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jessesandy · 11-28-2012, 04:13 PM

Hi,
We recently bought a 1983 Rockwood Free Spirit 25 footer and want to get away soon. One last problem we can't figure out and we're wondering if any of you might give some clues: The coach battery will only run the pump, not lights. But the lights work when hooked up to shore power. The battery is new but the wiring was confusing with no wiring diagram. There are 3 white wires together, a white wire separate and a red wire separate. We have hooked them up different ways to no avail.

Anybody have a suggestion?

Obviously weve tried to find a manual but -dead end.

Jesse Gunnels

sailorbowman · 11-28-2012, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessesandy

Hi,
We recently bought a 1983 Rockwood Free Spirit 25 footer and want to get away soon. One last problem we can't figure out and we're wondering if any of you might give some clues: The coach battery will only run the pump, not lights. But the lights work when hooked up to shore power. The battery is new but the wiring was confusing with no wiring diagram. There are 3 white wires together, a white wire separate and a red wire separate. We have hooked them up different ways to no avail.

Anybody have a suggestion?

Obviously weve tried to find a manual but -dead end.

Jesse Gunnels

What do you have on board for a battery charger/inverter?

BFlinn181 · 11-28-2012, 07:11 PM

Are the lights 12v lights or 120v AC lights? If the lights are 12v and they work with the battery disconnected but plugged in to shore power, you have an converter that converts 120v AC to 12v DC. You will need to find the converter and see if it also has a battery charge function. (It may be labeled, but write down make, model and google it.)

You'll need to use long 'jumper' wires, a 12v circuit tester (like this one: Extra Long Circuit Tester ) and a multimeter to trace the wiring from the fuse panel to the mystery wires in the battery compartment. The wires could be to connect to tow vehicle connector, electric brakes, or multiple circuits in RV. It's going to take some trouble shooting to track them all down.

jessesandy · 12-01-2012, 08:12 AM

Thanks for responding. We have a 40 amp B-W Mfg made in Kokomo, In. power converter w/battery charger. I checked fuses and they look fine.

jessesandy · 12-01-2012, 08:19 AM

Thanks for responding. They are 12 v lights throughout. We have a 40 amp power converter w/battery charger. I checked fuses and they look fine.
Will probably have to run each wire down like you replied earlier.
I will know this RV inside and out before we get on the road. But isn't that a good thing?
Thanks for the advice to all of you that answered!
Jesse Gunnels

spooky67 · 12-06-2012, 08:50 PM

What color wires are on the 12v fuse panel? Do you have power at the 12v fuse panel? the white wires might be ground wire if they are hooked together, but you can't be sure. I have an 83 GB adn the 12v fuse panel has a 50 amp glass fuse at the top, now that i have mentioned it i better take it out and get a replacement!
Is your battery charged? tighten screws on grounds, tighten wire nuts, check for voltage on both sides of the fuses. Use known good grounds also when testing for voltage. Maybe try to find where the wires go and test for continuity of each wire? I would guess it is not hard to fix just hard to find!
Get or make a test light and and a DVM and as stated some long jumper wires.
let us know please because we all learn from each others findings.
Rihard

jessesandy · 02-14-2013, 06:39 PM

Many thanks to all of you who offered suggestions when we were looking for help. We are responding to let you know what the turnout was to correct the problem. Gary Bunzer, RV Doc had a youtube video that pointed out our problem.

Some of your suggestions were right on track. The problem was the relay switch in the power converter We purchased an identical converter on ebay and solved the problem. Will be looking to get the relay switch repaired or replaced in the first converter for future use. A link to the video is: