Outside Night Light

[GSGracie]

Hi All
I have a 1999 Mirada, with an outside porch light, as I imagine most RV's do. However when I returned to the RV last night, I noticed that the porch light was on, albeit only very low power. When I got inside, the switch was off. So, there must be a light sensor in the bus somewhere, that puts the light on at night on reduced power.

My question is, where on earth is the sensor? This could explain why my RV has been flattening batteries in a week if there is a drain on the batteries that I can't shut off. It is a nice idea, and will be good when I get solar panels, but until then it is a bit of a worry.

As always, I await the combined collective intelligence of this site to explain the simple facts to me in a way that even I can understand!

One other question (may as well kill two birds with one stone). I have an Onan 7000 petrol generator, and wonder whether it is a good model. I am in New Zealand and would like to convert it to 240V at some stage, is it worth doing, ie is the generator a good enough one to keep.

Many thanks

Graham

[Lindsay Richards]

I think it must work like that light in my refrigerator.

[Gary RVRoamer]

You may have one of the aftermarket lights that have a day/night sensor right in the light fixture. I don't think anything like that is standard.

But how does it get power if the main switch is off? Have you checked the switch itself? You may just have a defective switch, or you may have some other circuit shorted to the light wiring and putting some low voltage into it. In any case, it needs to be found and stopped.

[Nick-B]

I think Gary is right. Something sounds messed up in the switch or wiring.

Good luck - tracking down electrical issues and be tricky.

[George Z]

Possible feed back thru the ground wire

[GSGracie]

Thanks guys - will get it looked at when I get solar panels in a couple of weeks. Should fix a whole lot of other problems too. As always this site comes up with answers or at least lines of enquiry.
Cheers

[Ray,IN]

George Z that is my guess also.

[ChrisNiemann]

i would get it taken care of before the solar panels.... it's nice to have solar, but in all reality... you shouldn't NEED solar unless you boondock constantly...