Door is grounding out ceiling lights...???

Spencerteri · 10-31-2015, 04:51 AM

Hello all,

I have any strange issue with my 1994 Jayco 1207. After reading an old post, and the original poster kindly clarifying the fix for me. I went back outside and checked my fold down power kill switch. It seems fine, however as I was looking around I noticed that the lights flicker mainly when I was walking inside by the door.

So naturally I started fiddling with the door area trying to replicate the flicker. Much to my surprise, when I loosened the top door hinge and raised the screen frame away from the door, both interior lights went out!! In addition, when the screen frame is lowered back onto the bottom door, small sparking occurs from the screen and bottom door frames and the lights come on...

Any thoughts on how the metal screen door is completing a circuit for my inside overhead lights? And what my next step is (other than not turning the propane on haha)

PS I cannot locate any ground or power wires near the door side of the population.

Thank you for reading this

RoyBraddy · 10-31-2015, 08:31 AM

I almost think it is still a ceiling light cutoff issue. The POPUPs have this system installed to disable the ceiling lights when you drop the tops down for transport to prevent the ceiling light from staying on and starting a fire.

My POPUP has this disconnect switch associated with the fold-over sink cabinet. Some have this PUSH ON switch associated with the removal of the main door when you are folding down for travel mode...

Almost sounds like this is what is happening to you when you loosen up the door hinges etc..

Not shorting out the ceiling lights but turning them OFF...

Another good reason to get rid of those VERY HOT AUTOMOTIVE ceiling lights and install LED ones...

Roy Ken

Spencerteri · 10-31-2015, 01:53 PM

Roy,

Thank you for your response! I took your advice and went back to the PuP, there is no switch or wires associated with the door that I can locate. I separated the screen frame from lower door and when I simply touch the two together (not connecting, but side by side touch) the lights come back on. I know this sounds crazy, but the simple metal to metal of the upper and lower door seems to complete some circuit and don't forget about the visible sparks coming from the metal.

RVhiker · 10-31-2015, 02:17 PM

Is it the case that if the PUP ceiling is raised, and if the light switch is on, and if the screen frame touches the rest of the door the lights work? And if all that but the screen frame does not touch the door the lights are intermittent or not at all, then I have a guess for the solution: the ground wire to the ceiling lights is not properly connected, and the ground is being connected by the screen frames. The solution, then, would be to fix the problem with the ground to the lights.

sailor · 10-31-2015, 02:21 PM

My guess is there is a broken or corroded ground line between the main part of the trailer and the roof. The two parts of the door are completing the ground connection when they contact each other. Trace the ground wire from the roof to the main trailer and check continuity with an ohm meter. A connection may look ok but have excessive resistance due to corrosion. You might try a temporary wire from the battery to the light fixture to confirm the idea. Be sure to connect the temporary wire to the ground side in the fixture.

Spencerteri · 10-31-2015, 02:25 PM

Hiker/Sailor Thank you for your responses!
I will do just that, trace the ground wire. Sometimes the simple things elude my brain haha. Both your responses are almost identical and make perfect sense. I will work on this tomorrow and am confident your diagnosis is right. I will update afterwards.

Thanks again!!!

Spencerteri · 11-03-2015, 07:12 PM

Update:

You guys were spot on in your diagnosis! I began tracing the ground wire from the two interior lights, and found that they were butted together haha. The actual ground wire was cut off under the cabinets, it seems the previous owner has one more laugh on me.
I ran a new wire and all is good again!

Thanks for your help all, much appreciated

RVhiker · 11-03-2015, 07:32 PM

And thank you so much for telling us what the solution turned out to be. So often we get to read all but the last page of the murder mystery and suggest that the guilty party was Colonel Mustard with the candlestick, but then the book is closed without ever finding out for sure.

And you gave an excellent list of mystery clues!

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