Bedroom ceiling light wiring guidance

[Lutefiske]

Hello
We have a 2006 Granite Ridge in which the bedroom ceiling light does not work and has not since we purchased the unit used from a private party. I would like to have it working. I took off the switch on the wall and have power to the switch. I took off the light and no power. I powered the light off an independent power source and it works. Walla I thought that this was a simple matter of fishing in a new lead for power from the switch. My question is where would this wire typically be run. Should it be straigt up the wall and then through the ceiling insulation to the light or does it go somewhere else to find a raceway? Am I on the right track? Has anyone else had problems like this. Thanks for your help.

 

[Jagiven]

Sounds like you have done the right checks. There are devices that you can use to trace wires in walls. I have one for 120V AC. I get there are ones for 12V DC to.

You can contact Jayco with your vin number and ask for the 12V electrical schematic. This will give you a lot of information.

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

If you pull the wires at the switch do the wires at the light moves as well? If so, you could connect another set of wires (solder) and pull the new wires from the light to the switch. Sounds like one of the existing wires might be broken.

You could also check continuity of the wires with an Ohm meter to see if there is a break in one or both of the wires.

The wires are probably going up the wall direct to the ceiling, then to the light.

 

[Lutefiske]

I have emailed Jayco but nothing in return. Waiting patiently. thanks

 

[Lutefiske]

If you pull the wires at the switch do the wires at the light moves as well? If so, you could connect another set of wires (solder) and pull the new wires from the light to the switch. Sounds like one of the existing wires might be broken.

You could also check continuity of the wires with an Ohm meter to see if there is a break in one or both of the wires.

The wires are probably going up the wall direct to the ceiling, then to the light.

Next time in town I will have to find some kind of tester to locate wiring for 12 V though if they are not energized not sure that it will work. I figure that eventually someone else will have fixed some kind of problem and can explain where the wires went. Their is a wire staple holding the wires in the wall which prevents fishing one in tandem with the existing wire. I do have some ideas that may change my idea on that however once I determine which wire is bad. I need to try the ohm meter suggestion. I had not thought of that. My wife says run a small chaise on the ceiling for the 12 inches from the wall to the light and then consider selling it and getting a 5th wheel. We don't quite agree yet. Thanks

 

[Jagiven]

Looks like you can use a "cable toner".

Do you have a ceiling vent or an AC unit in the bed room? If so remove the inside shroud. You can see a long ways and have easier access to pull wires.

Two additional; In your first post you state you have "power to the switch" Did you check that you have power through the switch when you flip it? Multi meter is good here. Both check for voltage and for connectivity.

Did you remove the light fixture from the ceiling? My lights have a short 6-12" pig tail that are wire crimped to the power feed. Could you have a bad wire connection at this point??

 

[JimD]

You mentioned having power to the switch but didn't say anything about power getting to the other side of the switch when you switch it.

Hard to believe a wire would fail just sitting in a wall/ceiling cavity. Maybe when it was built they put a splice inline which has since failed.

Maybe the ground to the light is open.

 

[pconroy]

That was my thought too. I guess it could happen, but I'd be suspicious of other more common failure points during the debug.

 

[Vicr]

 

[Vicr]

 

[RPR]

Would Jayco have two switches in the bedroom for the overhead light? On our 31DS there are two switches for a light in the bathroom. One by the door going in and another by the vanity that operate the same light.

 

[cavie]

Would Jayco have two switches in the bedroom for the overhead light? On our 31DS there are two switches for a light in the bathroom. One by the door going in and another by the vanity that operate the same light.

That is called a 3/way switch system. Used extensively in Residential wiring. Not yo much in RV but I have seen it.

 

[cavie]

under stand that there are different ways to wire a light fixture. You can start with the power at the switch, go thru the switch to the light.

You can start with the power at the light, go down to the switch then back up to the light.

either way, determine if the switch is working.