful because the spring loaded holders will snap your fingers. Once the fixture is hanging it is easy to get a measurement. Be careful to not burn yourself with those hot critters. Compare that voltage to the ones that are bright. Since the voltage is going to be lower you need to find out if it is the ground side of the circuit or the supply part that is giving the problem. The easy way is to drag the shoreline cord through a window and connect the meter to the ground lead. Or run your own ground wire out to the battery compartment and get a good ground connection. Then measure each side of the bulb circuit with all the lights turned on. If you see voltage on both sides of the bulb wiring you have a weak ground. If you see zero volts on one lead and lower voltage than you measured up front you have a supply issue.

My 08 Endeavor has fluoresent lights in the rear room so the current draw is probably less or just not noticeable. There are some puck lights back there but only a couple.

I suspect it is the long run of wires dropping the voltage or a connection that needs to be exercised. However, as suggested changing the bulbs to LED will drop the voltage load tremendously. The bulbs can be bought by the bag full on E-bay.

I will look at the schematic for my unit to see if anything stands out as far as where the power is being retrieved from for those circuits.

docj · 02-08-2013, 04:20 PM

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Over the weekend, I'll go to where the rig is stored to see if I can figure things out. My switches aren't lighted, but I'll check to see if there might be a dimmer in one of them.

As for it being caused by low voltage due to too many lights on a circuit, I'm a little skeptical since I can run a dozen lights up front with no problem and only the four in the "bedroom" are dim. Furthermore, there are reading lights in several places in the room and they work just fine.

I'll check the voltage on the bedroom lights and will try to trace them back to a distribution panel, but that isn't always that easy. At worst, I may simply run 12V to the switch from another location in the coach.

YC1 · 02-08-2013, 04:59 PM

Check the voltage on F12 or any fuses associated with that circuit. My panel is in the bedroom for this. Measure the voltage very carefully so you don't disturb any connections. If you find a low voltage on the fuse you can use a test jumper from another fuse location to satisfy your curiosity. Just pop a fuse from another circuit and you can get to the socket to place a jumper. If you do find low voltage remove the fuse panel carefully and look for loose connections on the back or any connection cables. Mine has a ton of wiring in behind.

Dupdyke · 02-08-2013, 05:24 PM

Doc I have replaced over 100 G4 puck bulbs with a led that fits perfect in the space, has a much brighter whiter light and no heat and about 1/10 the power to operate.

If you are in the valley send me a pm....dupdyke@ gmail.com