Problem with Systems Monitor in Command Center

[LI-Camper]

Sometimes the Systems Monitor in my 2016 29MV will “short out” If I press the battery, fresh water, grey water or black water buttons to check how full they are, the red light will flash on and then turn off. This has occurred several times. Eventually it will “reset” itself and then work correctly and each monitor light will turn on when the button switch is pressed. When it “shorts out”, none of the monitor lights will stay on when I hold the button. This last happened when I was camped with 30 amp hookup. When I returned home and plugged into my 15 amp service it worked correctly. Sometimes it does not work at home for a bit. I have a Progressive Dynamics EMS hardwired into my coach. Because this is an intermittent issue it is difficult to diagnose. Any ideas as to what the problem is? Thanks in advance....

[WinnieView]

If it's still under warranty ask Jayco to ship you a replacement.

[LI-Camper]

Thanks for your response but I am past the two year warranty. Anybody else have any ideas?

[LI-Camper]

Am I the only Jayco owner who has experienced this problem?

[THE MEEKER]

I have not met a systems monitor that has been reliable or accurate. I don't worry about it, I just estimate the best I can on tank levels.

You can check the connections on the tanks to make sure they are clean and have good contact with the sensors. Other than that, just crack open a beer, relax and know that just about everyone has this issue.

[norty1]

Look for a loose ground somewhere.

Then maybe you have a working monitor that is not accurate.

[LI-Camper]

Norty1, the problem is not with the accuracy of the monitors. The problem is that at certain times, none of the monitor indicator lights will light up. This condition is preceded by the lights momentarily flashing when the button switch is pressed for any of the monitors: battery, fresh water, black tank or grey water tank. This condition persists for a while until the monitor(s) work as intended. I will check for a faulty ground. That sounds like a possibility. However, this problem can occur at any time with no movement or change of power to the motorhome. Has anybody else experienced this condition in their motorhome or trailer? It almost seems like there is a circuit breaker that is sometimes tripped and then resets itself.

[Jim Smyth]

I am experiencing this same thing right now on my 28.5. Been driving me crazy. I have had the circuit board out at least 3-4 times. Blew it out with compressed air. Works for a little while and then back to either nothing or everything. You can wiggle the black post and maybe get it to light up and again maybe not. Going to try contact cleaner next before I buy a new board. My indicator works fairly decent when it works but the not working is very annoying.

[che57vy]

You may have a cold solder joint on the board sometimes hard to see. Or one of the solder connections loose

[Jim Smyth]

Well went to Walmart today and bought a can of electrical contact cleaner. Took the circuit board with the push button switches out again and hosed them down with the cleaner while operating the push switches. Let it dry and repeated. Put it all back together and its working just fine again.



Heres my circuit board. I did look for cold joints and also to make sure all the attaching wires especially the ground was secured correctly and they were. We will see if this fix lasts.

[norty1]

That's encouraging. I have never experienced your description of the symptoms.

Mine always work but the only one I care to believe is the fresh tank.

[LI-Camper]

Originally Posted by Jim Smyth

Well went to Walmart today and bought a can of electrical contact cleaner. Took the circuit board with the push button switches out again and hosed them down with the cleaner while operating the push switches. Let it dry and repeated. Put it all back together and its working just fine again.



Heres my circuit board. I did look for cold joints and also to make sure all the attaching wires especially the ground was secured correctly and they were. We will see if this fix lasts.

Thanks for the tip. I’ll try the contact cleaner when I de-winterize in the spring.

[kndspd]

Does this ever happen when you are NOT plugged into shore power? If it doesn’t, check inverter or transfer switch. We had this issue and it turned out to be a bad inverter.

[LI-Camper]

This issue happens when I am on shore power or just using the batteries for power. I don’t think the inverter is involved. I only use the inverter to make coffee or watch TV.

[kndspd]

OK - so now it is pointing to the converter which is used regardless of on shore or battery power. Check voltage in and out. Issues can be intermittent as they start to fail.

[pokergeist]

Great pictures of the board!

Most of the board uses surface mount technology which would have gone through a reflow oven - those connections are probably not an issue.

If I had any doubt about the through-hole components that were soldered in afterwards (connector, big electrolytic cap, switches), I'd touch up the solder joints with a soldering iron. Not so much the capacitor, but the connector and switches are subjected to mechanical forces. Also check the connecting cable for loose terminals, bad crimps, or wires that could be broken or exposed.

The switches can likely be replaced by something from Digi-Key when the time comes. The electrolytic capacitor will eventually dry out (~7-12 years) and have to be replaced too.

G'luck!

[rodro123]

Originally Posted by norty1

Look for a loose ground somewhere.

Then maybe you have a working monitor that is not accurate.

Sounds like loose wire on the ground wire somewhere. pull the monitor panel could be as simple as loose wire on the rear I would start there I have had a few loosen up over the years all over the RV.

[handydandy]

Good answer!