DC Power not working the lights. - Montana Owners Club

Chip · 12-22-2006, 10:44 AM

Got our new Montana home no problem. But the 12 volt lights do not work on battery. The landing gear and slide outs work fine. Checking the battery indicator lights, they just fade out when you check the level. When hooked to shore power all the indicator lights light up.
Is there a button or switch to allow the l2 volt lights to work off the battery, or is there a converter problem here?

On shore power everything works fine as well.

Thanks for any input.

DONnANNIE · 12-22-2006, 10:57 AM

Try looking in your convenience center where your City Water hooks up. On mine there is a red switch for 12 VDC cutoff. Maybe that is in off position. If that is in the ON position, check your 12 VDC panel just inside the door.

noneck · 12-22-2006, 11:42 AM

I agree with Don... Should be simply the cutoff switch as I would hope your walk through tested for DC sans the shore power. What you describe says the converter is fine as it powers the 12vdc and therefore you have lights when on shore power. Once you find the cutoff and confirm its proper setting, check the battery connections, and the white and red connections in the converter, being very careful not to short them out when using a screw driver on terminals.
Wait! You indicate slides are good?? ALL the 12vdc lights don't work? Check for a blown fuse, the ones that are horse shoe like and pretty colored, maybe one or more are bad...hmmm.
Chuck

Mudchief · 12-22-2006, 12:11 PM

I agree with Don, look for the cutoff switch. Your slides and landing gear work off the battery direct and everything else goes through the cutoff switch.

sreigle · 12-22-2006, 01:04 PM

If none of the above, check the ground from the battery to the frame. It may not be tight. Also check water level in the battery.

RVWheels · 12-22-2006, 02:43 PM

Sounds like the battery or batteries are shot. The reason it works when hooked up to is because the power comes from the converter. The fact that the battery lights fade out is the biggest hint.

RVWheels

OntMont · 12-22-2006, 03:20 PM

My son had a similar problem with his new Cougar. It turned out to be a bad converter (charger). The dealer replaced it promptly. We were on a trip at the time though, so we bought a good battery charger to get us through that trip. If you have a charger handy, try hooking up and see if that fixes the prolem.

Chip · 12-22-2006, 03:25 PM

Thanks for the good info. I will check these things tomorrow.

DONnANNIE · 12-22-2006, 05:24 PM

Because your rig is a 2007, I would think that the battery is good. Maybe run down. One of those "I forgot to turn it off" things is the 12 VDC TV Antenna amplifier located in the bedroom closet near the BdRm TV. If the little red lite is on the amp is ON and constantly draining the battery. You use the amp for the outside TV Antenna. For cable TV it should be OFF. Hopes that helps. With all the suggestions, let us know what you find out.

gojodo · 12-22-2006, 10:33 PM

My vote is for the cut off switch as well. Our 2007 3075RL has the cut off switch for the coach but it doesn't cut off the slides or jacks, they are wired right off the battery.

Chip · 12-23-2006, 01:28 AM

Thank you all for responding. It was the cut off switch. Couldn't remember it in the PDI several weeks ago. Learned two things. Where this switch is located and also the slides and landing gear being wired directly to the battery. Good to know for future trouble shooting.
Raining here today so cannot play with it to much, at least the outside part.

JH Sechelt · 12-23-2006, 11:18 AM

Always like to hear about inexpensive Fixes

.

J&D

DONnANNIE · 12-23-2006, 11:35 AM

Glad it was just the 12 VDC Switch and not a battery or wiring problem.

to you and the DW.

HamRad · 12-23-2006, 08:17 PM

Inexpensive fixes are always the best kind! Thanks for letting us know what happened.

HamRad

bigbob7777 · 12-24-2006, 06:08 AM

I don't have a problem, but I have a '06 3500rl and don't have a clue about a DC cutoff switch. Any ideas where I would find one, if in fact there is one?
bob

Cat320 · 12-24-2006, 07:10 AM

bigbob7777...should be in the same place as on the 3400, in the closet with the city water hook up, black tank flush, etc. It's a red plastic key type gadget attached to the trailer with a small piece of wire.

Parrothead · 12-24-2006, 10:13 AM

If you have an early 06, you may not have one. 05s don't have it and if memory serves me it was a mid year change in 06.
Happy trails.................

sreigle · 12-25-2006, 03:14 AM

Drew, another hint. If you are getting ready to leave and the battery is dead and the slides won't retract, connect the umbilical to the truck, start the engine (engine must be running), and you should have juice to bring in those slides. This works on the Fords and, I think, the Dodges. The GM's may require a fuse to make this happen and to charge the house battery from the truck while tooling down the road. I'm not sure about that on the GM's but it seems someone posted that info.

Cat320 · 12-25-2006, 05:04 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by sreigle

Drew, another hint. If you are getting ready to leave and the battery is dead and the slides won't retract, connect the umbilical to the truck, start the engine (engine must be running), and you should have juice to bring in those slides. This works on the Fords and, I think, the Dodges. The GM's may require a fuse to make this happen and to charge the house battery from the truck while tooling down the road. I'm not sure about that on the GM's but it seems someone posted that info.

On the GMs it does require the fuse, but if you've been using the umbilical cord at all, the fuse will be in and working. Another D/A tip, turn on the Tow/Haul mode...that will increase the voltage to the trailer's battery.

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