need 12 volt help

[jim&micki]

I was installing a 12 volt power jack found out the frame is 12 volt energized any thoughts on where to start also it only happens when I am plugged into shore power

[ALJO]

Be sure all grounds and neutrals fasten to the frame are clean. Also check if you have a open ground to shore power. Both are very common problems.

[DavidJay]

What do you mean when you say the frame is “12 volt energized”?

What are you measuring and how are you measuring it?

[Cannon]

Also check all grounds and neutral at main breaker panel. I had one very loose neutral and one not so tight ground from factory.

[jim&micki]

with shore power connected I used a 12 volt test light clamped to ground and touched tip to frame and light came on so frame is hot or as I said energized I disconnected shore power and frame is no longer hot with test light

[Vicr]

What did you have the test light lead connected to??

[DavidJay]

What "ground" did you clamp it to? The green wire on a 3-prong plug? An earth ground?

You have not determined that the frame has +12VDC on it, you have determined that there is a voltage difference between the frame and whatever you clamped the test light to.

Do you own a multimeter?

[bigironcoder]

If you're seeing 12 volts between the neg (gnd) terminal of your battery and the trailer's frame, then you almost for sure have a bad connection where the battery's ground wire is attached to the frame. It's usually a bolt with a star washer about 3' away from the battery just under the body.

I've had that happen on 3 different trailers. In one case, the star washer didn't bite through the paint on the frame, on another it didn't even have a washer, and I think the 3rd was just corroded.

[jim&micki]

well after 8 hours of testing found the converter to be bad and big thanks to Progressive Dynamics for helping me to field test converter so its under warranty and a new one on the way thanks to every one who helped with suggestions don't hurt to clean grounds they sure needed it