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SC40QS · 11-28-2020, 04:54 PM

2007 SportsCoach Legend... I'm having an electrical issue with the front cap top marker lights.. One is very dim, the rest are completely out. If I turn on the headlights or markers, the circuit breaker cycles on and off.. wires get warm.

So, what to do just in case the short is worse than I thought (lots of gray squirrels in the area, possible wire chewing going on) I hit the battery disconnect switch on the panel just inside the entry door, heard the relay click, power went out... now, when I click the switch again... nothing, no click, house batteries still disconnected... Have not gotten into the manual but, as I remember, all I've ever done to do the disconnect and reconnect was to cycle that one way (spring loaded) switch...

Ideas????

HarryStone · 11-28-2020, 08:14 PM

Are you sure there is sufficient power in the batteries to energize the relay?

Ray,IN · 11-28-2020, 09:06 PM

i suspect a poor/missing ground somewhere,as that is about 80% of all 12V issues. Temporarily run a separate ground wire from the headlamps to the neg. battery post and observe results.
Your second paragraph indicates a faulty disconnect relay switch.

Persistent · 11-29-2020, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC40QS

2007 SportsCoach Legend... I'm having an electrical issue with the front cap top marker lights.. One is very dim, the rest are completely out. If I turn on the headlights or markers, the circuit breaker cycles on and off.. wires get warm.

So, what to do just in case the short is worse than I thought ...

A short circuit is BAD. There is no "worse" or "better" short. Hot self-resetting circuit breakers are a warning shot across the bow. You are lucky you have not had a fire already. Do you feel lucky?

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!

SC40QS · 11-29-2020, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Persistent

.... Do you feel lucky?

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!

It's easy to feel unlucky when stuff like this happens, had I not noticed the markers not working and cycling (taillights on same circuit breaker, as they go out as well) But, indeed, I am a very lucky person!

Answer to the first response... no, actually, I'm not sure that there's enough power to energize the disconnect device.

Previous to my noticing the issue, the unit had been plugged in for months (120v 20A) and everything was working well.

I'm going to inspect the wires directly behind my Hopper3. My hopper in the house went south and while I was waiting for it to arrive, I took the one out of the coach and brought it up to the house..

Logically, unless I do have the dreaded Gray Squirrel chewing on wires syndrome... that is where I'll start.

Thanks for the advise! I'll let you'all know what I find...

Gary RVRoamer · 11-29-2020, 03:42 PM

Just for the record, the top marker lights are powered from the chassis 12v system. Switching the house battery bank on/off should have no effect on a short in that light circuit. Nor should that short drain the house batteries.

SC40QS · 11-30-2020, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

Just for the record, the top marker lights are powered from the chassis 12v system. Switching the house battery bank on/off should have no effect on a short in that light circuit. Nor should that short drain the house batteries.

Totally correct sir. I do realize the problems are not *directly* related. That said, I was under the impression that the coach would keep the chassis batteries charged when plugged into AC... that is error on my part.

The relay that disconnects the house batteries is powered by the chassis batteries, not the house..

Taking into consideration the suggestion above that my chassis batteries might not have enough juice to power the relay... it's been on charger overnight..

Will check later. This is clearly one of those times when you have one problem and another possibly completely unrelated pops up...

SC40QS · 11-30-2020, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

i suspect a poor/missing ground somewhere,as that is about 80% of all 12V issues. Temporarily run a separate ground wire from the headlamps to the neg. battery post and observe results.
Your second paragraph indicates a faulty disconnect relay switch.

Missing ground would not cause wires in the upper cap markers to get hot... think short, not open.....

I'm old and have a lot of pain recently from really nasty knees, I need to catch a break from the knees in order to really pursue this...

Electronic expert buddy currently out of town, we'll hopefully find problem once he gets back.. (he has a 40' class A gasser)