Interior Lights do not work but everything else does

[Chickpea]

We have a 2000 Dutchmen Voyager tent camper. Recently the interior lights went out, but the electrical outlets still work, as does the refrigerator and heater fan. Only the lights are out. We were using only AC power at the campground. The battery was disconnected. Does anyone have any insights into how to correct this problem?

[sundancer 87]

Try reconnecting the battery.

[Chickpea]

We will try your suggestion. Are you saying that the battery should be connected even if we are using the AC converter? We are relatively new owners of our travel trailer, so we have a lot to learn.

[sundancer 87]

Yep, seems the converter likes to have abattery connected to it for proper operation. We don't know how the ceiling lights are connected or where but the basic thing (battery), isn't in the equation until it's connected.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Chickpea

We will try your suggestion. Are you saying that the battery should be connected even if we are using the AC converter? We are relatively new owners of our travel trailer, so we have a lot to learn.

Yes the battery needs to be connected even when on shore power. It acts as a filter for the power converter.

If you have a pop up the other possible issue could be a cut off switch that is activated when the top goes down to kill the lights so they don't burn a hole in the canvas.

Aaron

[Chickpea]

Thanks for the suggestions. We charged the battery, hooked up the battery, used a big orange electrical cord to provide AC to the camper, and turned the dial in the utility box to AC -- but still no interior ceiling lights. We are puzzled because the lights were on for a time, but then suddenly went out. We did nothing to cause the outage (did not touch a switch, add an appliance, ...) There is a safety switch that is activated when we fold the sink away for travel, but it was already activated the previous evening and we'd already used the interior lights the first night with no problem. They'd been on for maybe 30 minutes the next morning (and no battery hook-up at the time). Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us. I can tell that this is a caring, generous group.

[wahoonc]

Sounds like either a fuse (there are more than one to check) or a bad connection. Check near the battery for either a large fuse or a circuit breaker. Do you have a water pump and does it work? If so the issue is further down the line. Double check the fuses in the converter panel for the 12v side. Use a meter if you have one, I have had fuses that looked good but tested bad.

Aaron

[Chickpea]

Can you tell me where the fuse for the lights is located? Color? Flat and thumbnail-sized or tubular like those in a car? If we knew what we were looking for and where it is located, we might be able to trade it out. Thx again.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Chickpea

Can you tell me where the fuse for the lights is located? Color? Flat and thumbnail-sized or tubular like those in a car? If we knew what we were looking for and where it is located, we might be able to trade it out. Thx again.

Could be either type. Look inside the converter cover. There may also be a inline fuse or push button type breaker on the line near the battery. There may be a reverse polarity protector mounted on the frame near the battery box. It is a little (usually black) square thing with the battery cable leading to it. If you accidently hook the battery up backwards it will blow to protect things. Some are resettable others have to be replaced.

Aaron