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Old 01-01-2014, 09:53 PM   #1
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Emergency Q. Camping right now. Lights failing

Can anyone help. Have a brand new Jayco 154bh.
We are camping right now.
Getting dark. TV/electric heater/Aircon all work.
The LIGHTS are dimming to zero like they
are running off a dying battery. Monitor panel
is dead. What the hell? The carbon monoxide/propane
detector seems dead too- which worries me. I've kids here.
I've flipped all breakers/checked fuses-all seem ok .
The fuse panel seems dead- no fan .
I'm stuck w no lights in mountains till daylight.
Am I doing anything wrong???
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Old 01-01-2014, 10:13 PM   #2
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Sounds like the 12V system - maybe something's going on with your converter?

Maybe a bad ground or something? I'd check the connections up around the battery and if you can find your converter make sure everything seems to be plugged in correctly.

It sounds like your shore power isn't getting through to the 12v system, my guess is you actually are running on your battery for that stuff. Maybe try plugging into your truck just to troubleshoot if that's the case.

Hopefully someone can be more specific, but those are the things I'd start with. It's always a headache to figure this stuff out on the fly, but it's probably something simple once you figure it out!
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Old 01-01-2014, 10:13 PM   #3
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Sounds like a converter issue to me where you seem to have 115 volt working but not 12 volt. Do you have any type of light you can plug into a wall outlet? Your electric heater should keep you warm tonight.
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Old 01-01-2014, 10:19 PM   #4
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Have you checked the polarity on the battery connections? If it was hooked up backwards, there is a fuse that protects against reverse polarity to the battery. I have not looked where this fuse is located, but if you have your packet of owner’s manual and associated hardware it should be noted in there.

But I would be looking at your converter as your issue.
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Old 01-01-2014, 10:23 PM   #5
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I`m wondering if he could hook up the connector to the tow vehicle, start it up and run it for awhile to throw some juice in the trailer battery. It would at least allow the lights to be on for troubleshooting. But do not leave the connector hooked up after turning off the truck very long or you may have a dead truck battery in the morning as well.
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Old 01-01-2014, 10:54 PM   #6
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I agree, check your battery connections.

If you have access to the converter/charger, confirm that all the connections are tight, a loose connection can produce the symptoms you are describing.

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Old 01-02-2014, 04:22 AM   #7
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Quote:
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I`m wondering if he could hook up the connector to the tow vehicle, start it up and run it for awhile to throw some juice in the trailer battery. It would at least allow the lights to be on for troubleshooting. But do not leave the connector hooked up after turning off the truck very long or you may have a dead truck battery in the morning as well.
I keep my trailer at a storage lot and charge the batteries, if needed, by jumping from the truck directly to the trailer batteries. Make sure that the converter plug has not come loose from the receptacle while traveling.
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Old 01-02-2014, 07:04 AM   #8
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I don't know if they still make them this way, but the exhaust fan over my stove has a light that runs on 110-120V AC. Since your problem appears to be with your 12V DC, you might be able to use that light for some emergency lighting until you can resolve your 12V DC issue. If you have an AC trouble light or something similar with you, bring that in for additional lighting.

I agree with the others that your converter doesn't seem to be charging your battery.
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Old 01-02-2014, 09:47 AM   #9
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To the OP- How did everything go last night?
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Old 01-02-2014, 09:57 AM   #10
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It's sound to me like everything was running off the battery and it was going dead. Pull the fuse out of the battery line and see if the shore power turn on.

Silly question. Is the camper plugged into shore power? Is the flip switched to turn on the shore power at the pole? Is the main breaker on in the breaker panel?
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Old 01-02-2014, 10:17 AM   #11
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Quote:
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To the OP- How did everything go last night?
X2
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Old 01-02-2014, 11:49 AM   #12
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Since all of this is new to you I would get help from a fellow camper in the same area...

Roy Ken
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Old 01-03-2014, 09:05 AM   #13
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Not much help now, but this is a perfect example why you should always check out all your "NEW" unit features and functions before heading out on the road. Either do it in your drive way or a local State State park where problems won't ruin a vacation or special trip.

