need help

[Edward Mayfield]

I am new to the rv world I have a 1969 prowler 20 foot tow behind trailer and on oct I lost all my a/c lights in the trailer except for the bath room. I have power to all lights  when the lights are off but when I turn a light on then I lose all a/c power to the lights. To me it sounds like a bad braker how ever none have triped, can some one help me or maybe point me in the right direction please. and it just had to happen on my birthday to

[mike wilson]

Are there any led bulbs in the sockets, what very little I know they will cause you problems similar to that

[david craft]

excellent...I often forget that problems arise where others have modified things...always a good place to investigate as well...perseverance pays off again...good job

[Rich Thomas]

I'm glad you got there Edward, I was really concerned with the time zone thing I could just picture you pulling your hair out waiting on the next reply LOL. Happy RVing

[Edward Mayfield]

And let there be light !!!!!!! LOL proplem was wire from dist.bok and first light but not in the conection but screw nicked / cut 1/2 way through the white wire when last owner redid cabnet under the sink a little rewireing from dist. box to first light problem fixed  so MR. Thomas and Mr. Nordhoff my deepest thanks to you both for your advice and knowledge you ponited me in the right direction and did not give up on my problem. again thanks to all for the help.

[Rich Thomas]

Okay take a close look at the switch you use to turn on the light that works if there are 4 wires on it then its probably the feed through for the next lights down line, again look at it closely for loose connections on the push in tabs. also pull the working light and look at the wiring there as there are different ways to switch a light but lets just check the wiring at both places for now.

[John "T" Nordhoff]

  Sorry, but I get lost as far as who said what and when lol Im not sure where were at on this and I hope EVERYONE chimes in, by working TOGETHER is the way to solve it since one of us may have an idea the others may have forgotten THE MORE THE MERRIER. Hey I don't need any more pressure lol I live a low stress lifestyle........ I need help here......

 That all being said if I know where were at now??

 OKAY there has to be a poor or loose or burned or carboned connection if a voltmeter reads the proper voltage (they have extreme high input impedance remember, draw like no current) but the light flickers or goes out IT MAY BE IN THE LIGHT FIXTURE ITSELF OR ITS SWITCH OR ITS CONNECTIONS those are cheap and wimpy and often go bad!!!!!!

 If its NOT any wire nut connection,,,,,,,Its NOT at the distribution panel source,,,,,,,,,,Its NOT in any junction box,,,,,,,,,,,,Its NOT in the fixture itself,,,,,,,IT MUST BE IN A WIRE RUN i.e. a bad wire run between two lights.

 In order of suspects, Id still suspect in this order, wire nuts, light fixtures (their switches or fixtures themselves and connections on them),,,,,,,,,,panel connections,,,,,,,, and least of all a wire run from fixture to fixture   

 darn if I know

 John T

[Jim Stoltz]

I'm going to add my useless comment of agreeing with John and Rich's diagnosis. Once you introduce a load it flickers out, right? Has to be a bad connection somewhere. It's probably also generating a decent amount of heat when it happens, too, so I'd make it a priority to locate it. Unfortunately you're going to have to start either at the beginning or the end of the circuit and work your way from fixture to fixture. I had a similar issue with one of the 12V lighting circuits in mine. I isolated the lights that were affected, started at the logical end and worked my way back to where the circuit was evidently bad. In my case, there was a wire shorted either in a ceiling or wall that I couldn't access. I had to run new wire from the distribution panel to the point where I found that the circuit was okay and clipped the original hot wire that was feeding it to that point.

[Rich Thomas]

Hi John of coerce I'll chime in if I think I need too  I just think Ed needs precise point to point troubleshooting skills and the best way to do that is with one on one contact.You and I are very close in our thoughts on this problem and you seem to articulate a bit better than I so I'll keep a watch on the thread and chime in if need be but, I think he's in capable hands with you.  

[Edward Mayfield]

no the dc lights work fine it is the a/c lights that are not working. and I did disconnect the wires then recononect (twist) the wires and but on new wire nuts

[John "T" Nordhoff]

  Rich, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO don't bow out, just because GREAT MINDS MAY THINK ALIKE LOL, and the more the merrier. Hey if two are on the same page as we seem to be on this one, better chance were right maybe??????? lol if we were there we would be taking those wire nuts off faster then a speeding bullet, I will do the easy to reach ones and you get the under cabinet standing on your head ones okay???

 John T