Lights flickering with new battery

[Andrew604]

I have a Jayco 19bh and I just installed a new deep cycle battery and when on battery power my led lights flicker when I put a load on like using water pump. The battery still measures full when it happens. Anyone know what is going on? I checked the ground cable and it's snug and so is the other cable.

 

[Jayhawk 29]

Its fairly common for the lights to flicker, if you pump is cycling on and off while just on battery. If you are not running your water high enough to keep the pump running constantly, do a check and open the faucet up all the way for a bit and see if your flicker stops while the light is a bit dimmer. Of course if you have just installed the battery and your rv has not been plugged in before trying your pump on the new battery, its possible that you just need to charge it to its full capacity. If you have a voltage meter see what your battery is reading .

 

[Andrew604]

Its fairly common for the lights to flicker, if you pump is cycling on and off while just on battery. If you are not running your water high enough to keep the pump running constantly, do a check and open the faucet up all the way for a bit and see if your flicker stops while the light is a bit dimmer. Of course if you have just installed the battery and your rv has not been plugged in before trying your pump on the new battery, its possible that you just need to charge it to its full capacity. If you have a voltage meter see what your battery is reading .

Thanks for the advice. I tried all of that and still have issues. The battery is reading 12.9v

 

[craigav]

Do the lights only flicker with the water pump running? In other words no flicker with the exhaust fan(s) or other 12v usage? It would be good to check the voltage at the lights although what you are describing is not all that uncommon, I suppose the commonality depends on how intense the flickering is. ~CA

 

[Andrew604]

Do the lights only flicker with the water pump running? In other words no flicker with the exhaust fan(s) or other 12v usage? It would be good to check the voltage at the lights although what you are describing is not all that uncommon, I suppose the commonality depends on how intense the flickering is. ~CA

Only with the pump running but it's pretty bad were it looks like a flashing rave. Lights almost go fully out when flickering

 

[craigav]

Has your RV always done this? There are a couple of easy thoughts I have that could help. First is that you could try (if your light fixtures allow for this) to replace one of the led bulbs for an incandescent bulb as doing so can stabilize the entire circuit of led lights (pick one out of the way and use a small incandescent bulb (low wattage like a dome light size). Second is that if the pump was directly connected to the battery (instead of the fuse panel) and with its own fuse and wiring, then the voltage would be more stable for the led lights (perhaps using a relay would work best). Third, many led bulbs are known to be more vulnerable to slight voltage fluctuations and therefore new (different) bulbs could help but again, who knows which bulbs are better. Fourth, my last thoughts for now is that it is possible to install a capacitor at the pump that would help stabilize the voltage (just like a car audio capacitor), but that comes with other concerns and not what I would recommend at this point but something to be aware of. ~CA

My suggestions above are with only after making sure all the connections are good, you may want to run a second ground wire to the 12v water pump as a thought and as a test, especially if this is a new problem.

 

[RCCS]

You might also try taking your ground wire off and wire brushing the lug and the metal frame where it bolts to and also take the wires to your new battery off and wire brushing the lugs and battery posts.

 

[JimD]

This sort of thing occurs most often due to some sort of resistance in line. For a test, put a voltmeter across the battery terminals and turn the pump on and see if the voltage drops real low. If it does, right across the battery, then the battery is at fault. A charged good battery will only drop a little bit under a load like a water pump which pulls 4 or so amps.

If the battery's voltage is stable then you can do the same measurement at the fuse panel. If it drops there then there could be a resistive connection on either end of the positive cable feed OR the ground connection.

A slight flicker can be normal but a major drop in light is not.

 

[Irishwake55]

Jim D gives great solution.My question did it do it prior to new installation?
If not then check ground wire for poor ground with meter.then positive connection. The resistance check of wire with meter.
If it only happened after “new battery” look for areas touched.
Is the battery same amp hours ,group size?

 

[Budgie]

I have a Jayco 19bh and I just installed a new deep cycle battery and when on battery power my led lights flicker when I put a load on like using water pump. The battery still measures full when it happens. Anyone know what is going on? I checked the ground cable and it's snug and so is the other cable.

I've never had a rig that DIDN'T flicker when the water pump ran. Didn't ever have a problem just a minor annoyance.

