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Holiday1966 · 05-19-2015, 05:14 PM

Ok so it appears like I got an issue with this old campers DC system, and I am electrically challanged. I do know it must be in the ground. This is a very simple system, 12 volt battery directly wired to 6 interior lights all of which are controlled at each light(on and off switches). Hot wire from each light is connected in series to each other down the line. Ground wire connected to each other down the line. Ok so where do I ground this system to the camper, at the battery ground wire or at 1 of the lights? The previous set up it appeared to have a ground wire from 1 of the lights to a screw in the roof vent. This is only giving me 7v at each light and none will work. Hooked each light up by it self to the battery and I get 12v. Thanks for any info.

rivraton · 05-19-2015, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holiday1966

Ok so it appears like I got an issue with this old campers DC system, and I am electrically challanged. I do know it must be in the ground. This is a very simple system, 12 volt battery directly wired to 6 interior lights all of which are controlled at each light(on and off switches). Hot wire from each light is connected in series to each other down the line. Ground wire connected to each other down the line. Ok so where do I ground this system to the camper, at the battery ground wire or at 1 of the lights? The previous set up it appeared to have a ground wire from 1 of the lights to a screw in the roof vent. This is only giving me 7v at each light and none will work. Hooked each light up by it self to the battery and I get 12v. Thanks for any info.

I hope the lights are not wired in series, they would be pretty dim. The lights should be wired in parallel. If I were rewiring, I would run a 12Ga. feed and the same for ground, and I wouldn't trust a frame ground, not knowing if the frame is welded or riveted, so I would run the ground leg all the way back to the battery. I would solder all connections and insulate with heat shrink tubing. This might be of some help to you:
http://www.boatinghowto.com/content/...-problems-222/

Holiday1966 · 05-19-2015, 06:03 PM

[QUOTEI would run a 12Ga. feed and the same for ground, and I wouldn't trust a frame ground, not knowing if the frame is welded or riveted, so I would run the ground leg all the way back to the battery. /[/url][/QUOTE]
Ok, so you would run a ground wire from the last light in the line all the way back to the negative battery post? Thank you for the response.

SilverBob · 05-19-2015, 06:12 PM

That's correct. Run the ground (black) wire wherever the power (red) wire goes. Hook each fixture to both wires and you won't have any more problems, ever. Never rely on "chassis" grounds on something that's held together by fasteners of any kind, especially when aluminum is involved. It might work when it's new, but in the real world, it's not new forever!

J Birder · 05-19-2015, 06:19 PM

The wiring that you described is actually a parallel connection. In this configuration, it is often referred to as a daisy chain.

Joel

Holiday1966 · 05-19-2015, 07:18 PM

Thank you all for your replies, someone before me had a couple wires hooked up wrong and now a day and a half later I figured it out. The world makes sense now. Your help is greatly appreciated.

wa8yxm · 05-20-2015, 05:09 AM

In this diagram = is a wire Periods are spaces

+============
B. . L. . . L. . . L. . . L
A. . M. . .M. . .M . . M
T. . .P . . P. . . P. . . .P
-Ground========

Now.. You can use the FRAME and/or metal body as the negative (Ground) lead if you wish but best to run the ground all the way back to the battery.

NOTE: in RV's many times the factory wire WHITE is ground and BLACK is hot so do not trust colors..l TRUST your digital volt meter.

rivraton · 05-20-2015, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holiday1966

This is only giving me 7v at each light and none will work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holiday1966

Thank you all for your replies, someone before me had a couple wires hooked up wrong and now a day and a half later I figured it out. The world makes sense now. Your help is greatly appreciated.

1 light wired in series with the rest of the circuit would drop the voltage by half, that must have been the couple of wires hooked up wrong...