Community Forums

RetiredMark · 07-25-2013, 03:31 PM

My house lights are dimming/going out and then they come back on after a bit. House batteries are new and fully charged. Happens on either shore power or just on batteries. When it happens, if I press the battery state switch, it shows low and then nothing if all goes off. Any thoughts? Bad relay? BTW, I am installing a Best 4 stage charger/converter in it today, but that should not affect the issue in my mind anyway. Appreciate the help.

Mark

MattC · 07-25-2013, 07:24 PM

Mark,

You probably right and the new converter won't change anything.
- UNless One of the connections you change is the bad one.

Your symptoms exactly match a bad connection. It is OK for a while, then it heats up and when it does, the connection gets worse until so little power is passing the it gets to cool off and get better again.

These problem connections are most often at the battery posts, but they can be anywhere. Next time the lights start to dim, jump into the electric cabinet and touch every connection you can see. If any are hot, clean that one first.

Matt

BA-in-Mich · 07-26-2013, 04:32 PM

When I first bought my 1990 I had a similar problem it wound up being bad connections on the auto-reseting breakers under the hood that were mounted on the fire wall. Cleaned the connections it's been fine since.

cronin069 · 07-26-2013, 06:10 PM

i had the same issue turned out vto be a broken neutral lug in power box got it fixed now all ok

BFlinn181 · 07-26-2013, 06:54 PM

You need to check the connections in your converter/ fuse panel. If it's happening on shore power and battery alone, it sounds like the issue is a bad or loose connection near the fuse panel. There is no neutral lug on a 12 v system. I'd still do as has been suggested and feel for any warm cables or see if wiggling cables can create the flicker.

PeterS · 07-28-2013, 11:45 AM

If you're changing a 1985 charger converter to a solid state step charge, That will probably fix it. I agree with everyone that it's a bad connection. My old battery boiler was a nightmare when I took it apart, now I have a quiet 3 step beauty.

RetiredMark · 07-29-2013, 01:26 AM

All connections have been polished and tightened. A bit strange as when I tested things by loading the system a bit, the lights did their dim out/off/back on, etc, and then back on bright and have stayed that way. Am heading out later this morning for several days of dry camping while fishing so will get a good feel as to whether things are solved. Thanks for the replies, will do another update once back.