 

[Andrew604]

Has your RV always done this? There are a couple of easy thoughts I have that could help. First is that you could try (if your light fixtures allow for this) to replace one of the led bulbs for an incandescent bulb as doing so can stabilize the entire circuit of led lights (pick one out of the way and use a small incandescent bulb (low wattage like a dome light size). Second is that if the pump was directly connected to the battery (instead of the fuse panel) and with its own fuse and wiring, then the voltage would be more stable for the led lights (perhaps using a relay would work best). Third, many led bulbs are known to be more vulnerable to slight voltage fluctuations and therefore new (different) bulbs could help but again, who knows which bulbs are better. Fourth, my last thoughts for now is that it is possible to install a capacitor at the pump that would help stabilize the voltage (just like a car audio capacitor), but that comes with other concerns and not what I would recommend at this point but something to be aware of. ~CA

My suggestions above are with only after making sure all the connections are good, you may want to run a second ground wire to the 12v water pump as a thought and as a test, especially if this is a new problem.

Thanks Craigav for the great thoughtful reply. It has done this but not close to what it is now. It's about 99% worse. I'll see if I can try any of these.

 

[Andrew604]

You might also try taking your ground wire off and wire brushing the lug and the metal frame where it bolts to and also take the wires to your new battery off and wire brushing the lugs and battery posts.

That's a great idea! I'll give that a go this weekend!

 

[Andrew604]

This sort of thing occurs most often due to some sort of resistance in line. For a test, put a voltmeter across the battery terminals and turn the pump on and see if the voltage drops real low. If it does, right across the battery, then the battery is at fault. A charged good battery will only drop a little bit under a load like a water pump which pulls 4 or so amps.

If the battery's voltage is stable then you can do the same measurement at the fuse panel. If it drops there then there could be a resistive connection on either end of the positive cable feed OR the ground connection.

A slight flicker can be normal but a major drop in light is not.

Okay. I'll have to buy a voltmeter. Sucks camping and having this issue.

 

[Andrew604]

Jim D gives great solution.My question did it do it prior to new installation?
If not then check ground wire for poor ground with meter.then positive connection. The resistance check of wire with meter.
If it only happened after “new battery” look for areas touched.
Is the battery same amp hours ,group size?

The battery is slightly larger and a better brand than the stock one.

 

[FloHauler]

I have a Jayco 19bh and I just installed a new deep cycle battery and when on battery power my led lights flicker when I put a load on like using water pump. The battery still measures full when it happens. Anyone know what is going on? I checked the ground cable and it's snug and so is the other cable.

Lots of great suggestions above.

A couple questions - how old is the camper? Are you the first owner? Do you know if the LED lights you are referring to are stock lights that came with the camper? Does every LED light flash, or only a portion of them?

As others have said, dirty or compromised electrical connections are a major culprit. So are cheap or poorly constructed LED bulbs.

The original owner of my camper swapped the bulbs in my camper to LED. I get zero flicker, but I have large Li batteries.

 

[Andrew604]

Lots of great suggestions above.

A couple questions - how old is the camper? Are you the first owner? Do you know if the LED lights you are referring to are stock lights that came with the camper? Does every LED light flash, or only a portion of them?

As others have said, dirty or compromised electrical connections are a major culprit. So are cheap or poorly constructed LED bulbs.

The original owner of my camper swapped the bulbs in my camper to LED. I get zero flicker, but I have large Li batteries.

Hey FloHauler! It's 7 yrs old. Im the only owner bought it brand new in 2018. Original led puck lights. All of them flash, we'll the ones that are turned on. Even if it's 1 it's pretty intense.

 

[FloHauler]

Even if it's 1 it's pretty intense.

I bet.

I’d try cleaning up all the cable connections and battery terminals. If there is a local source of the bulbs, maybe swap one out and see if that one behaves the same.

 

[Andrew604]

Thank you everyone who commented- its fixed!! I cleaned all the cables, connections, and ran a separate 2 gauge ground cable and set it on the trailer frame near the battery. So now I have the trailer ground and another one to the frame. The flickering is almost non existent! Again, thank you everyone who commented your advice was so helpful and im great full. I love the trailer again!!