Storage Light

[tcrouse97]

I own a 97 Holiday Rambler Imperial. The storage light at the water connection cargo does not work. Bulb and fuse are ok. Any ideas?

[mikedes]

On my 2000 Dip the switch is activated by the door -- is this working
Mike D

[Diplomat Don]

Same as mine....there should be a push type door pin in the upper corner of one side. It may have broken off. Look for a wire hanging.

[Robi.1014]

Adding to Don's comment...
These switches are grounding switches. The light bulb has a constant 12VDC applied to it, but a ground connection must be applied to make the bulb glow. Occasionally, I have to wiggle my switch to make my light come on.

[tcrouse97]

The plunger moves back and forth but the shaft is slightly rusty. i guess I need to go to hardware store top get a tester

[dickiebob]

Mine has the pin switch which is spring loaded to come out and ground the circuit which completes the circuit...same thing as my vent lid has to operate the fan when the lid opens (I have one vent where the pin switch has been bad since new...it binds on a rough spot within the pin body and will not push in all the way...I need to order a new switch). These are the same type of pin switches used years ago for some accessory car alarms and dome lights.

I never noticed I had a lite in the water bay when the rig was new until one day the light was on. These things get corroded or rusty in the small contact area between the moving pin and ground base area. This bay is the only one setup this way because I assume they wanted the lite to come on anytime the door is open so you could see the hookups without looking for a switch.

I believe if you buy a new one that it will eventually rust or corrode and do the same thing as now. I just wiggle and slightly twist it and push it in and out by hand when it does not work until it comes on....not a problem for three years.

Also, I cannot remember right now, but I believe it has a separate slide switch on the light fixture. I know all the other compartments have that slide switch. Also has a switch in the step entrance area to turn on all the compartment lites...yours may not have same setup.

Good Luck, you probably have an easy fix.

[RVhauler]

I lube the "pin" switch ocassionaly with silcone spray to keep them working

[WindsorDave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robi.1014 Adding to Don's comment... These switches are grounding switches. The light bulb has a constant 12VDC applied to it, but a ground connection must be applied to make the bulb glow.

This thread prompted me to look at the light in my wet bay. It did not work when we purchased the coach. I just assumed the bulbs were burned out and bought replacements. The lights in the rest of the basement compartments all go on and off depending on the position of the switches in the wet bay and the charger/inverter panel. These are wired in the classic "two way" configuration. i.e. either switch will turn on and off the lights.

When I went to replace the two bulbs in the wet bay fixture I checked for voltage with the lights turned on. Turns out that the two wires feeding the fixture both had 12 volts with respect to ground and zero volts with respect to each other. Naturally the lamps would not light. Examination of the perimeter of the bay opening revealed no switch that might be actuated by the bay door.

I'll look at the coach 12V wiring diagram but in the mean time feel free to opine.

Thanks,