If this is a converter issue, it is a dealer issue. I would not get into the box and try to figure it out myself and risk screwing something up that the dealer won't fix under warrantee. If I were to guess, the probem has to do with your battery. Many towvehicles don't come with the necessary fuse/relay to charge your TT battery while towing. Another thing to be aware of, is that even when plugged to shore power, the converter is only charging your battery at a fairly slow rate. How many lights are you turning on at the same time? All your overhead lights are 12V and if you turn on several you may over load the draw from the battery. Turn them all off except for 1 or 2 and see what happens. Try the towvehicle like others have suggested, but note that if the 12v charging fuse is missing in the TV, you wont be getting power by plugging in the tongue pigtail. Use a jumper cable directly connect to the TV battery. Before I did anything, I would unplug from the 120v shore power and see if I have any 12v available from the battery. If no, the problem is a low or dead TT battery. Your converter doesn't throw out enough 12v to power up a bunch of lights when the battery is dead.

My money [based on experience] is that you have a battery problem possibly caused by a TV charging issue.
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Old 01-03-2014, 09:47 AM   #14
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Thanks guys- for all the answers. Since the dealer was between the campground
and home we dropped it off on the way back for fix.
Your right, the converter was bad. A leak had sprung under the floor
but soaking the insulation. So I'd had it, and pulled the warranty card.

We did make it through the night on extra battery lights.
I put a trickle charger on the battery and it was up to 12.5 by morning
but it had dropped as low as 3.5 when I started so I hope new battery
is not permanently damaged.

Thx everyone for help. It's not something I could fix myself-but
The rest of the electrics worked and we stayed toasty all (32degree) night
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Old 01-03-2014, 03:31 PM   #15
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Quote:
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snip........ Another thing to be aware of, is that even when plugged to shore power, the converter is only charging your battery at a fairly slow rate.....snip
Actually the newer Jayco's have the Progressive Dynamics (w/Charge Wizard) converter/chargers with a 4-stage charging system ...., much better then the older two stage units (IOTA). The output charging voltage is higher in these newer units when the battery requires it.

I upgraded my old IOTA to the newer PD unit last year....., much better system.

Bob
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Old 01-03-2014, 05:23 PM   #16
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Actually the newer Jayco's have the Progressive Dynamics (w/Charge Wizard) converter/chargers with a 4-stage charging system ...., much better then the older two stage units (IOTA). The output charging voltage is higher in these newer units when the battery requires it.

I upgraded my old IOTA to the newer PD unit last year....., much better system.

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My 2012 154BH has a WFCO 3-stage converter....I'm curious as to the OP's converter model / mfr....
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Old 01-03-2014, 06:41 PM   #17
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My 2012 154BH has a WFCO 3-stage converter....I'm curious as to the OP's converter model / mfr....
The WFCO converter/charger has the same higher "boost" mode like the Progressive Dynamics units.

Not sure which newer brand converter/charger the OP has, but I believe 2009 was the year Jayco started phasing out the IOTA 2-stager's.

Bob
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Old 01-03-2014, 06:43 PM   #18
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My 2012 eagle 298 rls has a pd4000 converter, with pd's smart charger. Great little unit.
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Old 01-03-2014, 06:57 PM   #19
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snip......Your right, the converter was bad. A leak had sprung under the floor
but soaking the insulation.....snip
Keep us up-to date on what the dealer actually has to do to correct the converter/charger problem....., also a little curious about the floor leak.

Bob
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Old 01-04-2014, 10:07 AM   #20
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Thx everyone. The dealer says it'll be a week bf they get to it.
I just hope it's not 8 weeks like I hear some go thru.
But I will keep you guys informed what happened/broke down.

We had been out 3 times since purchase and all systems were OK,
then suddenly not.
The leak is a mystery to me too. Woke up 2nd morning, all the inusulatio
along left front was soaking - and had driped gallons onto the ground
overnight. The freshwater tank was empty and the low was well above freezing that night.
We were plugged into the city water with a pressure regulator.
The night before, the water heater had started to sputter and burn dirty (soot up the side)
Maybe it melted a pipe next to it under there.
The camper floor was totally dry - just the insulation - where I can't see.
Can't figure it out.
Wife had a little bath night before - but only same water as shower and let water
Out slowly. We were hooked to sewer and grey was open.
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