MN Blue Skies
Site Team
The lights in our 5th wheel periodically dim. It happens every few minutes. What do you think the problem is? TIA.
Need advice on why interior lights dim periodically.
- Thread starter MN Blue Skies
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Kirk
Well-known member
If you are connected to shore powerit is probably the converter. RV lighting is 12V and the dimming is probably a voltage drop. That can be an indication of a battery issue, or it could be some other 12V load that cycles on and off.
OP
OP
MN Blue Skies
Site Team
Yes we are connected to shore power. We have a 3 year old marine battery.
Last edited:
Ray-IN
Well-known member
I agree with Kirk. A marine battery is a dual-purpose battery for engine starting plus powering a trolling motor, lighting when anchored, etc.
The battery might be low on liquid, if you can see the plates inside, add distilled water up to the split-ring in each battery cell, not over though. Wear eye protection when adding water, a splash of battery acid can blind a person.
You really need a deep-cycle battery, they will not list a starting amp number like a marine battery.
The battery might be low on liquid, if you can see the plates inside, add distilled water up to the split-ring in each battery cell, not over though. Wear eye protection when adding water, a splash of battery acid can blind a person.
You really need a deep-cycle battery, they will not list a starting amp number like a marine battery.
Ex-Calif
Well-known member
LED lights or incandescent? If the lights are dimming on a cycle then it appears voltage is dropping on a cycle. Do you have any 12V equipment operating on a cycle, Fridge come to mind but the controller should be a steady draw.
Can you correlate the dimming to any other equipment cycling?
Do you have any indicators of battery voltage in your rig? A cheap USB or cigarette lighter voltage indicator would give some idea of your voltages.
I have a 400W inverter wired in that gives a continuous read out of battery voltage.
Laura & Charles
Well-known member
When we had incandescent lights, a very noticeable change (both dimming and brightening) would happen on shore power as the converter changed across charging stages. With LEDs that no longer happens. (We DO see the lights flicker a bit when the water pump runs.)
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
The most common cause is a battery in poor condition (see Kirk's reply). The converter/charger keeps trying to bring the charge up but the current (amp) draw is excessive, causing a drop in power available to operate lights and such. It's also possible that some other 12v device cycles on and draws a lot of power, but most RVs don't have any high-amp 12vdc devices.
A 3 year old marine battery is probably nearing its end of life unless you have been really scrupulous in care & use.
A 3 year old marine battery is probably nearing its end of life unless you have been really scrupulous in care & use.
OP
OP
MN Blue Skies
Site Team
Everyone has been so helpful. I will pass on the info to my DH
OP
OP
MN Blue Skies
Site Team
I
I don't think we have any high amp devices that would be drawing a lot of power. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason/pattern for the lights to dim. The battery might just be the culprit. I will discuss with DH.
Krazeehorse33
Well-known member
Check to make sure the battery connections are clean as well. I agree the battery may be tanking but it doesn’t take much corrosion to affect the charging and output on the battery.
DonTom
Well-known member
I had that problem big time in my new 2022 RV. In my case, it was a loose fuse socket for the blade fuse that ran all the LEDs interior lights. A one-minute repair job.
-Don- Auburn, CA
John From Detroit
Well-known member
What converter do you have.
There are only two or 3 reasons the lights would dim
Either the converter is cutting out from time to time (This may be due to external things.. or not)
Or the load on the system is cycling.. This too can happen in an RV
The 3rd one is .. Well I'm not sure
If one of the batteries is dead on a motor home (This would NOT apply to trailers) and the Isolator is a B.I.R.D. type (Bidirectional Isolator Relay Device)
Then as the isolator will cut in and out to help the weak/dead battery. If the chassis battery is the low one then when it engages lights dim. if the house. when it disengages lights dim (it should never engage however if the house battery has a shorted cell)
There are only two or 3 reasons the lights would dim
Either the converter is cutting out from time to time (This may be due to external things.. or not)
Or the load on the system is cycling.. This too can happen in an RV
The 3rd one is .. Well I'm not sure
If one of the batteries is dead on a motor home (This would NOT apply to trailers) and the Isolator is a B.I.R.D. type (Bidirectional Isolator Relay Device)
Then as the isolator will cut in and out to help the weak/dead battery. If the chassis battery is the low one then when it engages lights dim. if the house. when it disengages lights dim (it should never engage however if the house battery has a shorted cell)
OP
OP
MN Blue Skies
Site Team
Unfortunately the 5th wheel is now parked in an offsite/outdoor parking space for the MN winter. No access to electric. Hmm... we're hoping to leave MN in January. I'm optomistic that we can make that happen one way or another.
