Please help, No 12V Power

[zghorner]

I just acquired my first RV, a 2018 KZ Sportster and it has been sitting about 5 years in storage. It is completely dead to the world even after installing a new battery and 30amp "short stop" circuit breaker that was mounted to the frame near the battery. There is no power getting to the fuse box at all, (The fuse box is located in the wall that separates the cargo section from the one market Linen, if that helps).

I don't see any cut off switch or anything anywhere but am hoping that the issue is something simple like that and my ignorance of these things is the only real problem. It has a cummins generator but i don't see anything around it that would be related...I'm at a complete loss. Also, I do not have access to shore power unfortunately.

Any advice on what or where to look next would be greatly appreciated,

thank you

Layout of toy hauler

 

[rvlifer]

Welcome. Hard to make a guess based upon the info posted. I qould try plugging in a portable generator using the cord that came with the rv and see whether you have power anywhere. That should help isolate where the problem is.

There should be a battery cutoff switch somewhere that should be fairly easy to find but sometimes they put them in thw strangest places.

If the rv was modified or there are options such as solar or an inverter that would add to the items that might be contributing to the issue.

How much do you know about what happened to the rv before you owned it? The more info you can provide the more likely someone here can help.

Lots of extremely knowledgable people here so we should be able to help

 

[Rene T]

Welcome aboard. Is the previous owner still on this earth? If he is, how about calling him or her

 

[zghorner]

I have no history on the unit and cannot contact the previous owner unfortunately...On my own in that department. I called KZ and they really couldn't provide much detail either.

 

[rvlifer]

No surprise about kz. Hard to get that drom a lot of the manufacturers.

Google rv battery cutoff switch and browse through the pics. There are so many kinds that it prob wouldnt help if i posted a pic of mine.

If you can post a pic of the battery and as much wiring as possible around it that might help

 

[Mr Lars]

Just 1 battery?
Double check all the connections on the battery, follow the wiring as far as you can, even crawl under the trailer. It’s possible there is a cable disconnected some where.
How far away is the nearest RV service center? May be a good idea to hook up to it, and take it to them.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

It sounds a lot like something as simple as the salesman switch. Just a matter of finding the control in this unit. You say it has a generator, does it fire up? Seeing if the DC side of things light up when the genset is running would be a data point for where the battery power is being interrupted. If the genset won't start that's another clue, the path for the starter to the batteries is pretty short (few components). Plugging the shore power into a portable generator (even a small inverter one for testing) will show if the DC converter is working. I don't know this trailer specifically but I would be looking for a DC breaker panel separate from the power center. I would expect the salesman switch relay to be co-located and from there you can further figure out what's disconnected and how it's controlled.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Oldgator73]

Did you install the battery? If so did you get the polarity correct? There’s a fuse inline from the battery, usually on the units frame somewhere, that trips when the polarity is reversed. You won’t have power if that happens. Even if you installed the battery correctly someone else could have reversed the polarity prior to your purchase of the RV.

 

[Boat Bum]

^ worth noting, good point

 

[gwinger]

On my 2018 Sportsmen, the switch is located in the storage bay mounted in the front of bay.
If this is the first time after buying it, the previous owner may have turned off the switch.

 

[zghorner]

Did you install the battery? If so did you get the polarity correct? There’s a fuse inline from the battery, usually on the units frame somewhere, that trips when the polarity is reversed. You won’t have power if that happens. Even if you installed the battery correctly someone else could have reversed the polarity prior to your purchase of the RV.

yes i installed correctly. and i even have installed a new inline fuse in case that one was shot.

 

[Onyrlef]

I'm reading there is a power key/switch near to or in the battery box, check to make certain it is fully engaged. There are two breakers, one at the panel inside and one outside near the battery, possibly under the tongue.

 

[SpencerPJ]

Up under the front of my trailer, the 12 vdc positive goes to a breaker like this, then to its next destination. Mine needed replaced, easy check, simply jump it.

 

[Kirk]

Do you have a multimeter to trace circuits with? Have you tried to start the generator? If the battery isn't connected it probably isn't connected to start the generator either but it's worth checking. I would start checking voltage at the battery and work you way to the fuse that you replaced to see if it is there. If not, there could be a brake in the battery cable, a battery isolation switch, or even a fusible link. If you aren't getting any voltage beyond the battery, start tracing continuity with the ohm meter to locate where it is blocked.

 

[Larry N.]

It sounds a lot like something as simple as the salesman switch.

Does a trailer have a salesman switch???

 

[John From Detroit]

An automotive trest light is your friend. I'ds also suggest 25-50 feet of oh say #22 wire (single strand) with a pair of aligator clips (one for each end (Ground lead extension cable)

step one clip to negative tip to positive on battery Bright light. Good. no light reseat lamp in test light and try again Continue once you get bright.

Move clip to frame any non painted part.. Bright light GOOD negative lead works.

Now move out along the positive using extension lead on negative if needed.. Bright light good. Dark not good problem exists between Bright and dark.