Electrical Issue

[flintsters]

On Tuesday I replaced my analog thermostat with a digital one. I am not very electrical confident or competent, but since it was a wire for wire swap I felt fine with doing this. After completing the install I noticed that the power in the camper would sometimes cut out (not plugged in so just on battery power) and then come back on. There have been a couple of times when I would check the control panel and the battery level would quickly fade to nothing and the power wouldn't come back on. If I go outside and turn the battery cut off and then back on it seems to reset everything and we have power again, sometimes for only a short while and other times for a couple of days. I am assuming it has to be related to the thermostat since that was the only electrical thing I have done since it started acting up. I guess I could take the thermostat out and see if it continues to happen to at least isolate the problem. Do you have any ideas what may be going on and how to fix it?

[tnchuck100]

I doubt your thermostat had anything to do with your power problem. I would suspect corroded battery terminals, worn out disconnect switch or a fuse in the power panel not making good contact.

[norty1]

Agree! Not the thermostat. Look for corroded or loose connections somewhere.

[Camping Couple]

Both replies above is probably your problem. Loosen up your battery terminals, clean them and tighten up the post nuts.

[flintsters]

I will try that and see if that fixes things. It just seems weird that it wasn't ever a problem until immediately after I put in the thermostat.

[justman]

Oddly enough, when I replaced my thermostat, I noticed the 12 volt wires for what I assumed were for the heater were right behind it in the wall cavity. The white wire for the heater was tied into it...I think. If yours is the same way, it's possible you moved something around and caused a short. But, like the others, I don't think the thermostat is the cause of your problems. It may be coincidental.

There's an easy way to test to make sure it's not the thermostat. Take out the new digital one and put the old one back in. While you're in there, check and make sure none of the other wires are touching, all connections are tight, and everything has wire nuts and electrical tape. If nothing else, you'll rule out the thermostat as a potential problem and put your mind at ease about it.

[flintsters]

I checked the battery terminals and everything was clean and tight. I guess I will take a look behind the thermostat and I don't see anything that looks out of place then I'll put the old one back in and see what that does.