Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Monaco Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-25-2016, 09:41 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Lansdale, PA
Posts: 114
Voltage Drop in Overhead Lighting System

My 2005 HR Ambassador has about 5 overhead fluorescent lights in the main galley. I've been having problems with all of them either being dim or not starting. I measured the voltage to one of the lights and was surprised to find only 8.8V. Is it typical to have such a large voltage drop in the wiring, or should I be looking for something like mouse-chewed wires, etc.

Joe
Joedarock is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 10-25-2016, 09:51 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Stretch's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: cayucos, ca
Posts: 1,299
Check ground wire


Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum
__________________
Ross Starkenburg
2017 Newmar Dutch Star 4369. Spartan chassis w/full disc brakes. 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
Stretch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2016, 10:55 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
RustyTools's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,179
Never under-estimate a mouse and the damage it can cause.

A bad ground or hot wire connections is also possible. There's also been several discussions on here about the voltage drop in the overhead lites - the wire-gage isn't large enough to handle the current draw of the lites.

When the bulbs were new, mine would almost always fire-off right away, but as they aged they got slower and slower and at times would flicker or not even come on (hmmm... kinda like me ). After several rounds of replacing bulbs, I got fed-up and replaced everything with LED strips. Brighter, more-reliable and less current draw.

Probably not the answer you were hoping-for.
RustyTools is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2016, 11:01 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Roaming Fulltimer
Posts: 406
Salesman Switch Solenoid?

One thing to consider when troubleshooting DC issues is the solenoid that is associated with the Salesman Switch, otherwise known as the battery cutoff switch at the entry door.

I was having weird DC issues and bypassed the solenoid. Issues solved. So apparently the contacts were failing in the solenoid. I don't recall if I did a voltage test across the solenoid or not. I've never used that feature in 10 years of full-timing, so just eliminated it as a failure point.

On my Diplomat, the solenoid is in the electrical panel in the compartment under the driver seat area.
__________________
Sidelined Full-timer
Motorhome/Toad Totaled by Harvey; Wings clipped by Eldercare Requirements
Pondering what the next chapter holds.
tkcas01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2016, 01:38 PM   #5
Member
 
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Stavely, Alberta Canada
Posts: 94
I converted all lights to LED. Wire size no longer an issue. If you carefully select you can get light in the 2700K range which mimics sunlight and we prefer. Of course there are many choices of light color, just pick the one you like.
RobbyII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2016, 07:48 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
windsorbill's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: CA
Posts: 4,452
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joedarock View Post
My 2005 HR Ambassador has about 5 overhead fluorescent lights in the main galley. I've been having problems with all of them either being dim or not starting. I measured the voltage to one of the lights and was surprised to find only 8.8V. Is it typical to have such a large voltage drop in the wiring, or should I be looking for something like mouse-chewed wires, etc.

Joe
Joe,

I had the same problem. I have the multiplex system and the fluorescents were also causing the other lights to blink off and on randomly. I changed all the tube fluorescents to LED puck lights mounted on a new board finished to match cabinets. Really looks nice and no more fluorescents.
__________________
Bill & Brigitte
06 Windsor PEQ, Cummins 400 ISL
2014 Honda CRV or 2012 Jeep
windsorbill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2016, 04:13 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Lansdale, PA
Posts: 114
Thanks all

Actually, I was in the process of testing some LED strips for a planned coversion throughout the coach when I discovered this. I'm guessing those flourescents draw a couple amps each, but 4 volts of drop still seems like a lot, even for 5 of them in a 15ft run. I recently discovered a thermostat wire also run in the ceiling that mice chewed completely through, so this is a plausible possibility. Problem is that I can find no way to fish new ceiling wires. Might have to resort to surface-mounted Wiremold raceways.

Joe
Joedarock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2016, 07:13 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Jeff753's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Coastal Campers
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,163
Voltage Drop in Overhead Lighting System

I would be concerned about overheated ballast in the fluorescents at low D.C. Input voltage. Do they feel hot on the ballast cover?
__________________
Jeff
2001 Monaco Dynasty tag axle
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeff753 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
holiday rambler, light



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Monaco overhead drop down tv cover repairs removal Thleone Monaco Owner's Forum 4 08-31-2016 07:01 AM
Can you put a drop down in a drop down? KTM251ss Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 9 05-31-2016 01:26 PM
Power Drop-Down Hide-Away Overhead Bunk Guerrero Thor Industries Owner's Forum 9 05-07-2015 12:27 PM
Double Drop Down Receiver with 6" Drop reubenray Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 8 05-20-2013 06:12 PM
lost overhead lighting in slideroom davbek Class A Motorhome Discussions 2 05-08-2011 07:12 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:26 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.